Concrete Architectural Associates | THNK home

in Furniture by editor — 8:11 pm | August 18, 20120 comments

Short Story

Inspired by the graphic design story by Studio Lava for THNK, concrete designed a series of multifunctional furniture to contribute to the identity of the new creative business school. Following THNK’s philosophy, “that it is never about ‘i’ alone and is always about ‘i’ in collaboration with others to solve todays challenges”, is translated into ‘i’-shaped benches, worktables, stools and bar tables. The furniture elements overlap each other, coloured red, blue, white, black and are placed in the middle of the central space shaping the THNK logo.

Concrete Architectural Associates | THNK home

During the day students and teachers can ride the furniture to any space they want, rearranging their own “classroom”, to park them back in the logo position at the end of the day. The various heights of furniture give the coaches the freedom to use seating suitable for any type of lesson, active or relaxed. In addition it’s easily imaginable to realise a THNK classroom anywhere in the world, due to their flexible and portable furniture.

Interior
The new THNK home is to be seen as a square with small educational shops surrounding the square. Two circular curtains can be used to create a more private space and also helps the acoustics in the square. The square also has a small mobile kitchen block and is provided with a high table to serve lunch or use as a bar. The square has two black walls that can be used as chalkboards, and has a magnetic paint finish, so posters and flip-over sheets can be hung on the wall as well.

The floor has a raisin finish to ad some shinny and modern feel to the space. Concrete has chosen to leave the grid of the old ceiling system in its place and used it to support the lighting fixtures. The lighting is randomly distributed over the grid, occasionally with red or blue lights as a reference to the logo.

Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Designer: Concrete Architectural Associates

Project name: THNK home – the Amsterdam school of creative leadership
Client: THNK
Project information:

Project team concrete: Rob Wagemans, Erik van Dillen, Jari van Lieshout

Graphic design: studio Lava

General information:
Other designers: Lava (graphic design)

Construction management: Procore, Marco Vermeer
Contractor interior: Roord binnenbouw, bespoke furniture
Contractor: Derksen en Slingering

Design: january 2012
Completion: march 2012
Surface area: approx 300 m2

Photography:Ewout Huibers for Concrete