These days, it’s almost de rigueur for any self-respecting departmental store to feature a vast restaurant slash gourmet boutique on its top floor. Which probably explains why when Dutch architects Rijnboutt were tapped to create the masterplan for the De Bijenkorf Utrecht department store in Utrecht’s old town centre, the brief included a brand new top floor.
The interior architecture firm i29 took its cues for the design and layout of the 850 sq m light-filled space from the De Bijenkorf name, which translates into ‘beehive’. The apiary mood is manifested in a very effective pattern of hexagonal white floor and wall tiles, interspersed with clusters of black tiles to create the subliminal effect of bees swarming over the surfaces.
The challenge, says i29 ‘was to create an environment that was made for heavy use whilst keeping the quality in sharp details and natural materials’ like oak, ceramics and glass. To that end, the self-service set-up – take your pick from a central open kitchen offering a range of Italian, Asian, fresh salad and grill – funnels guests towards a variety of open-planned and intimate seating zones that are sectioned off by coloured glass partitions and cabinetry, green walls, and low backed sofas.
ADDRESS
De Bijenkorf Utrecht
St Jacobsstraat 1A
-
A former agricultural building is transformed into a minimal rural home by Bindloss DawesZero-carbon design meets adaptive re-use in the Tractor Shed, a stripped-back house in a country village by Somerset architects Bindloss Dawes
-
The Stuff That Surrounds You: Inside the home of designer Michael AnastassiadesIn The Stuff That Surrounds You, Wallpaper* explores a life through objects. In this episode, we step inside one of the most considered homes we've ever seen, where Anastassiades test drives his own creations
-
Why are Wayne Thiebaud’s paintings at the Courtauld so tempting?The American artist’s thickly painted slices of cake at the Courtauld are some of our favourite artworks seen this year. What makes them so special?
-
Pulitzer Amsterdam’s whimsical new suites and a wellness space add to its canalside chicIn line with the city’s 750th anniversary, Pulitzer Amsterdam introduces two new Collector’s Suites, a three-storey Merchant Suite, and The Beauty House
-
Villa One at the One & Only Palmilla — Los Cabos, Mexico -
Martim — Wroclaw, Poland -
Tattersalls Hotel — Armidale, Australia -
KLoé Hotel — Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia -
Casa Hoyos — San Miguel de Allende, Mexico -
Littlenap — Hangzhou, China -
Casa Santa Teresa — Corsica, France
