News

Previous Article Next Article

Cleaning up: Launderette becomes a social space

By Victoria Buchanan 28 : 01 : 2013 Bar : Wasbar Ghent : Douwe Egberts

Belgium – Pinkeye, a crossover design studio based in Antwerp, has designed a launderette, Wasbar Ghent, which also functions as a café, bar and hairdresser.

Wasbar Ghent

Wasbar Ghent

Wasbar Ghent

For the project, Pinkeye worked with brands such as L’Oréal, Electrolux and Douwe Egberts to renovate a former bookshop with the aim of creating a cosy yet stylish meeting place for locals.

Pinkeye used a colour palette of toned-down salmon pink, pistachio, cornflower and royal blue used for the branding and interior. The design plays on the theme of a grandmother’s launderette, with the washing machines named after grandmothers and tumble dryers given the names of grandfathers, all crowdsurfed via Facebook.

The concept is expected to open across Belgium in the coming year and a calendar of events including concerts and DIY evenings is also planned.

For more on the movement to rediscover our sense of community, read our Conviviality Culture macrotrend.

Latest Articles

Amazon and Lyft join forces as ride-hailing drops

Amazon and Lyft join forces as ride-hailing drops:

Amazon has teamed up with Lyft on a recruitment initiative that enables the ride-hailing company’s drivers...

Technology : Amazon : Delivery

Luxury hotel bed linen is being re-invented as clothing

Luxury hotel bed linen is being re-invented as clothing:

Archivist Studio is using upcycled fabric from luxury hotel bed linen to create simple white shirts that...

Fashion : Upcycle : Fabrics

Covid-19: Burger King encourages customers to make home-made Whoppers

Covid-19: Burger King encourages customers to make home-made Whoppers:

Burger King France has released a campaign in response to the advertising challenges presented by Covid-19.

Food : Advertising : Ingredients

Stat: Takeaway opportunities for health-conscious consumers

Stat: Takeaway opportunities for health-conscious consumers:

New research by YouGov uncovers the opportunities in takeaway options for health-conscious customers.

Food : Consumption : Takeaways

Lumi ID uses QR codes to simplify eco-logistics

Lumi ID uses QR codes to simplify eco-logistics:

The QR-enabled service allows brands to be transparent about the sustainability of their delivery services.

Technology : Alternative Packaging : Sustainability

National Geographic invites readers to choose their future

National Geographic invites readers to choose their future:

National Geographic has created an issue that offers two opposing perspectives on our future.

National Geographic : Earth Day : Enviromentalism

Covid-19: Jack Daniel’s makes social distancing social

Covid-19: Jack Daniel’s makes social distancing social:

The campaign shows how people around the world are staying connected during the coronavirus pandemic.

Drinks : Connection : Covid-19

Stat: Employers are most-trusted during Covid-19

Stat: Employers are most-trusted during Covid-19:

Across Germany, Brazil, Japan and the US, respondents considered employers the most trustworthy.

Covid-19 : Workplace : Media

Covid-19: This tracker documents real-time product shortages

Covid-19: This tracker documents real-time product shortages:

A science and tech researcher has created a live coronavirus shortage and economic impact tracker using...

Covid-19 : Retail : Transparency

Condensed urban warehouses for the robot age

Condensed urban warehouses for the robot age:

Attabotics has created an alternative to large-scale warehouses, using robots and a vertical format to...

Technology : Covid-19 : Coronavirus

Covid-19: Carlo Ratti creates ICUs from shipping containers

Covid-19: Carlo Ratti creates ICUs from shipping containers :

Carlo Ratti Associati has designed an intensive care pod in a shipping container that could be added to...

Covid-19 : Coronavirus : Intensive Care

Stat: Consumers want positive marketing amid Covid-19

Stat: Consumers want positive marketing amid Covid-19:

Kantar has revealed some key insights about brand responsibility during the global pandemic.

Society : Security : Brand Communications

Resilient Finns retain lead in The World Happiness Report

Resilient Finns retain lead in The World Happiness Report:

For the third year in a row, Finland has been listed as the happiest country in the world, according to the...

Society : Resilience Culture : Happiness

Hard seltzers with a focus on wellness

Hard seltzers with a focus on wellness:

Maha has launched a range of organic hard seltzers focusing on active lifestyles and overall wellbeing.

Drinks : Alcohol : Hard Seltzer

Covid-19: Bottega Veneta’s hopeful virtual residency

Covid-19: Bottega Veneta’s hopeful virtual residency:

Bottega Veneta has launched a virtual residency featuring different creatives from a range of disciplines,...

Luxury : Technology : Customer Experience

Stat: Isolated consumers turn to books about the home

Stat: Isolated consumers turn to books about the home:

According to research by NPD BookScan, sales of books focusing on home-life subjects are rising in America...

Educational : Books : Consumers

A virtual mall designed via Google Docs

A virtual mall designed via Google Docs:

E-commerce platform Elliot has created a virtual, open-source shopping mall using Google Docs.

Retail Experience : Virtual Retail : Shopping Mall

Dove celebrates self-love with its Girls Room series

Dove celebrates self-love with its Girls Room series:

Dove has launched a five-part scripted series to draw attention to issues commonly faced by young women.

Beauty : Self Esteem : Dove

Ace & Tate’s new store is built from plastic waste

Ace & Tate’s new store is built from plastic waste:

Ace & Tate has opened a store in Antwerp featuring interiors made entirely from plastic waste.

Design : Educational : Reducing Waste

Stat: US employees opt for benefits over bonuses

Stat: US employees opt for benefits over bonuses:

People are increasingly looking to their employers to provide security over financial bonuses, according to...

Employment : Retirement : Healthcare

You have 1 free News articles remaining. Sign up to one of our membership packages from just £100 a month.

View Subscription Offers Sign in

What do we use cookies for?

We use cookies to enable the use of our platform’s paid features and to analyse our traffic. No personal data, including your IP address, is stored and we do not sell data to third parties.