Stories

Co-working space for therapists, Amsterdam 250m2

The meditative design of this therapeutic co-working space appeals to the senses to create a safe haven for both patients and practitioners.

Step inside from the street and be enveloped by serene, candlelit darkness – the first initiation into the dreamlike reality of Stories. The low-lit hall, minimally furnished, creates a stark separation between the bustle of the outside world and this, a sudden absence of atmospheric chaos.

Senses soothed by the cavernous entrance, feel a peaceful optimism in the bright calm of the welcome area, where you can sip tea at the pale, custom-made Burdur Beige marble bar upon arrival. Softly dappled sunlight, cast to the floor through gauzy linen curtains, fills the room with an otherworldly splendor.

This is a place to surrender completely to the indulgence of self-care, supported from all sides by homey furniture, organic shapes and soothing landscapes. The experience of each room at Stories works to slow you down, open you up and encourage self-care.

In signing off on the project, Studio 34 South, known for its comfortable yet sophisticated interiors, looked to research to create a functional design based on a story. The contemporary mix of business and well-being that Stories represents required an equally inventive approach to interior design.

Their mission was to create a safe haven for therapy clients, but also a space for mental and physical health professionals to interact, network and relax between sessions. They went into research to inform their approach and built their concept based on materials, colors and natural elements proven to have a positive effect on a person’s mental state.

The designers’ dedication to the purpose of the space is reflected in every design choice, from public spaces to the five therapy rooms shared by Stories members.

‘There was as much emphasis on the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi, or the beauty of impermanence and imperfection, as there was on high-quality items and materials. No one is perfect, nor should they be expected to be – so we wanted to create a venue that was similarly desirable, yet beautifully flawed. ‘

Beyond the overwhelming marble welcome bar, a flock of whimsical, green Fest “Sinclair” chairs creep into the social space, flanked by custom window seats and coffee tables from & Tradition. In this space to connect, a bold swirling pattern graces the wall and enlivens the space like a fresh gust of wind.

Upstairs, the one-on-one therapy rooms are cozy sanctuaries, with a Soho House atmosphere and expertly blended earth tones. The goal in these rooms was to create a sense of safety and buoyancy – safe spaces to bare your soul and look toward the future. A flurry of rust, bottle green and camel combined with warmly painted walls fly in the face of the sterile whiteness often associated with treatment rooms. Across the second floor, vintage travertine tables and a misshapen Foscarini Gregg pendant lamp face each other to maintain the precarious balance of imperfect beauty.

Our last stop is the Bodyworks rooms, used for massages and other healing therapies. These rooms are understated, draped with cream-colored linen curtains and walls lined with hand-applied lime made from natural limestone to give the off-white walls a rough, shadowy texture.

If nothing else, an experience at Stories creates space for peace, whether you are the client or therapist providing a service. As society slowly realizes the importance of self-care and mental health, this wonderful space offers real validation.

“The sun always shines here,” reads a testimonial on the Stories website, and we couldn’t agree more.

Credits
Owner concept: Stories | www.stories.space
Contractor: Flow Works
Interior Designer: Fire Guard
Photography: Flare Department | Underpromise.agency