Schoups Advocaten

Clean design against a backdrop of concrete, brick and fabric at Schoups law firm in Antwerp

From out on the street – Mechelsesteenweg to be precise – the building that houses the Schoups law firm in Antwerp looks like a curious juxtaposition of bulbous concrete pillars, boxy office architecture and a red brick façade. Dating from the 1960s, this striking building has stood out from the rest of the street’s otherwise rather homogeneous architecture for many decades now. In 2023, the building was remodelled and redesigned by the architectural firm ono architectuur. As part of the renovation, the supporting concrete structures inside the building were exposed, and red tiles and carpeting were added to the interior spaces to pick up on the red colour of the bricks outside.

The rooms in the Schoups law firm are separated by glass partitions, creating a bright, airy feel. Colourful fabric curtains can be used to change the layout as necessary. In the centre of the foyer, a Thonet B 9 nesting table set and a B 20 coffee table, inspired by the Bauhaus classic, have been paired with dark-green upholstered seating. The beech tabletops are stained black, while the light from the lighting fixtures is reflected in the chrome-plated tubular steel frames. The industrial yet homely style of the tables is in keeping with the appealing contrast between concrete and fabric throughout the rest of the building.

Adjacent to the foyer, two meeting and conference rooms have also been furnished with pieces from Thonet. The classic S 64 and S 43 chairs featured here are custom-made editions that combine seating comfort with beautiful aesthetics. Marcel Breuer designed the S 64 in 1928, during his time in Berlin, and Thonet has been producing the chair since 1930. It has been used in both of these large rooms in an upholstered version. The choice of cobalt blue fabric creates a strong contrast with the cool, shiny chrome frame of the chair, which is unmistakeable from behind. For a modular seating solution, the S 64 PVST can be stacked.

The S 43 has also been chosen for the second-floor gallery. With its pure, understated shape, this cantilever chair is synonymous with modernism. The moulded plywood pieces for the seat and backrest were created by designer Mart Stam and here, in this version, they have been stained in a dark brown. A version of the S 43 with dark-brown upholstery creates a visual link to an S 35 L armchair with natural leather in chocolate brown. When Marcel Breuer created the S 35 L, it was the very first cantilever chair to be made out of a single continuous piece of tubular steel that also included armrests. The stain colours and cover fabrics selected by ono architectuur epitomise the way in which the building effortlessly combines industrial design and homely comfort, while also adding an air of elegance to its interiors.