The Commons is both restaurant and event space and part of the newly opened The Student Hotel in Delft, The Netherlands. The restaurant, together with the rest of the public areas of the hotel, were designed according to circular design principles. With the multifunctional character and the numerous public functions of the restaurant in mind, The Invisible Party managed to incorporate usability and to create a visual link between The Student Hotel and Delft University of Technology, by combining a technical theme with the playful character of The Student Hotel. The restaurant design was inspired by the concept of a ‘grand café’ and designed for students and locals alike. Lush indoor planting, rounded shapes, and bold colors soften the concrete columns and the floor to ceiling glazing. Curtains, industrial chandeliers, and large banquette seating create different zones, where guests can dine and work. The heart of The Commons is the fifteen-meter long cocktail bar that doubles up as an open kitchen. The eclectic materials and color palette of recycled plastic tables, sky blue bar stools, bright red sofas, and a recycled confetti screed floor ensure that the space is always decorated, even before the tables have been set. To ensure easy disassembly in the future, most of the fixed furniture is modularly designed, and the use of glue was avoided in its construction. This way their individual parts can be recycled or repurposed at the end of their use by sourcing them back into the production cycle. To tell the full story of the product’s life cycle TSH’s own plastic waste, such as recycled milk caps, was used to create individual elements of the interior. Designing under sustainable principles, with the aim for the interior to be fully circular is still in its early stages and a new endeavour to make a positive impact. As there are no written standards yet, every choice had to be made by weighing up all the different options to receive the best possible outcome. Staying true to the initial design concept while trying to find the best sustainable solution was hereby the biggest challenge. Tricky questions that arose during this additional effort, were for example whether steel parts were to be lacquered in accordance with the designated color palette or to be left bare, with just an oil layer for protection, to ensure easy recycling at the end of their life cycle. In addition hygiene and safety standards had to be followed and taken into consideration during the entire design process.
The Commons
The Invisible Party
Bronze

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Julian Lwin
Spatial Design Director
at Lwindesign + StreetFarms USA
Some great details - beautiful unif...
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6

Alexander Fehre
Founder
at Studio Alexander Fehre
Waiting chairs are a great! Maybe f...
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5
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6
5.5

Jayati Sinha
Physical and Digital Experience Designer
at Fjord @ Accenture
Loving the randomized furniture ! T...
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5
5.75

Benjamin Kaplan
Design Director Global Brand Experience
at Nike
The design does not feel cohesive....
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5
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4
4.25

Jump Lee
Design Director
at One fine day studio & partners
4
6
4
3
4.25

Karol Suguikawa
Creative Director
at Karol Suguikawa Design
5
5
5
5
5

Ekaterina Elizarova
Founder and Creative Director
at Elizarova Design Studio
4
5
4
5
4.5

Yanfei Li
Founder and Design Director
at 8877 Interiors
5
5
3
4
4.25

Alberto Martinez
Sales Manager of Central Europe
at Andreu World
6
6
6
5
5.75

Studio Lotus
Architect and Interior Designer
at Studio Lotus
5
6
5
5
5.25

Marjan van Aubel
Solar Designer
at Marjan van Aubel Studio
5
5
8
3
5.25

Olga Sundukova
Cofounder
at Sundukovy Sisters
5
5
5
5
5

Andrew Mcmullan
Director
at Mcmullan Studio
4
4
4
5
4.25

Julien Sebban
Architect
at Uchronia
5
5
5
5
5
Designer
Client
The Student Hotel
Floor area
250 ㎡
Completion
2020