Airports & secure areas

Airport Library Schiphol - Custom-made furniture

For the renovated Holland Boulevard at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, we produced and installed custom-made furniture for the Airport Library.

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Project Information

Client

CPNB

Location

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Start - end date

- up to

December 2017

The library houses around five hundred books by Dutch authors, translated into more than forty languages. Travelers can relax by sitting, lying down, reading, or listening to music. This area, located between Lounge 2 and 3, is behind security and passport control and is intended for transit passengers who do not have enough time to leave the airport.

Sustainability and circularity were central to this project. We produced the Rainbow Bench, an orange wooden seating unit with side panels upholstered using spines from decommissioned books. Retired train seats from the Dutch railways (NS) were reupholstered and reinstalled. The "Map of the Netherlands" and the "Gateway of Stories" are bookshelves constructed from bricks of decommissioned books, with large LCD screens on the back. For the blue Children’s Corner, we produced perforated steel lamps for high-tech LED globes.

In collaboration with various services, we also conducted extensive fire safety tests. Nearly 6,000 books used in the project came from public libraries across the Netherlands.

This project was a collaboration between the CPNB, Superuse Studios, and Issos.

foto's: Thijs Wolzak en Julie Hrudova

Topics

Can you also work inside monumental or existing buildings?

Yes, we do that regularly, for example in museums! We have extensive experience with structural requirements, additional permitting processes, and respecting original features during renovations or transformations. The bigger the challenge, the more rewarding the work!

How do you take user experience into account in public or high-traffic spaces?

We consider routing, acoustics, sightlines, materials, and maintenance. Everything must not only look good but also be logical, safe, and durable in use – especially in sectors such as government, culture, and airports.

Are you accustomed to working in secure environments?

Yes. Our team is trained, vetted, and familiar with the procedures. We regularly work in areas with restricted access and strict logistics, such as airports or government facilities.

Can you serve multiple locations simultaneously?

Yes. We have the organization, network, and experience to operate simultaneously at multiple locations across the Netherlands – with centralized coordination and local execution.

FAQs

Can you also work with an external architect or main contractor?

Sure. We regularly work in construction teams with external architects, contractors and consultants. We coordinate our role flexibly: from interior construction alone to taking care of the entire process.

Do you only work on large projects?

No. We also take on smaller assignments and sub-projects with the same care and professionalism. Think of reception areas, pantries, meeting rooms or custom solutions where quality and detail are important.

What does turnkey project management mean?

Turnkey means that we take care of the entire process: from engineering to planning, execution and aftercare. One point of contact, one schedule, one result. No separate links, but one sleek whole.

Do you also deliver the custom furniture yourself?

Yes. We have our own production in-house and work with a permanent group of high-quality production partners. We engineer, plan and coordinate everything — including production, installation and delivery. This is how we guarantee quality, planning and a high level of finish.

Why include Issos in the project early on?

Because we contribute ideas from practice to the practical feasibility of a project. We often see where bottlenecks can arise and how to prevent them — technically, financially or architecturally. This way, you prevent delays and failure costs.

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