New reception area with integrated café in sustainable design
Client
Aksen - House of Business
Project
Reception and welcome area Skejby, Denmark
Size
750 m²
Aksen House of Business, the former Vestas headquarters, was acquired by Pensionskassen for Akademikere P+ in 2017. Since the acquisition, they have been working to transform the unique 22,000-square-metre building into a multi-tenant office space.
As part of making the building more cohesive and attracting the right tenants, Ambiente was chosen to design and establish a reception area with a small café. The building offers many unique features with sustainability in mind, which is why the new owners, P+, wanted the reception area to reflect this focus.
Sustainability is expressed in the reuse of much of the existing furniture, combined with new elements made from sustainable and recycled materials. For instance, the carpets are made from recycled plastic, while the tabletops of some of the café tables are made from industrial plastic and residual waste from coffee bean shells.
The reception area and the associated common areas are designed and arranged with a focus on creating a functional framework for a headquarters with high daily traffic, while tying the many square metres together in the best possible way. Sustainability is reflected through a simple, appealing and balanced material and colour palette that both adds life and respects the existing architectural framework.
Large trees are placed throughout the welcoming area, creating both an environment and atmosphere. Different types of seating — from sofas to smaller table groups — encourage active use of the many zones throughout the day and support the cosy, square-like ambience.
A light installation above the reception desk makes use of the generous ceiling height and ensures that it is easy for guests to find their way around the building.
