Design, light and comfort at the cafeteria of a business centre in Belgium

As their name suggests the 5AM practice celebrates the notion of rising early and seizing the day, a sentiment that is perfectly reflected in one of their latest projects at In The Yard, located in Drongen (Ghent, Belgium). Within a built area of more than 5,000 square metres that includes offices, meeting rooms and social areas designed as sustainable meeting places within a healthy environment that is open and welcoming, a place for enjoying work and networking, to bring about the best result in each case scenario.

To achieve this, the wellbeing of the people who work at In The Yard has been prioritised, all the spaces within the building are designed to radiate calming, yet dynamic and inspirational comfort. The use of warm timber and modern elements serve as a common thread throughout the different floors and settings, with the lighting scheme conceived as one of the most carefully curated aspects for connecting spaces seamlessly.

Natural lighting which plays an important role in the building thanks to the generous interior courtyard measuring 1,400 square metres, is aligned with the interior light fittings to create singular atmospheres that promote wellbeing, combining design, technology and light. That explains the selection of the Tempo collection for lighting the cafeteria given the same objectives shared by Vibia.

It’s during those moments of relaxation when you can unwind in a more informal ambience, where Vibia puts the focus on fulfilling the desires of business centre employees with a lighting design that, in addition to creating an attractive atmosphere, has a positive impact on their state of being. Enjoying a coffee while contemplating the landscape, having lunch with colleagues, or reviewing the next meeting while taking a break always feels better when the lighting scenarios that frame each of these activities have been created specifically for them.

Designed by Lievore Altherr, the Tempo collection is featured at the In The Yard cafeteria space both as a suspended and applique wall light. The placement is carefully considered to complement the lighting distribution within a space of these characteristics, all of the Tempo fixtures are inspirated by differing gradations of lighting and the interaction of opacity, translucence and transparency.

In this contemporary space, furnished with a combination of round and square tables, together with chairs and benches organised along its large window openings, the alternating light fittings, some suspended, others anchored to the wall via long and short rods, heightening the dynamic visual interplay where the lighting is framed against a background of darker tones, generating a pleasant spatial sensation.

Regarding the choice of hand-blown glass diffusers for Tempo, there was an idea of alternating the design aesthetic of disks with diamond shaped lights, all provided with LED lighting in line with the sustainability credentials that the project respects and also representing Vibia’s own philosophy.

Credits:
– Project by: 5AM Studio
– Photography: 5Am Studio, Jelle Elaut