Volkshotel
Studio Muller Van Tol

Volkshotel

Muller Van Tol as Interior Architects

04-Jul-2016 On June 27 a new hotel of which the interior spaces are designed by Bas van Tol of Studio Müller van Tol, will open its doors at the Wibautstraat in Amsterdam. Het Volkshotel is housed in a building formerly functioning as the home of Dutch newspaper de Volkskrant. The history of the building was the starting point for Bas van Tol in creating a place that functions on different levels and in explicitly using materials that refer to the building’s narrative. Built for de Volkskrant newspaper, the 1960s concrete structure is open, optimistic and functional. Bas van Tol preserved these qualities while inserting dynamic interiors for contemporary occupants like tourists, locals, tenants, passers-by, creatives, students, flex workers and professionals. The unique atmosphere of the hotel is a result of the typical approach of the studio and its teams in search of the true identity of the building. This project is once again a remarkable addition to a series of extraordinary interiors designed by Bas van Tol, like club Trouw Amsterdam, Restaurant As and the exhibition structure for the photography fair Unseen. Bas van Tol constructed spaces for metropolitan encounters by evoking the physicality of the newspaper production and the vanishing world of paper, ink and photographs. Examples of this are the ink raster patterns that enliven the elongated counter and enlarged and overblown cut-outs of de Volkskrant masthead that decorate the ground-floor walls. The designer made use of old iconic photographs from the paper’s archives, showing groups rising up in defence of their ideals on the corridor walls. Made up of ordinary people, these counter-movements — provos in the 1960s, hippies in the 70s and squatters in the 80s — defined the mood of their eras, just as the images define the spaces of the hotel. In all interior space the research based method of Bas van Tol is clearly visible, maintaining simplicity in materials and detailing. Together with his studio partner Christiane Müller, they designed the fabrics for the wall covering, showing the studio’s thorough collaboration. All the rooms in the hotel bring a unique and crafted feel generated by using random compositions of three different tones. The prints that are silk-screened by hand directly onto the bedroom walls are a final reminder of the tradition of this building, a tradition revived by Bas van Tol.


17-Jun-2014 The ‘Volkshotel’ is a project that will include 172 rooms, a grand café, shop, coworking space, restaurant, club and bar(Canvas). Most spaces inside this exciting refurbishment are the work of Dutch interior designer Bas van Tol of Studio Müller Van Tol. The hotel and it’s interior will carry out the history of the building in different graphic ways. This will be complemented with simple and effective interior design solutions that focus on the view and the moment of the building and its visitors.

Volkshotel

Volkshotel as Client

After the “De Volkskrant” newspaper moved out, the building on the Amsterdam Wibautstraat was left behind, empty. Urban Resort moved in, transforming it into one of the largest ‘Broedplaatsen’ (creative workspaces) in Holland. Here, hundreds of artists, creatives and social entrepreneurs found a reasonably priced place to work. After the opening of Volkshotel in June 2014, the ‘Broedplaats’ is still present in the buildings back wing.


Empty building transforms into creative workspace Urban Resort is founded in 2006 to turn empty buildings into affordable creative workspaces. In 2007, the transformation of the empty Volkskrant building is the foundations first big project. In the six years that follow, the old newspaper building hosts dj’s, illustrators, copywriters, product-, fashion and graphic designers and other creatives. Next to that ITstart- ups and social organisations find an affordable office space in the Volkskrant building. Not only does Urban Resort rent office spaces but also in collaboration with tenants the foundation organises festivals and events, book presentations, fashion shows, poetry readings and exhibitions. The combination with 180 renters (amongst club/restaurant Canvas and the Hogeschool van Amsterdam college), results in the Volkskrant building being one of the largest creative workspaces in Holland.


Broedplaats in Volkshotel In 2011 corporation Stadgenoot decides to sell the building. The new owner has a clear goal: to create a 24hr micro society, including a new hotel and the existing Club/Restaurant Canvas and Broedplaats. Urban Resort co-operates with Volkshotel, resulting in the new Broedplaats VKG. The creative workspaces downsize from 180 to 85 tenants and moves to the back wing of the building, Urban Resort. The management stays in Urban Resorts hands and the character of Broedplaats remains the same.


Collaboration with Volkshotel. The hotel’s public space will be used as exhibition space and tenant’s products will be sold in the hotel shop. Apart from that the new situation provides a nice environment for renters to get to know like-minded people, or even new clients. Volkshotel’s artwork, photographs and details such as doorhangers and city maps are made by Broedplaats VKG tenants. Other tenants work together with Volkshotel when it comes to organising club nights in Canvas. In short, the opening of Volkshotel is also a new chapter in the life of renewed Broedplaats VKG.


In Broedplaats VKG work all sorts of creative people, varying from a henna-tattoo artist to sculptures and copywriters to drawers. Meet two of them:


Broedplaatsvolk: Marouscha Levy Marouscha Levy is a decor and costume designer, but also 3D designer and illustrator. Marouscha even has a 3D printer! Marouscha designs for ongoing projects such as opera, theater and festivals. She has rented a workspace in the building since 2011, but she goes to Germany for most of her work.


Marouscha about her work: “As well as my sketches, I always make a scale model and technical drawing, this is to ensure the décor and sets work well. In addition to spatial design, I also design costumes for some of the projects, this is completely different because I have to deal directly with the people who need it, its very fun! Sometimes I put the emphasis on the costumes and I leave the decor in the background, as long as the image remains consistent with the content. I just had a premiere of the opera Eugen Onegin in Weimar (DE) and am working on two projects in 2014 one in Vienna and then Germany.”


Past and Future Marouscha has high hopes for Volkshotel, “I mainly wish for a place where everything happens, an easy going, inspiring meeting point – even if you come alone. With a good working atmosphere and even more parties, meetings, dancing, coffee and drinks, interspersed with a few lectures, film screenings, exhibitions, music and so on!”


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