Dressing room, Club Brugge
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How do you deal with the phenomenon of waiting?
“Whenever I'm looking at waiting rooms, at for example a doctor's office or a space in an office in which waiting plays a role, I try to make the wait as interesting as possible. Where possible, I do it by creating a view. A view to the exterior, of some greenery, makes waiting a bit more pleasant and ensures that the time goes more quickly. That's certainly not always possible in office situations, so in those cases it's a good idea to at least offer an architectural perspective. Not small, stuffy little corners, but open spaces with attractive sight lines that contribute to a comfortable waiting experience. Even so, waiting can sometimes go on for a long time. In earlier times, magazines were the only available option for distraction, but these days everyone has a smartphone and therefore all sorts of things to do with them. Time seems to go faster for it.”
Open spaces can sometimes be confronting, don't people want a bit of privacy?
“It is pleasant for people to be able to do things by themselves, or to sit or stand quietly, without it having to be stressful. In order to offer some privacy, you can create separate spaces without diminishing the architectonic space. Not by placing walls and doors, but furniture. That way you can make a kind of cocoon with various functions, that not only offers visual privacy, but also in terms of sound. Sound is a critical aspect. There is more and more furniture coming onto the market that can be used in many acoustic applications.”
Can you share an example of a project in which you applied this principles?
“I am working on an accountancy office in the centre of Torhout, at the moment. It's a project that is still in the discussion stage. The reception hall is a large, open space with a counter and separate pieces of furniture. The furniture can easily be moved around, providing options for waiting separately, working, or making a call without inconveniencing people nearby. You can, for example, place two seats across from one another and have a quiet conversation or a meeting with someone. If you place all the chairs in a row, you create a different function. They serve as zoning markers, while at the same time retaining an interesting experience of the space. As a visitor you don't get the impression that you are hidden away. Nine years ago at Club Brugge I applied the same principle in the players' lounge. Also the space for partners and children of the players to wait and perhaps have something to eat or drink, before and after competitions. The furniture in the space is free-standing and can be positioned in different ways. In no time, a play space, eating area or workstation can be created. The notion of finding the solution in separate pieces of furniture arose from the temporary character of the commission.”
What did the commission involve,exactly?
“The desire to build a new stadium arose at the time that Club Brugge got Bart Verhaeghe as its new chairperson. The plan was to use the old stadium for a couple of years until the new one was ready. Due to the fact that the old stadium was completely outdated, a decision was taken to make some modifications. I was commissioned to create a design for the interior of the players’ lounge and facilities: dressing rooms, shower rooms, gym, reception room and press room. The brief was to create an inviting and comfortable environment in which the club's players would be spending a lot of time. This temporary solution is, by the way, still in use. Construction of the new stadium has yet to be started!”
What was your approach to the commission?
“The red thread in every project is that I first receive a list of practical requirements. With the dressing rooms, for example, the requirements included: a place for the players to sit; mirrors; large bins on wheels for laundry - the players’ uniforms; and the trainer had to be able to give a briefing there. I think carefully about that list of requirements. How can I organise everything effectively while at the same time creating a pleasant environment? The players should never get the impression that they are sitting in a sort of laundry room. Then I look for solutions that meet those requirements and that fit within the budget and timing.”
What impact did the temporary aspect have on the design?
“It had financial consequences, mainly. Only a limited budget was available. That is why I looked for solutions that were not too difficult. In Belgium, budgets are very connected to hourly wages. If you can keep the hourly wage costs low, your budgeting is already going in the right direction. Obviously, you also have to pay for what you’re purchasing, for example, lighting fixtures and flooring, so you can't go really crazy, but the key with limited budgets is ensuring that the design is simple to implement and easy to construct. Take, for example, the press room. The request was for an environment in which to receive journalists. They need a chair and a table for their writing pad, laptop or ipad, and so there was a whole programme of requirements. There was a notion to organise it like a lecture hall, but that is not flexible. Finally, the answer was to purchase a specific piece of furniture: a one-piece chair and table unit. The placement of furniture is moreover totally not labourintensive, which means the hourly wage stays low.”
Press room, Club Brugge
To what extent do aesthetics come into play?
“For me, every project has three components. The functional component: the requirements with respect to the practical use and the daily programme at the location. For example, I currently have a commission for a residence belonging to two bakers. These are people who sleep during the day, so a lot of attention has to be paid to the acoustic containment of the bedroom. That is not a factor with people with 9-to-5 jobs. Aesthetics are the second component. Commissioning clients are often less specific about this. They indicate what kind of ambiance they enjoy or what kinds of materials they think are beautiful. With Club Brugge the aesthetic starting point was blue, the club's colour. And finally there is the budget and the timing. Those three components must be in balance with one another. But with each commission the weight of the components may differ. With an office, for example, the budget component and timing are very important, as is functionality. Aesthetics are less important. In a home, the aesthetic component is much more important. Although that does again depend on the function per space. In the kitchen and bathroom, aesthetics are more subordinate to functionality, than they are, for example, in the living room.”
It is quite a challenging puzzle…
“Yes, I approach projects very analytically. An additional factor is the question of how to implement the desired programme within an existing environment. Sometimes not everything fits and compromises have to be found. It is a constant balancing act and dealing creatively with the issues you’re confronted with as an interior architect is the essence of this profession. It does sometimes become misconstrued. I notice, mainly with private clients, that there is often a conception of the interior architect as the one that deals with colours and materials, but it is so much more than that. It is about the fundamental organisation and design of a living environment.”
Players' lounge, Club Brugge
STEVEN VAN COMPERNOL
Steven Van Compernol hails from Ruddervoorde and graduated in 1994 from Sint-Lucas in Ghent as an interior architect. His first commission was the construction and dismantling of a trade fair for Stichting Interieur Kortrijk. He went on to work for various firms in the sector. From 1996 to the start of 2000 he worked at Obumex, and in 2000 he began his own business. He has now been working as an independent interior architect for 20 years. To be able to work more efficiently and to have a sounding board, Van Compernol has had an employee working full-time for one and a half years now. He has many private commissions: from bathrooms or kitchens to the design of a feature wall for a hearth, or an entirely new home. He also designs offices and shops.
stevenvancompernol.be