Combiwerk

The modern social workshop is more than just a place for sheltered employment. Combiwerk Delft is a Social Workplace (SW) company and offers custom work to people who, due to a physical, psychological or mental limitation, are not able to find a regular job. Besides these limitations, the possibilities and talents are especially looked at. A lot has changed and the emphasis lately has been shifted more to re-integration into the regular work force. The job centre (career square) has become much more important with respect to workplaces. Training is offered and tests are done in the kitchen of the company restaurant, the cleaning service and the office. Assembling, sorting and packing are done at the workplaces. Green and environmental services are also an important branch of the social workplace. The ambitious attitude of the company is striking. There is a strong, positive culture. The new construction was intended to clearly reflect this. Despite the limited resources and a clear wish for a sober approach, the building and decoration had to radiate quality. It had to convey attention and involvement, in order to stimulate a sense of pride in its users. An environment that supports that valuable work is being done here, with special people.

TURE SOCIAL

For the interior, encompassing 4,000 square meters of office spaces, a company restaurant, the career square, entrances, and a lobby, i29 interior architects was brought on board. At the heart of the building lies a spacious atrium housing the restaurant, career square, and reception. The building itself is a completely enclosed, grey monolithic structure, with the same grey extending to the walls, floors, and ceilings inside. Upon entering, visitors are met with a delightful surprise: vibrant, colorful islands scattered throughout the space, only revealing themselves once inside. In a nearly fairytale-like manner, the building conceals a hidden garden brimming with color and vitality, beautifully symbolizing the contrast between external appearances and inner richness.

A social workplace must be social; that was the starting point for all the parties involved. Social involvement was therefore the main theme in the design and realisation on various levels. At the level of the design, we aimed for empowerment by creating a serious and distinguished interior. Not a nondescript backwater building, but something sparkling, colourful and unique. We hope that this will contribute to a sense of pride in the users. In terms of sustainability, where possible, we aimed for recycling and re-use. All the wooden chairs in the atrium were bought second-hand and restored by another SW-company, just like all the furniture for the 4000m2 office space, including desks, chairs, cabinets and filing drawers. A new colourful top layer was applied to the re-used furniture so that they are as good as new and also fit beautifully into the colour spectrum in combination with the carpets.