OUR VISION ON ARCHITECTURE + WORKING METHOD

For us, designing first and foremost means: listening very carefully. Listening to the client and all parties involved. What is what our client wants? What is the 'question behind the question'? What interests are involved, what wishes and needs? We then also listen carefully to ourselves. What do we think? What does our experience say? Is what the client wants correct, are there better solutions possible?
We will discuss all these issues. Our profession is listening, sensing, analyzing, organizing and ultimately translating the question into an innovative solution.

Our projects are often complex assignments, interior architecture on a large scale. We approach every project from an architectural perspective. We analyze the functions and use of the building and investigate how you can best organize them within the given space. In order to optimally connect the interior spaces to function and use, we can propose architectural interventions: stairs, an entrance, a passage or mezzanine floor are added or moved.

We work from a total concept for the entire project. All elements of the interior and exterior must ultimately form a whole, with every detail tailored to the desired result: from climate control, acoustics to the door knobs and from lighting to the carpet design.

To bring order to all parts of a space, light, rhythm and color are our most important tools. Natural daylight is essential for the experience of the interior spaces and should be able to do its work unobstructed as much as possible, supplemented with artificial light where necessary. Light gives depth and contrast to a space. It emphasizes the shapes and rhythm of architectural elements. Light in combination with rhythm and refined use of color and materials makes a space come to life.

The user is central to our designs. How does a person (visitor, employee, resident) experience the space, do they feel safe and at ease? The exterior is the shell that covers the interior space; the usable space, conserves. The use is the main purpose of the space. That is why the interior is so important: this is where the human scale is created. The work of our agency ultimately revolves around creating a 'second skin' in buildings, the environment with which people come into direct contact and which they experience most strongly. Spaces should feel pleasant and safe. To achieve this, you need to ensure that a space speaks completely for itself. It must be recognizable upon entry and you must be able to find your way immediately (cognitively). To achieve this, everything has to be right: lighting, acoustics, climate control, routing, color and material. Well-chosen shapes, colors and sustainable materials also ensure that an environment has a positive effect on people.

Sustainability is becoming a catch-all concept, but that does not detract from its importance. In our opinion, the most obvious interpretation of sustainability is: setting up projects that also benefit the client in the long term. For this, (honest) materials, finishing and detailing are very important. In an ecological sense, we strive for an optimally sustainable end product. This means that we (re)use as many materials as possible that do not burden the environment and natural resources as little as possible and that we look for energy-neutral solutions for, for example, lighting and climate systems. Sustainable and innovative are an excellent combination, provided you think through and develop the solutions in detail. M+R has extensive experience in the field of sustainability in projects: Breeam (excellence); Sorrow; the natural step; Cradle to Cradle etc.

What could be more sustainable than repurposing an existing building? In outdated urban areas, new use of existing buildings can lead to beautiful developments. Much more use should be made of these opportunities. For our agency, these types of projects are a challenge. This is where we find the complex issues that we love to deal with. Revitalizing existing buildings requires inventiveness and innovative capacity. When renovating and repurposing monuments, the starting point is always to leave the historical and architectural quality intact as much as possible. The adjustments are added to the building as a kind of 'installation package'. Sometimes harmonizing, sometimes contrasting but never competing with the original basis. Not only beautiful monuments are suitable for such an approach. Many dated and often unattractive accommodations can also be transformed into modern and attractive buildings.

The modern organization is developing. A key concept here is flexibility: suppleness, pliability. In a metaphorical sense it is used as a character trait of a person, an organization or a building. It represents the ability to adapt effortlessly when the situation demands it.

Today, anyone can work anywhere, aided by the continued development of communication tools. Rigid office spaces no longer fit in with this. Innovative working requires a different working environment. For example, you can think of organizing work spaces based on activities: concentrated work in a quiet room, discussions in a meeting room, brainstorming in an inspiring space, and working from home can also be included in such a concept. Flexible design of workplaces also offers organizations the opportunity to use space more efficiently. In order for the concept to work in practice, the interior design must support the new functions as best as possible, but without imposing too rigid an order. Indeed, flexible.

Complex projects require very good cooperation. With the client, but also with contractors, installers and consultants. As an interior architect, you must take all interests into account and at the same time stand for your own vision. In this dynamic whole we see our role as initiator, inspirer and central point of contact. The one who has an overview of all facets and interests, who can switch from the construction of a new entrance to the color of the tiles in the toilet, and above all: the one who can represent that of the user among all the different voices. In our experience, a good interior architect is a director who ultimately knows how to forge all disciplines into one whole.