Our latest addition to Amsterdam
WITH CARBON STUDIO
Hoooi, we’re back in our hometown with another new store, this time shaking things up in the splashy Spiegelkwartier area of Amsterdam.
Once again, we worked with like-minded creatives to make it all happen: say hey to Carbon Studio, an architecture office lead by Pieter Kool. Pieter is a renowned architect with an impressive resume of innovative retail design and shares some of his thoughts on the process.
The grand Ampersand entrance
COMING SOON, TAKE A LOOK LATER :)
Perhaps you've noticed — Ampersand’s are kind of our thing. So we built a larger-than-life one to illuminate the street at our entrance. The Ampersand has illuminated LED running alternately in the front and back, making it a real industrial eye-catcher.
“The Ampersand mimics the wave of the corrugated steel sheets that we used on the ceilings.”
How it started
How it’s made
How it came together
Humble material, high-class look
Lined with antique stores and galleries, Nieuwe Spiegelstraat is a swanky street known for top-notch craftsmanship. This inspired us to turn a common, humble material into something as valuable and delicate as a porcelain vase.
“I love it when materials, which are regarded as bland, commonplace or even cheap, are crafted into something of value. Quality is about care, not abundance.”
Material that steels our hearts
After you’ve stopped staring at the impressive Ampersand, you’ll notice snazzy, wavy sheets of steel. That’s called corrugated steel, a very thin yet strong material due to its cleverly engineered shape. These sheets form a design language that’s rooted in post-modernist art and pairs perfectly with the earthy yet vibrant waves on the walls.
“We love the post-modernist clash of round and square shapes, and how the fresh colours clash with the traditional façade. The arty take on the brand reflects the gallery district.”
TALKING ABOUT RESPONSIBLE DESIGN...
Carbon Studio and our team researched ways to create a space with circularity in mind. The metal sheets have a low footprint compared to other materials commonly used as interior claddings and can be easily recycled. The furniture is made of 100% recycled chipboard, and we used non-toxic glues and low-impact veneer and paints.
“I choose not to look for the usual suspects; hip sustainable materials with an ‘eco look’, but to research industrial processes to find which have a valuable sustainable story to tell.”
PIETER KOOL, FOUNDER OF CARBON STUDIO
WHO
Pieter Kool, founder of Carbon Studio
LIVES
On a houseboat he designed himself (it literally won an award)
HIS SIGNATURE MOVE
Connecting human emotions with material qualities — creating interiors that feel right and are surprising
GETS INSPIRED BY
Clumsy, emotional and irrational human behaviour. In contrast, also super-functional objects (like machines, industrial buildings etc.)
HIS BACKSTORY
Studied Industrial Design Engineering and used his knowledge to develop G-Star’s brand identity in 3D spaces. In 2017 he founded Carbon Studio to continue exploring the crossroads of interior, brand development and architecture
THINKS GLASSES ARE
An accessory you switch up to mirror your mood
Come on over
Our doors are open. Try on glasses, get a free eye test or just have a good time. See you there!
OPENING TIMES
Mon 12:00—18:00
Tue—Sat 10:00—18:00
Sun 12:00—17:00