[en] The whole architectural and interior design project of our new premises in Sant Pere de Torelló has been carried out by the team at Colomer-Rifà. It has been many months of work -with Covid in the midst of everything- as well as meetings, site visits and the implication of the whole team which has resulted in a building that transmits the values at Viefe® and a place in which we feel really at home working.
To find out more about just how the building was conceived we’ve spoken to Montse Cubí and Carlota Mateu, both responsible for the project. Montse has carried out the executive work and directed the project and Carla took care of the initial design and all the interiors. They both form part of the team at Colomer Rifà, who have specialized in design projects and the direction of building projects in the fields of engineering, architecture and the environment for the last 35 years. Their philosophy is based on designing buildings that are completely functional, environmentally sustainable, efficient and with a modern design.
What were you trying to convey with Viefe®’s new premises and how have you managed to do it?
Montse – In terms of the industrial unit, we’ve created a big warehouse and an important zone for the workshop which are both very functional and designed to facilitate the working environment to the maximum. The offices are avant-garde and incorporate all types of comforts. They include a technical office, a zone designated to the commercial team, a photographic studio and a showroom where Viefe®’s knobs, handles and wall hooks are displayed and where you can comfortably appreciate their characteristics.
Carlota – The objective was to achieve that the whole set-up breathes a powerful image associated with the sensitivity that Viefe® has for design. To separate the warehouse and workshop from the office area we resorted to using colour: the exterior part of the building is white and in the offices we used the contrast of black to emphasize the idea of design and make it stand out. The owners, Marc Font and Josep Font (director and head of operations respectively) wanted communication between the different areas of the company to be easy and fluid, that’s why we created really clear work spaces without any type of separation, allowing for interaction between all the members of the team.
Which materials have you used for your interior design?
C – Inside we’ve created a warm ambience by using materials that generate comfort: wood, a continuous mortar floor covering, carpets and felt panels in the entrance and on the ceiling to improve the building’s acoustics and give it an avant-garde feeling. The linear shape of these panels is inspired by the shapes of the handles, they are a really versatile element and allow us to include lighting and so achieve a welcoming environment.
M – As well as opting for materials that bring thermal and acoustic comfort and strengthen the lighting, we should also highlight the rest of the building including the warehouse which has underfloor heating, a fact that increases the feeling of comfort enormously.
What has been the criteria for the range of colour shades used in this project?
C – For the exterior we played around with whites and blacks. For the interior we used shades of grey and we’ve brought in other tones using the chairs and armchairs. The interior walls are transparent to improve the lighting in each space. From the technical office you can see into the workshop and vice-versa. And from any office or workspace you can see outside perfectly well, as well as all the interior corridors.
How were you able to work on the sustainability of the building?
M – It is thermally insulated so the building has a better energy efficiency. It is ready to be connected to the thermal power plant in Sant Pere de Torelló and so the company will then be able to make use of 100% sustainable energy.
What importance do knobs and handles have in your interior design projects?
C – In the projects that we carry out, it is usually the owner who chooses them. However, we do always advise them to go for functional handles that agree with the project’s aesthetics.
M – The handles that are visible are of real interest to us in that they should be different and give added aesthetic value to the furniture and the surrounding space.
Which particular models have you used in the offices, kitchens, bathrooms and other departments of Viefe®?
For the new facilities we’ve chosen, to a large extent, designs from our new catalogue of knobs and handles from 2021. Each of the spaces has a different model for example: the commercial department includes the Round model on the furniture; in the area of the showroom we’ve personalized it with knobs from the Bol range and handles from the Brave range; the office spaces in the admin area have handles from the Bella range and in the offices in the warehouse we’ve chosen handles from Este range; the discrete, new Diabolo knob is the protagonist in the technical office; and finally, we’ve bused handles from the Peak range in the studio area. By taking a tour of the different spaces you can also take a tour of the different products from our brand.
Lastly, which is your favourite room in your house? And in your offices?
M – In my house it has to be the kitchen. It’s where there is most interaction between the family.
At the offices of Colomer-Rifà it would have to be the gardens.
C – My favourite room in the house is the kitchen-living room-dining-room area. I like it because of the interaction of different functions and because it’s the nucleus of family life.
As for our offices, I would say it’s the modernist building itself (Colomer-Rifà is situated in Casa Ricart, a modernist building from the end of the 19th century in Vic).