Customer

University Utrecht

Brief

Utrecht University had been looking for a design team for the realisation of a student restaurant that would contribute to ‘the beating heart’ of the university’s inner city campus. The available space amounts to 800m2 and occupies several monumental buildings that are interlinked in Utrecht’s city centre. The client’s brief was not only to create a (multi)functional and attractive design for a monumental building, but also a place where students feel at home.

Strategy

When PUUR decided to hire an architectural guide and to study Utrecht’s (architectural) history first, the grandeur of these listed buildings, erected in the original Dutch architectural style, immediately became apparent. PUUR decided to reinterpret this grandeur and the historical interior elements from the Golden Age in a contemporary way through the use of wooden and stone floors, wood panelling, upholstery, wooden beam structures and wall motifs.

In the search for the history of the building, it was mainly its temporary transformation into the palace of Louis Napoleon, Bonaparte’s brother, that appealed to the imagination. PUUR also found a historical floor plan of the former palace, which allowed rooms to be named after their original function at the time, such as “The Front Room” and “The Salon”.

End result

Surprising and good in a non-Dutch way”, was the ARC awards jury’s verdict. The latter is mainly thanks to the exceptional quality of the custom work, particularly the use of materials, details and standard of finish. An exceptional amount of custom work went into this project. Standard solutions were never an option. Furniture and materials were not only chosen with care, but also treated boldly.

Winner of the ARC12 interior award

This project won the ARC Interior Award in 2012. This prize is awarded to an interior project realised in the Netherlands or Belgium that distinguishes itself through a successful combination of use of materials, technique and aesthetics. The jury chose PUUR’s project, which, in their opinion, demonstrates care and sustainability in material and design, combines an intelligent concept with craftsmanship, shows artistic ability and is made with visible pleasure. “Surprising and good in a non-Dutch way”, was the jury’s verdict. The latter is mainly thanks to the exceptional quality of the custom work, particularly the use of materials, details and standard of finish. An exceptional amount of custom work went into this project. Standard solutions were never an option. Furniture and materials were not only chosen with care, but also treated boldly.

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Article in De Architect