With its new brand space in Amsterdam – designed by S-P-A-C-E – POLSPOTTEN honours its history while reflecting key shifts in retail and work.
Highlighting the importance of a physical brand presence, POLSPOTTEN’s new space in central Amsterdam gives visitors a sense of playful discovery. Brought in to design a meeting place for the internal and external community, S-P-A-C-E looked to the legacy of the Dutch furniture and accessories company. From its outset, the brand has been about exploring the globe, reinterpreting traditional techniques from Europe, Africa and Asia while honouring their origins.
Photography by Kasia Gatkowska
POLSPOTTEN’s mission – ‘add play to space’ – was translated into a collage of reinterpreted archetypes. The dramatic angular entranceway, the meeting room ‘hut’, mosaics and more: each archetype has a historical precedent but adopts its own identity in the new design. Some of the archetypes celebrate iconic POLSPOTTEN products: an acoustic wall features ‘hieroglyphs’ of their silhouettes, key shapes are stacked into totems, and a bead curtain strings together the brand’s most iconic stool in miniature. The terracotta-inspired colours and materials refer to the brand’s first product, potten or ‘pots’.
Replacing POLSPOTTEN’s previous office in Aalsmeer and store on Amsterdam’s KNSM Island, the brand space brings everything under one roof and reflects new ways of working. Employees can work throughout the agile space, blending in with visitors and contributing to a relaxed, welcoming environment. A homelike coffee area with indoor and outdoor seating doubles as a flexwork spot, while the space’s general fluidity means it can easily host events. Fostering community-building, education and personal relationships with its in-store audience, the team offers workshops and home-styling advice. Meanwhile the in-house museum, with an endless collection of POLSPOTTEN icons, can be admired.
Photography by Kasia Gatkowska
With sustainability in mind, S-P-A-C-E reused as much of the existing interior as possible and opted for low-impact new additions: mono materials that are easier to recycle in the future, abundant natural materials like bamboo, and economical lighting. The space also includes a repair station to promote a culture of conscious ownership.
Photography by Kasia Gatkowska
About POLSPOTTEN
What began in 1986 with Erik Pol importing Spanish terracotta pots to Amsterdam’s Herenstraat has evolved into a sought-after brand for furniture and accessories. From its early days, POLSPOTTEN has reflected the expressive and non-conformist character of the Dutch capital. For its rebellious and colourful designs, the label has long collaborated with innovative Dutch designers and skilled international craftspeople from around the world. The company does not mass-produce products, and each unique item is designed to last a lifetime.
Over time, POLSPOTTEN has become a leading international brand with an unmistakable signature. Its products can be found in hotels such as Rosewood and CitizenM, and are sold in 65 countries at renowned concept stores like Merci and The Conran Shop, on platforms like Mytheresa, Farfetch and LouisaViaRoma, and at department stores such as De Bijenkorf, Browns, Selfridges and Lane Crawford. They are also available directly to design enthusiasts through www.polspotten.com and now at the new Amsterdam brand space, with deliveries serviced by Cake electric scooters.
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