With Tribal DDB our goal was to create an environment where creative interaction is supported and to achieve as much workplaces as possible in a new structure with flexible desks and a large open space. All of this while maintaining a work environment that stimulates long office hours and concentrated work. As Tribal DDB is part of an international network a clear identity was required, which also fits the parent company DDB. The design had to reflect an identity that is friendly and playful but also professional and serious. The contradictions within these questions, asked for choices that allow great flexibility in the design.

Situated in a building where some structural parts could not be changed it was a challenge to integrate these elements in the design and become an addition to the whole. i29 searched for solutions to various problems which could be addressed by one grand gesture. At first a material which could be an alternative to the ceiling system, but also to cover and integrate structural parts like a big round staircase. Besides that, acoustics became a very important item, as the open spaces for stimulating creative interaction and optimal usage of space was required.

This led us to the use of fabrics. It is playful, and can make a powerful image on a conceptual level, it is perfect for absorbing sound and therefore it creates privacy in open spaces. And we could use it to cover scars of demolition in an effective way. There is probably no other material which can be used on floors, ceiling, walls and to create pieces of furniture and lampshades then felt. It’s also durable, acoustic, fireproof and environment friendly. Which doesn’t mean it was easy to make all of these items in one material!

i29 always looks for choices that answer to multiple questions at the same time. They tell a conceptual story about the company, the space and the users of the space. They deal with specific practical and functional issues and they have to have some autonomous quality as well. These ‘levels’ are intertwined; one leads you to the other. If you see how smart it serves it purpose practically it leads you to the company. If you see the powerful image that is non-depended, it leads you to the functionality, and round it goes.

At i29 we believe that simplicity builds character. Compare it to a human being; strong individuals always have one or few characteristics that stand out. We all know how hard it is to stay focused on the one thing that is most important to you. The same way it is with a design. The result of being very selective is that you have to push the one choice to the limit. It also provides a field of tension, and gives energy to a space without fail into chaos. But more importantly it leaves you with a charismatic environment.

client: Tribal DDB Amsterdam
size: 650 m2
photos: i29 l interior architects
constructor: Slavenburg
interior build: Zwartwoud
materials: white epoxy flooring, felt, hpl, steel
furniture: lighting & furniture objects custom made
design i29 l interior architects
address industrieweg 29
Postcode NL-1115 AD
gemeente Duivendrecht
Tel +31 (0)20 695 61 20
founders: jaspar Jansen (1970) & Jeroen Dellensen (1972)
education: jaspar Jansen: Rietveld Academy
Jeroen Dellensen: School of Arts Utrecht

Founders
i29 | interior architects: jaspar Jansen (1970) & Jeroen Dellensen (1972). Studied at Rietveld Academy and School of Arts Utrecht.

About
i29 | interior architects is the collective noun, within this collective Jaspar Jansen and Jeroen Dellensen are like one. They don’t wear the same clothes like twins do, but do finish each other’s sentences. They form a true duo. Their collaboration is a constant dialogue in between both their personalities and shared endeavour for creativity.

In 2003 some of the first interior projects; photo agency POE and a fair stand for Vuurwerk, where nominated for the Dutch Design Awards as well as the Rotterdam Design Award. In both projects the interior design was based on custom made furniture objects which defined the space with their own appearance and function. When secondary school ‘CalandLyceum’ asked them to design the interior of all public spaces. The result was a custom made interior including all furniture. The project got awarded as best interior design of the year in 2005, DDA. This was the beginning of several other public interior projects, such as the design for schools 02/03 and offices 00/03, next to their work for private clients.

In 2009 advertising agency Gummo asked to design their new office. Born from a low budget and temporary location briefing, i29 presented the ‘recycled office’. Due to the nature of the project it would be a waste in many ways to make a completely new interior. The outcome was an ‘eco friendly design’, made from second hand furniture. This same year the interior for public school ‘Panta Rhei’ was finished. i29 proposed a completely black and beige interior with integrated poetry within the architecture. This school and the recycled office where nominated for several national and international awards such as LAI awards and The Great Indoors Awards. Therefore, i29 was also nominated for best interior design office of the year 2009. Early 2010 the studio was awarded with the Bathroom Design Awards for home 06, where a lively plantwall was integrated into the bathroom interior of an Amsterdam residence. In 2011 home 07 was rewarded with the A’Design Award.

Today, i29 | interior architects works on all kind of projects. In collaboration with other architects, for their own clients and spontaneously as experimental activity within the studio.

“We do not style what is there. What literally try to do is to design the space; the stuff that is not physically there. And we can only do this by designing the physical material. It is a different approach which leads to surprising results. We try to look at it as a composition in music. As in music the silence is essential to the music itself. It is the same way with space. We work with structures and rhythms in an elementary and almost abstract way”.

Works published
Home 01
Home 02
Home 03
Home 04
Home 05
Home 06
Home 07
Home 08
Office 00
Office 01
Office 02
Office 03
Office 04
Public 01
Public 02
School 01
School 02
School 03

Awards
Dutch design prizes 2003, nomination Poe
Dutch design prizes 2003, selection Vuurwerk
International Felt competition 2003, Winner socks for chairs
Rotterdam design prize 2003, nomination computer desk
Bathroom Design Award 2004, nomination Fagelstraat
Designboom selection ‘Kitchen is the heart of the home’ 2005
BDA Awards 2005, finalist teylingerhorstlaan
Dutch Design prizes 2005, Best interior Design Caland winner
LAI 2009, Kantoor Gummo, finalist
LAI 2009, school Panta Rhei, finalist
The great Indoors Awards, school Panta Rhei finalist
The great Indoors Awards, i29 finalist Design Firm of the year
The great Indoors Awards, recycled office winner Bathroom Design Awards 2010, home 06 winner
World’s Coolest offices contest 2010, winner
A’Design Award 2011, home 07 winner