Work and leisure come together

The most striking shared facilities are the game room and the place for a mid‑day nap at the office, with a massage chair and three sleeping booths that can be darkened. Is there really a need for that? "On a tour I entered the relaxation room, chatting. Immediately I hear, 'shh, we're trying to sleep.' Yes, the spots for a power nap are already being well used," says Martijn van Wezel, creative director of Kragt.

Kragt develops work environments and also fits them out itself, from design to execution, such as in the Videolab on Strijp-S and the PSV stadium. Kragt has, with the new concept MELT, occupied the beautiful top floor of building TQ. Six weeks ago the fit-out was finished; in the meantime only four of the fifteen office units are still available. Not for nothing is Van Wezel already thinking about rolling out the MELT concept elsewhere in the city, in Amsterdam, "and why not across the whole world", says Kragt's creative director, who is also based just around the corner on Strijp-T.

MELT is primarily intended for service-oriented scale-up companies in the technical/creative industry that are ready for something bigger, but do not yet want or are able to rent an entire building. "You notice that many shared workspace concepts are not very flexible as a company grows. We've solved that here," said Koen van Loon of Kragt. At MELT a company rents a fixed unit of four, six, ten or twenty workplaces. In addition, each tenant can purchase a number of 'memberships' for employees. These 'members' can then make use of the communal facilities and the individual workspaces.

,,What you see is that a company, for example, starts a branch in Eindhoven with a few fixed workplaces. Some employees then only have to be here occasionally. For that the company takes a few member-spots, so those people can come and work here," says Van Loon. ,,And that also fits perfectly in this corona time: employees who work from home can then also come to the office. We see that too with our own people who can now also temporarily come here," according to Van Wezel.

The fixed units are glass offices distributed across the floor, always adjacent to the outside, with a view and their own roof terrace. A kind of smoked glass was chosen, for privacy and to prevent the shop-window effect. Tenants can somewhat put the interior to their own use. Furthermore, on the floor there are a kind of phone booths (mainly for video calling at the moment), quiet rooms for working, two-person meeting units, large sofas for lounging or working, and a presentation space. Centrally located there is also a pantry - a kitchen to prepare lunch or dinner. With a couple of good espresso machines. "The good coffee does indicate our level of quality," said Van Loon. And of course the corner where you can game on a big screen. And the space with the sleeping places.

,,Power naps? No, that's not for me, I don't wake up feeling great after an afternoon nap", says Ivo van Reij of Organic United, one of the tenants of MELT. ,,We are huge fans of the roof terrace and the balconies. That's where the buzz happens, even in Covid-19 times. Like today at the first Friday afternoon drinks, although it mustn't get too cozy. We also sometimes play FIFA in between. And I also like to join in on the weekend. Soon we're thinking about starting the day together at the Eindhoven Gym in TQ, although for now that's only outside. So we can then start at the office fresh and energetic."

Van Reij took a next step with his company that brings organic farmers and their buyers together, from Microlab on Strijp-S to TQ. "We have grown to four employees and here we have the opportunity to continue growing in a professional, sustainable environment. Here we also find somewhat more connection with the other tenants who are engaged in sustainability. Our people in sales, who are often to be found out in the fields, can then work here as members a few days a week."

MELT must facilitate users in the 'new way of working', say Van Wezel and Kragt. "For this generation work and leisure merge into one whole, hence the name MELT. That brings the living and working environment together," says Van Wezel. "So the children come along and can have a nice game here for a while. Or a company cooks a communal dinner in our kitchen," says Van Loon.

But isn't it much better to separate work and private life? ,,We only facilitate where there is a need among the target group," says Van Loon. ,,Companies want to bind young talent and use an inspiring workplace for that. For many younger employees that also has a social aspect where they find connection. A beer on the roof terrace, working out together in the gym in the building. That's what they're looking for, they come here precisely not to work alone." ,,We want to remove that traditional office feeling," adds Van Wezel. ,,We create an environment where you don't watch the clock. Where you can still stay after five o'clock. And then you can dine nicely here on the roof terrace, instead of at home." Van Loon hopes to further raise the service level by soon being able to offer a prepared lunch. ,,And if the corona measures allow it, we also want to have a hairdresser come by. If there is a need for that."