Designed by INBO, this interior renovation for the Groninger Archieven opens up what was a dark, enclosed building into an accessible public space. The archive houses the largest collection in the province of Groningen and welcomes researchers, students, school groups and residents. INBO redesigned the ground floor to make the collection visible and bring these different audiences together. Warm tones near the entrance shift to cooler colours in the reading room, giving each zone its own atmosphere while keeping a clear route through the space.
The reading room required a quieter approach than the entrance and education area. Hale PET Felt Lounge Chairs and Stack Chairs carry through into this zone, where the PET Felt upholstery contributes to lower ambient noise levels alongside a calmer colour palette. The same seating family that handles the informal entrance area adapts here to support focused, individual use – without introducing a separate furniture specification for each zone.
Hale PET Felt Stack Chairs are stackable and lightweight, so the layout shifts easily between quiet research hours and busier days with school groups or lectures. Column Tables add round surfaces in the education area and informal zones. Hale PET Felt Lounge Chairs provide a place to pause near the entrance without interrupting the flow through the space.
This renovation shows how a single furniture family can bring consistency to a space that serves very different purposes throughout the day. Hale series runs from lounge seating to stack chairs to counter stools across the entire ground floor, keeping a unified look without restricting how each area is used. Musette Coffee Tables and Musette Side Tables complement the seating with a compact, quiet form.
Hale PET Felt Lounge Chair
Hale PET Felt Stack Chair
Hale PET Felt Counter Stool
