Lively, green entrance hall at Fontys Venlo
Venlo, Netherlands
In projects, Pantagruel
If you stroll into the Fontys campus in Venlo, you'll now find a bustling entrance hall. It used to be more of a transit area, a place where people walked in and out without really lingering. But that’s all changed. ‘We wanted to turn that drab hall into an inspirational meeting place,’ explains Maarten Sars, Housing and Facilities Project Manager at Fontys. ‘A spot where students and teaching staff don’t just pass through, but actually like to stick around.’
The result? A lively village square within the Fontys walls, where everyone immediately feels at home. Here you can not just relax, but also study, hold meetings and even make presentations. The interior design team, led by Véronique Topper of Bossche Studios, have really taken the wishes of Fontys staff to heart. They wanted a place where you don't just wait around, but somewhere you can really relax and find inspiration.
An eye-catching format
The big eye-catcher is undoubtedly the green-roofed wooden cylinder in the centre of the hall. Inside it stands the circular Pantagruel picnic table, with space for eight people and offering an inviting place for convivial conversations and inspiring collaborations. The white powder-coated frame and wooden slats of the table top and benches create a visual echo of the cylinder, resulting in a consistent and aesthetically pleasing whole.
Green, convivial and sustainable
‘Together with project specialist Gispen, we created a space that is not just beautiful, but also functional and green. Sustainability was an important aspect, and this is reflected in the furniture, materials and colour schemes we chose,’ says Véronique Topper.
And best of all? It works! People began to use the hall immediately, exactly as hoped. Students and teaching staff really enjoy it, and the plant wall and green roof provide the perfect finishing touch.
