• Magazine
  • Magazine Issue 1

Flooring from an architect's perspective

An interview with architect René Walkenhorst

Exhibition design: ATELIER BRÜCKNER | Pictures: European Parliament / Michael Jungblut | Flooring coating: AK Beschichtungstechnik GmbH | Picture Portrait: Portrait / Daniel Stauch

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VIACOR: You work in an architect’s office, which counts among the best in Germany. Over 200 national and international awards have been won by this studio. What does this mean for you on a personal level? Is it an incentive or a burden?

René Walkenhorst: Each and every one of our projects has an individual and unique character. No two projects are the same. Our company philosophy of “form follows content” motivates me each time to develop specific concepts which express the ontents of the existing space appropriately and in line with the goals of our target audience.

VIACOR: Atelier Brückner in Stuttgart implements projects with extra-ordinary design worldwide. Who is your target audience and how do you reach them?

René Walkenhorst: Scenography allows us to create 3D pictures and atmospheres which present the exhibition themes intuitively. This is how we appeal to the visitors to the exhibition. The 3D pictures allow them to immerse themselves in the different themes. Different aspects appeal to different target groups, whether it be background information which can be offered in a media guide, or an app which may enthuse young visitors with a game. In general, content gained and understood through interaction is more vivid and more memorable

VIACOR: In Shanghai or Denmark there are special requirements and different kinds of construction companies than in Germany. How do you achieve your quality standard in separate specialist areas across a variety of locations?

René Walkenhorst: In order to guarantee our quality standard, it’s vital that we work very closely with the responsible people on-site during the entire process, from design and planning through to execution and the cons-truction management. This applies to both national and international projects.

VIACOR: Your projects are spaces which have a narrative and leave a lasting impression. In the forefront is an experience which needs to be packaged in a building. Who designs the story, the tour, the experience so to speak?

René Walkenhorst: We design our exhibitions as narrative dramatic compositions. At the start of the project the available resources, stories and information are analysed – this is the starting point of our work. The concepts which have been born from this are then carried over into the space with our creative flair and become an experience for our visitors.

VIACOR: Can you choose the materials which are used on walls, ceilings and floors or are there certain requirements given by the clients or countries?

René Walkenhorst: As architects we make the suggestions and the final choice is made together with the clients.

VIACOR: What criteria do you follow to choose your materials? You use the flooring to form part of your story – what do you require from the flooring?

René Walkenhorst: Firstly we ensure that the space can make the desired impression with the chosen material from a scenographic viewpoint. After that, the most important aspects are durability, price, cleaning capability and environmental impact.

VIACOR: What is your decision process? Do you go directly to the installer/ floor layer rather than through the manufacturer, or is it the other way round? Or do you get everything through a tendering process?

René Walkenhorst: The flooring is most often part of a wider tendering process, which covers the entire development. The tender defines the desired technical implementation.

VIACOR: What role does the flooring play in the planning of buildings and rooms?

René Walkenhorst: All media and materials, including for flooring, are chosen in or-der that our scenographic concept can be adequately implemented.

VIACOR: Which ideas would use synthetic resin flooring and which would not?

René Walkenhorst: Visually, synthetic resin flooring is very low-key, you can use it to produce attractive and homogenous surfaces in many different colours.

VIACOR : What advantages/disadvantages does a synthetic resin coating have?

René Walkenhorst: We value synthetic resin flooring because of the uniformity it brings to rooms and the expansive choice of colours on offer. The disadvantage is it scratches easily, which is of course more visible on homogenous surfaces.

VIACOR : You used the VIASOL UNIFLEX´s GREEN LINE ECO system on your project in Berlin. Were you already aware of VIACOR´s products and systems?

René Walkenhorst: We had already worked with it at an exhibition project in ARBURG.

VIACOR : What criteria do you have for coating companies?

René Walkenhorst: We have very exacting requirements for the coating companies we work with. With public spaces in particular, high quality materials and execution are extremely important.

VIACOR : Have you received feedback from the client on the flooring?

RW: The feedback from the client was very positive. He has used the same flooring in further projects.

ATELIER BRÜCKNER
 
“conceives and designs narrative architecture for brands, exhibitions and museums. From the content and messages, we develop surprising ideas and memorable concepts that set international standards.”

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