client CANON producition printing Netherlands
assignment Concept + design new head office Canon + innovative work environment | Breeam Excellent
architect building BroekBakema
interior architect M+R interior architecture
way finding M+R interior architecture
realization June 2020
"Timeless icon for Canon" Rutger van Oldenbeek | PI
The building for the new CANON Production Printing Netherlands headquarters "Green Landmark", designed by BroekBakema architects and M+R interior architecture, is based on Canon's Kyosei philosophy: living and working together for the common good.
The energy consumption of the new building is low thanks to sun-resistant facades, insulating triple glazing and energy-efficient LED lighting. There are solar panels all over the roof, and even the atrium roof contains solar cells. The building is connected to a heat pump and uses heat and cold storage (ATES). Thanks to the design, there is a Breeam Excellent design certificate. The new building is designed for changing of use in the future. This makes it easy to change the layout of the flexible work environment. The building extension is also easily possible by installing extra floors in the "Green Plazas".
Green, public spaces, the so-called "Green Plazas", connect employees and visitors. These spaces, interconnected and always linked to two office floors, are designed as an inner garden and function as the central meeting place. They form the connecting link between work areas within the new head office. These high, spacious meeting places are designed for informal collaboration. Due to the large glass surfaces, there is a lot of daylight in the building and this gives a beautiful view of the green surroundings. The building always unfolds in a different way per floor.
The interior, the innovative working environment was designed in close collaboration with the users and
M+R interior architecture during various co-creation work sessions. For the development of the innovative work areas, M+R made use of 3D models, with which the employees were able to design the ideal working environment.
For the interior, M+R has used sustainable materials as much as possible. The slatted walls on the work floors, which contribute to optimal acoustics (would be made from the wooden façade parts of the old head office, but this building will no longer be demolished but re-designated) are made of sustainably grown oak. The wall finish is made of felt in natural tones. In addition to the sustainable materials, M+R has made maximum use of existing furniture that has been refurbished and provided with a new sustainable upholstery. For example, existing tables have been made suitable again by providing the table tops with a unique print.
In line with the innovative working environment on the "4 work floors", M+R designed the representative spaces such as the restaurant; the meeting areas, the living rooms; the conference center, the boardroom and an auditorium with a capacity of 170 people. Mainly sustainable materials are used here. The challenge for us was that the green environment, the building and the interior merge seamlessly; a complete synthesis of the architecture with the interior, timeless, innovative and sustainable. The entire building is like a "Gesamtkunstwerk" in which the applications of Canon's printing technique have been translated into parts of the interior. As a visual element, the X-frames in the building and the green surrounding have been translated into a graphic image for as for printing the special curtains and the privacy foil. M+R has developed a complete manual for the project for the "customer journey, based on Canon's corporate identity. Part of this is the signage of the entire site and the head office; here are the past; present and future translated into the building. On the site, a forest walk is part of the whole with sculptures from Canon's art collection and also a script has been drawn up for the use of art in the interior.
The new building has 15,500 m2 of innovative working environment.
The walls are randomly shaped and wave through the space, each layer has its own color and structure. The layers are accentuated with indirect light lines for a dramatic effect. The architectural columns show images of paintings by Chagall, executed in glass mosaic. The lounge is visually divided with three accent colors from paintings by Chagall and also translated into the upholstery of the furniture. Behind the reception is a large stained glass wall that is indirectly illuminated based on Chagall's work with adjustable glass sections.
For the project, M+R had a historical color research carried out, which functioned as the starting point for the restoration of monumental canal houses and the carefully chosen composition of the materials and color palette. The walls with the monumental wooden paneling are fitted with especially durable linen wall coverings.
Even before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, M+R designed new future-proof work environments; just like the office building for the BDO Amstelveen and The Hague locations. The basis of the concept is a large flexible meeting space with a diversity of meeting places; meeting rooms, brainstorm rooms; lunch facilities and presentation rooms.
Commissioned by geWOONhout, M+R has designed a sustainable and innovative office building with 3 levels based on the ready-to-use wooden housing modules. Both the exterior and interior design are designed to be as circular as possible, with a careful application of sustainable materials.
The imposing ceiling is a representation of the supremacist style of El Lissitzky which he called PROUN; the stage where someone changes from painting to architecture.
The new terminal is designed in Russian constructivist style. The inspiration are the well-known Russian artists. The imposing ceiling in the lounge is a representation of the supremacist style of El Lissitzky which he called PROUN, ‘the stage where someone changes from painting to architecture’.
The corona crisis proves once again that social and societal developments not only have a major impact on our daily lives, but especially also on the way we do our work. Attracting and retaining talent is currently more important and challenging than ever. In addition, it is good to know that employees attach great importance to the relationship with their employer. They want to be part of a team and take pride in working for an attractive and successful company.
M+R interior architecture has designed the new innovative office in The Hague in collaboration with BDO. Even before the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, M+R designed the new future-proof building; just like the office building for the BDO Amstelveen location (completed September 2019), the basis of the concept is a large flexible meeting space with a variety of consultation areas; meeting rooms, lunch facilities and presentation rooms.
M+R interior architecture designed a special customer space for the MCB head office and was completed in 2017. There is a central reception room with various seating areas and a bar. All interior parts are made of steel; Stainless steel or aluminum.
In the Sleep Lounge - a 'business hotel' with single and double cabins - artworks by almost all constructivist artists have been placed on the walls. In the general areas of the Sleep Lounge, M+R created a warm, bright and open atmosphere, which contributes to a pleasant stay.
M+R has secured a solid place on the Sheremetyevo Airport shortlist for international design agencies. After the realization of the award winning Rublev business Lounge and the VIP lounge in 2018, our agency was asked to participate in the competitions for the extension of the C terminal. M+R was selected from a number of agencies to design two business lounges: Malevich and Chagall.
The new office building for the CANON Production Printing Netherlands headquarters "Green Landmark", designed by BroekBakema architects, is based on the Kyosei philosophy of Canon: living and working together for the common good. Green, public spaces, the so-called "Green Plazas", connect employees and visitors.
M+R interior architecture is represented in the exhibition.