FEATURED PROJECT
Successful interplay

The office is not only a workspace, but inevitably an interface between inside and outside. In the case of a design studio, it also represents its own work, the way it handles the space and its possibilities. This was the case for Gerdesmeyer Krohn Office for Design, which was able to plan and realise the design of the new office space in a former metalworking shop with high ceilings and plenty of natural light with its team of ten. "Our guiding principle was and is the common design approach that Christoph and I have shared since we studied together," explains Jonas Krohn, who founded the design studio together with Christoph Gerdesmeyer in Cologne in 2015. "Our motivation is to realise an interplay of aesthetics and function in every project, because every new challenge motivates us."

For the design of their own office, the duo opted for the material "HIMACS", which offers an extensive range of colours and textures. Thanks to the special processing method, it was also possible to plan and realise large objects seamlessly. In this way, rooms were created that appear to be cast from a single mould, while still combining different work areas with a high recognition value. The name of "HIMACS" is not to be found everywhere it is used. Countless architectural projects have been equipped with the material, as well as art installations, exhibition buildings, office and private spaces both indoors and outdoors. The material can take on almost any shape and numerous colours. Acrylic stone, as it is also called by the manufacturer, combines the mouldability of wood with the resistance of stone. The manufacturer gives a 15-year guarantee on the formaldehyde- and emission-free mix of minerals, acrylic and natural colour pigments. "HIMACS" also has an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which enables the life cycle assessment of construction projects to be calculated precisely. Gerdesmeyer Krohn also uses the solid surface material for projects: "Table tops, kitchen tops, worktops – often where moisture comes into play. But also simply because there is a very appealing selection of different materials."

Gerdesmeyer Krohn chose two eye-catching colours for their offices: "Maui", in various shades of green, was used for the fixtures in the office kitchen. The fronts and worktop in the design department shine in "Sapphire", a translucent pastel blue. "Our projects are often about combinations," says Krohn, explaining the choice of colours for his own rooms. "The green worktop, for example, has a surface with a terrazzo-like look, giving it a lively texture – a wonderful contrast in combination with a matt front. We were immediately impressed by the material of the light blue kitchen, Christoph and I had the small sample piece in our hands and both wanted to design something with it straight away." The team was able to carry out the necessary work with the solid surface material directly on site. The office has its own workshop, which illustrates Gerdesmeyer Krohn's one-stop-shop approach. The entire design studio not only provides illustrative material and examples of the company's own work, but also brings together all the steps under one roof: from the initial consultation to the conception and planning of an interior design or kitchen project through to production.