A civic framework where heritage and rhythm shape the municipal workspace
The challenge
The Municipality of Deventer sought to unify its administrative services, previously dispersed across various locations, into a single, cohesive central town hall in the historic Stadhuiskwartier. The objective was to design an interior for all public spaces and a cohesive workspace concept that facilitated flexibility, collaboration, and interaction among employees, while seamlessly integrating and renovating the existing 17th-century town hall with the striking new public city hall designed by Neutelings Riedijk Architects.
The impact
Working closely with Neutelings Riedijk Architects, the interior design aligned with the bold spatial structure of the new town hall, reinforcing its architectural rhythm and materiality. The elevations, comprising a pattern of oak frames fitted with aluminum screens designed by artist Loes ten Anscher, represent the individual profile of 2,300 different fingerprints supplied by Deventer’s citizens.
The workspace design featured zones transitioning from dynamic, collaborative offices near main routes to quieter spaces for focused tasks, enhancing both interaction and concentration. Distinctive informal meeting points were strategically placed to aid orientation and foster informal gatherings. Formal meeting rooms were located inside the renovated historical annexes. The result is a new vibrant city quarter, with multifunctional and public spaces, that add to the historical context.
This project was designed with a talented team at atelier PRO Architects.
The feedback
"It was great to work with Naomi on this project. She is a versatile architect with a helicopter view, creativity, a keen awareness of stakeholders, and she is an inspiring colleague!"
