WORKING ENVIRONMENT
Municipality of Eindhoven
Place:
Eindhoven
Year:
2015
Project:
Design and layout of workstations in line with ‘the new ways of working’.
Two buildings, one new way of working.
In early 2015, around two thousand employees of Eindhoven City Council moved into two existing buildings, including the NRE building on Nachtegaallaan. The reason for this was the introduction of the ‘new way of working’: an organisation that, just like a person or a building, must be able to adapt effortlessly to the situation at hand. Fixed workstations were no longer suitable for staff who, thanks to modern means of communication, are increasingly able to work independently of time and place.
Description:
Design and layout of workstations in line with ‘the new ways of working’.
Design and layout of workstations in line with ‘the new ways of working’.
Translated
M+R interior architecture translated that principle into an activity-based layout: quiet zones for concentrated work, meeting places for discussions, inspiring corners for brainstorming, and the space to continue working from home. That flexibility not only made staff happier, but also made every square metre more efficient. “Flexibility is not just a design principle; it is the very character of the organisation itself.”
Designed for work, designed for well-being.
An inspiring working environment does not come about by itself. Ergonomics, acoustics, lighting and climate had to be balanced with the different types of workspaces whilst also doing justice to the council’s own identity. That organisational DNA formed the starting point for every design choice, from the use of colour to the furniture.
From gasworks to municipal office.
The site itself tells its own story. On the Eindhovensch Kanaal, between Nachtegaallaan and Dommelhoefstraat, stood Eindhoven’s gasworks, which operated from 1899 and for decades formed the beating heart of the city’s energy supply. In 2010, Eindhoven City Council purchased the NRE complex, with the aim of redeveloping it from the ground up. The office building that now stands on the site, designed by Van Aken architects, was given a sustainable makeover by M+R interior architecture to become a fully-fledged municipal workplace.
Existing floor coverings, internal walls and kitchenettes were given a new lease of life within the new layout. An early and compelling example of circular design, years before the term became commonplace.
Sustainable right down to the fibres.
M+R interior architecture realised the design in close collaboration with sustainability consultant The Natural Step. Every choice of material was assessed against that philosophy, resulting in a socially responsible, high-quality and sustainable interior. This fits perfectly with the council’s ambition to set a good example as an organisation.
Who works there.
Today, the NRE building houses a diverse range of municipal functions. The Ondernemersplein – a public-facing service available by appointment only – serves as the central point of contact for entrepreneurs with enquiries for the council and the Economy department, where account managers for businesses and economic projects have their offices.
Behind the scenes, the Enforcement Department operates from its base here, which also serves as a training centre for special investigating officers and supervisors, whilst part of the Spatial Economic Services (RED) department provides administrative support for urban development and the economy.
From gasworks to a circular municipal workplace: the NRE building on Nachtegaallaan demonstrates how repurposing, reuse and a contemporary, people-centred design can reinforce one another.
