The interior design of the HQ for Amsterdam Based fashion brand Olaf Hussein draws inspiration from the relationships within the team, emphasizing togetherness and the brand’s commitment to sustainability, resulting in a modular, low-impact system with a friendly minimalist aesthetic.

As the Olaf team is young and fast growing, the Headquarters is in a condition of continuous adaptation and reconfiguration to adapt to the changing size and needs of the teams. Consequently we approached the workspace as a set of tools rather than a static interior. We envision the office as a dynamic platform, and we design the rules that allow for effortless change. The primary tools we employ are: cardboard tubes and CNC milled multiplex sheets, which can be assembled into self-supporting structures, creating desks, tables, room dividers, seating, and even walls.

The standout features of the office include a 25-meter-long work table, the wavy room dividers and the impressive 8-meter-long communal table; all designed to encourage togetherness and foster interaction. At the Olaf office there are no solitary, dedicated desks: ; instead, the lengthy, curvaceous table accommodates varying occupancies, 5 people can work there – without feeling ‘most desks are empty’ - just as well as 20. We consider this non-binary approach crucial in shaping contemporary workspaces.

Cardboard, a truly circular material, can easily be sourced locally, and discarded cardboard effortlessly transitions into new, recycled cardboard. The round shape of the tubes imbues them with structural strength while minimizing material usage. When configured in a wavy sequence, the room dividers become self-supporting structures, while remaining lightweight. Consequently, the resulting elements are easy to move around, extend, reconfigure etc. The same principle applies to the supports of the desks, tables, and seating, all designed with the next, yet unknown, update in mind. The economic, flexible and sustainable qualities of the cardboard tubes, combined with the tactile appeal of their round and soft textures, fit well with the ‘friendly minimalist’ ethos that defines the brand.

Clothing designers are notorious for making a mess. Multiple collections, samples, printed line plans, foamboards; design studios are usually packed with stuff. Consequently, the colour palette adopts a calming, unassuming backdrop, providing a clean canvas against which the hectic daily work unfolds. The materials chosen for the space—concrete, cardboard, and multiplex—retain their natural surface textures. The dominant shades of grey on the concrete floor and ceiling are balanced with the warm, earthy tones of natural cardboard. This grey-brown color scheme finds expression in a smaller scale such as the light fixtures and multiplex tabletops, ensuring a cohesive and harmonious atmosphere throughout the office.