ILGE is a leading player in subscription management, online content management and debt collection advice on the Dutch, Belgian and German markets. In the thirty years of its existence, ILGE has found the ideal mix between traditional, customer-friendly service and surprisingly innovative solutions.
Concept and design for the bookstore and flexible workplaces
Project:
2007
Year:
Amsterdam
Place:
ILGE subscription management
BOOKSTORE

ILGE | MY BOOKSTORE MY FLEXSPACE, M+R interior architecture
The ingredients for this project were an enthusiastic entrepreneur with a dream and a shell space. We immediately clicked with the client and embraced his ambition. It was quite a challenge to create a well-functioning space within the ‘limited’ financial framework; an innovative ‘bookstore’ with ‘flexspace’, a working environment for Ilge; kitchen, toilets and meeting rooms. M+R was responsible for the concept, the total design with sustainable use of materials, the integration of the installations, the lighting: a synthesis between retail and office space.
ILGE is a leading player in the field of subscription management, online content management and collection advice on the Dutch, Belgian and German markets. In the thirty years of its existence, ILGE has found the ideal mix between traditional, customer-friendly services and surprising innovative solutions. As of July 2017, ILGE has moved its office to Villa Mokum in Amsterdam, a building with studios and a plinth with retail spaces on the Spaklerweg. A new development area for living and working. In addition to the design for the innovative working environment for ILGE, a new bookstore annex flexspace concept has also been housed in the retail space of 420 m2 in total.
The book market has been in motion for years. The share of e-books continues to grow, 6% of total book sales are sold as e-books. The share of e-books in online sales is considerably higher: at 28% and these percentages are increasing. There are also several larger (online) providers that are active in the book sales market. This development will continue in the coming years. In addition, the increasing blurring of sectors also plays a major role in the declining turnover of traditional bookstores. We see that supermarkets, petrol stations and department stores also sell books. With this knowledge of the book market, we developed a completely new interior concept together with our client with the working title ‘the last bookstore’.
Bookstores will have to respond more than ever to the rapidly changing needs in the market. The concept for the ‘bookstore’ has therefore become much more of a meeting place. A flex space where people can work, meet and gain knowledge in an attractive space between the ‘empty’ bookcases. There are various work and meeting places at large tables in the centre of the space and several double coupe-like seats integrated into the cupboard walls. Six bubble chairs by architect Eero Aarnio hang in the display window as eye-catchers. With this we emphasise the open and flexible use of the flex space. In order to keep the interior concept affordable, we opted for the existing ‘Kallax’ cupboards from Ikea. These cupboards with different dimensions are made in black and white and are mounted on the wall as a sculptural ‘skyline’. Because the book world of adventure, knowledge and science is not black and white, we have made the middle section with a photo print of an enormous colourful bookcase. This digital print covers the floor, wall and ceiling and is the only colour accent in the space. The architectural structure and the installations are ‘pure’ and visible in the space. A flexible lighting concept with tracks and adjustable LED spots provide the atmosphere. Small bubble (chair) lights hang above the tables.
The bookstore and office are separated by a facility unit where the kitchen, toilets and technical rooms are housed. A special food concept, based on healthy, sustainable food with specialities from all over the world, is part of the formula. A special website has been developed, where people can share their work and meetings in the bookstore with others, put together a healthy lunch and/or reserve a meeting room.
Because bookstores have to keep up with the online purchasing and orientation behaviour of the consumer, iPads have been included in the tables, giving visitors access to an inexhaustible database with both international and local magazines, newspapers and books. People can view the publications here and, as an additional service, also order them directly, the E-bookstore. The challenge is whether the bookcases will remain empty or will be used to display a collection, this is a possibility.
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