A former office in a historic Bern building was transformed into a multifunctional meeting and community room for Entlastungsdienst Bern — designed to reflect the organisation’s values while supporting formal board meetings, creative workshops and everyday exchange.

Spatial analysis & concept development
Colour, material & atmosphere strategy
Detailed design specification & technical planning
Custom carpentry & architectural framing elements
Lighting concept & acoustic improvements
Furniture, planting & styling curation
Full procurement, contractor coordination & site supervision

Location:

Bern, Switzerland

Budget:

approx. CHF 35k

Duration:

4 months

Before

The room had beautiful foundations: high ceilings, original parquet flooring and generous southern light. Yet it felt temporary and understructured. Standard desks and flat lighting supported function, but not atmosphere. Acoustics were harsh, storage improvised and the terrace remained unused.

The organisation needed a room for up to ten people for board meetings, while also allowing workshops and informal exchange such as lunch breaks. The challenge was to create structure and warmth — without becoming corporate.

Inspiration

The concept was rooted in the values of Entlastungsdienst Bern: care, dignity, connection and support.

The colour and material palette was inspired by the feeling of an autumn walk through a forest — calming, grounded, yet quietly invigorating. Deep moss green, warm red tones, restored oak parquet and soft neutral whites create a space that feels professional, yet human.

Renovation

The room was reorganised into clearly defined yet visually connected zones: a framed meeting area, a multifunctional niche, a whiteboard gallery wall and a terrace extension.

A custom-built angled wall and ceiling element frames the central oval meeting table, integrating concealed cable management, layered lighting and acoustic improvement. A Vitra Alcove creates a semi-private niche, complemented by flexible furniture stored within bespoke carpentry. A magnetic whiteboard wall serves both workshops and storytelling, while the terrace was transformed into a usable outdoor extension with custom benches and integrated planting.

After

The former office is now a structured, branded meeting and community space that balances professionalism with warmth. It accommodates ten people comfortably, improves acoustic quality and adapts to different meeting formats.

The room is actively used — and a company that held a meeting there subsequently commissioned Tonjalovesdesign to redesign their own offices. Good design travels.
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“The collaboration with you was truly inspiring – and the result speaks for itself. Even more importantly, the room is actively used by everyone and people genuinely feel comfortable in it – which is the greatest compliment. I believe we may soon need a second one …”

Silvia Kreutz

Head of Finance & Administration Entlastungsdienst Schweiz – Canton of Bern

Entlastungsdienst Meeting Space