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What about the choice of materials?
The main goal was to get a very bright building
with colorful accents here and there. That’s why
we chose white as the background color. White is
a contemporary color and serves as the perfect
basis for the rest of the interior design. We chose
for light basic colors and some wooden accents.
Why did you choose Extremis furniture?
We chose Extremis because their vision suits
this project very well: furniture with a strong
personality, well-considered features, and high
quality design,” shares Vermoortel. “Because
of the fast-changing weather conditions and
powerful wind, sustainable materials are very
important when designing a project near the
coast. Extremis is an established Belgian brand
and has a widely-known service record. That’s
why the choice for Extremis furniture was an
easy one.
The Hopper picnic tables were placed on the
restaurant terrace because they offer great
accessibility. There is plenty of room at the head
of the table for a wheelchair. Vermoortel adds:
“Co-workers love to lunch, relax and even hold
meetings at the Hopper.”
On the psychiatric department terrace, we
opted for the ultimate piece of togetherness
(in our eyes). We were looking into solutions
that enhance eye contact between everyone at
the table. The round Pantagruel was the perfect
solution for this.
Do you see AZ Zeno as an example of
biophilic design?
Well, having access to natural light and being
in contact with a green environment has a major
impact on the healing process for a patient.
Actually, it is beneficial for everyone. It can reduce
stress, boost your productivity and contribute to
overall wellbeing. Stacking the interior with plants
and greens may not be the ideal solution, says
Vermoortel with a chuckle.
Because of the sophisticated architecture, you can
enjoy nature from inside the building. Therefore, we
preferred to have a hospital in a green environment
rather than a building in the city without greenery
or daylight. Vermoortel concludes: “We designed
this building with the users and their relationship
with the environment in mind”.
“I truly believe that AZ Zeno is the ultimate example
of biophilic design.”
INTERVIEW
Thoughtful choices
from A to Z
“The building is inspired by the surrealistic work of René Magritte. It looks like it’s floating
above the landscape with light and nature dominating the entire building, top-down and
bottom-up,” according to Vermoortel. “The seamless transitions between outside and inside,
private and public spaces results in an inviting and inspiring building”.
Pieterjan Vermoortel
CEO from B2Ai architects
