Home of Innovation for B/S/H

What’s come to be known as the ‘inspiration house’ for Bosch & Siemens Netherlands combines offices with a museum, modern, interactive showrooms and innovation labs. They are both a showcase of their historic passion for design and their commitment to sustainability. Inside the four-storey atrium, a full height living wall – 1,000 lush plants that frame the meeting rooms – and a glazed roof allows soft light to fall through the solar cells to illuminate the whole space naturally. Four distinct spaces celebrate the heritage and evolution of Bosch, Siemens, Gaggenau and Neff and their part in designing the modern home. In state-of-the-art workshops, customers take part in cookery classes; in showrooms the brands demonstrate their latest innovations. 

On each floor, a glass façade fronts onto the atrium. Behind each is a blend of flexible work spaces: quiet work booths for one, informal meeting space, coffee corners, meeting rooms and open plan desk space punctuated with planting to soften sound. The opportunity for easy meeting and talking was purposeful and has changed business – internal emails have reduced by over 26% as colleagues meet to talk face to face. In summer, outside meeting is encouraged, with the restaurant preparing lunchtime food to be taken out into the external communal spaces in Park 20|20.

The whole building, alive with climbing and hanging plants, natural light and ventilation, seems almost to breathe. Outside, 50% of the building is covered with planting to control internal climate and filter the rainwater then used in sanitary facilities. Thousands of solar cells capture energy that powers the building. Cradle to cradle carpeting is leased so it will be re-processed. The use of natural materials in the build is perhaps not something you’d see, but you can somehow feel and sense it – the whole building and the welcome it gives, is calm, grounded, natural and warm.