Zeekr

ZEEKR is the latest luxury EV brand from Geely Holding Group, a Chinese mobility group founded in 2013. ZEEKR's European R&D center is located in Gothenburg, the headquarters in Amsterdam. With the growth of the brand in Europe, there was also a need for a larger office. Architecture Masters sketched the new layout for the existing building and designed the interior, Ahrend furnished it according to the style book. 'The feedback from my colleagues about the overall design is very positive.'

European headquarters

In 2021, the first ZEEKR electric cars hit the market, in Europe they appeared in 2023. The first showroom opened that year in Sweden. Amsterdam also got a showroom at the end of 2023 and the European headquarters in the same year. The head office soon outgrew its premises and moved to the Amsterdam Zuidas in an existing office building of 2,500 m² with four floors. The layout and interior of the existing office building are fully in line with the corporate identity of this EV car brand.

Royal Ahrend office project interior view of Zeekr in Amsterdam SP05

Royal Ahrend office project interior view of Zeekr in Amsterdam SP06

Open office floor

The basis for Olga Timmermans, interior designer at Ahrend, was the layout and style book of Architecture Masters. 'ZEEKR opted for an open office floor on the 1st and 2nd floor with many break-out rooms for consultation and collaboration of 2-5 people. To be able to call quietly, for an online meeting or individual supreme concentration, we used Ahrend Qabin Chats and Calls. In total, about a hundred workstations have been realized with Ahrend Balance sit/stand desks with Ahrend 2020 office chairs attached. We also took care of the cabling and electrification.'

‘Our employees feel at home in their workplace and in the Ahrend Qabins where they can call or meet online undisturbed.’

Audrey van Dongen-Schachtschabel executive assistant at ZEEKR

Royal Ahrend office project interior view of Zeekr in Amsterdam SP08

Royal Ahrend office project interior view of Zeekr in Amsterdam SP04

Royal Ahrend office project interior view of Zeekr in Amsterdam SP01

Royal Ahrend office project interior view of Zeekr in Amsterdam SP011

Royal Ahrend office project interior view of Zeekr in Amsterdam SP02

Royal Ahrend office project interior view of Zeekr in Amsterdam SP03

Sessions during showroom visit

For the break-out rooms, Ahrend Aero conference tables were used with Inclass Arum 4-legged chairs. The conference chairs on the board and meeting floor are Hendrix Mini chairs from Deberenn and in the boardroom there are Graph conference chairs from Wilkhahn.
For the boardroom, Olga designed three interiors with different furniture. 'This was also done in very close cooperation with the architect and the client. Sessions and visits have been held in our showroom to see and try out all the products and materials.'

Royal Ahrend office project interior view of Zeekr in Amsterdam SP010

Beautiful and functional

The design of the lobby and the restaurant was also done in close consultation. Olga: 'It turned out that the spaces required flexibility. We have fulfilled that wish with the use of round folding tables Blender I from Casala. In addition, we have used high Ahrend Aero tables and high Well chairs.'
The special thing about this project was the interplay between architect and client. 'It was nice that Audrey knew what she wanted and could interpret it well. All this has led to a beautiful and functional end result.'

ZEEKR about Ahrend

'For the European headquarters, we wanted to work with a local furnishing partner. Ahrend stood out with an attractive price-quality ratio and pleasant interaction. I have previously selected individual desks or chairs, but filling in an interior plan is of a completely different order. Ahrend's account manager and interior designer took me through this step by step. What I really appreciated is thinking along, offering alternatives and coming up with solutions, all at a rapid pace. The whole process was a breath of fresh air and that is reflected in the result.
Our employees are proud to receive visitors and customers and they like to come to the office. They feel at home at their workplace, in one of the many break-out rooms and in the Ahrend Qabins where they can call or meet online undisturbed and without disturbance. The feedback from my colleagues about the overall design is very positive.'

Audrey van Dongen-Schachtschabel, executive assistant at ZEEKR

Photography: Stijn Poelstra