First of all, are you happy with the result?
« Yes, we are very happy with the result. Our first impression is positive. it’s a nice place to be. Once you’re inside a studio, you feel like staying for a while. »
How did you go about doing this assignment?
« We mainly looked at how we would like to live in this relatively small area and what we find most important when staying somewhere for a longer period of time. This is fundamentally different from a more fleeting stay in a hotel room. »
What were the biggest challenges in setting up these studios?
« It was an interesting spatial puzzle, where many different functions come together. We have looked for a smart division between sleeping, working, having fun, doing nothing, showering, and cooking. We think the various functions came out well balanced. »
Is there a certain person you keep in mind when doing an assignment like this?
« We have looked at ourselves and the people around us. Think of our children, our parents, the people at our design studio, the neighbors; a lot of different people actually. We, therefore, think that the studios are suitable for a wide variety of people. »
What feeling do you want people to get when they stay in a studio?
« We want the space to feel like it really is the user’s own. It has to feel like a special home, where you have enough choice and where you can do everything you want. It’s your place and you are the resident. »
In the hallway of the studios, we see wallpaper with a variety of photos on it. What is this about?
« When we designed the rooms and hallway wallpaper of the hotel, we choose various photos of subcultures that have been iconic for the various Volkskrant decades, due to their activism and creativity. For the studios, we have focused on creativity and the people of Volkshotel. In Broedplaats VKG (the creative back wing of the hotel, ed.) you’ll find the ‘permanent residents’. The wallpaper shows fragments of the environment of these creative residents. »
Last but not least, what are you most proud of?
« That the studios have become a beautiful place, natural and yet unique. You feel that everything has been made with great care and with the same amount of attention you would furnish your own home or living space with. »
Studio page // MüllerVanTol // Portait photos by Tom van Huisstede // Interior photos by Debbie Trouerbach //
