KLM Crown Lounge

The new lounge design concept perfectly fits the brand’s strategy and growth potential, as the new lounge caters almost double the size – 6800m2 – and seats – now up to 1500.

The House of KLM marks the entrance of the new lounge: a two-storey high, Dutch house with stunning views over the runway. It contains a marble welcome desk that, together with four light globe pendants and light sculpture in the shape of the crown, which form a giant abstraction of the KLM logo. The house is reached by two escalators, surrounded by walls made of a spectacular collection of more than 5,000 famous KLM Delft blue houses (collectables).

concrete designed the two-storey high lounge divided into 5 different areas, inspired by the Dutch landscape. All the spaces are connected by a sunset light wall sky: a 110 metres long LED back-wall mimicking the colours of the ever-changing sky during one day.

The five different areas all cater to different customer wishes and needs:

Polder – lounge area, to work and relax
A spacious seating area based on a typical Dutch landscape with straight lines kept in natural colours of polder green. Large seating islands, polder benches with integrated real green. A gigantic light wall forms the back wall of the Polder, simulating the ever-changing Dutch sky.

Dutch Mountain – to be inspired and entertained
A co-working area, TV room, DJ booth which exhibits a journey through Dutch design. Here, the name is the program; Dutch creativity and humour are displayed on the Dutch mountain, a giant wooden, liveable staircase which connects the Polder on the first with the Sky on the second. Various landing platforms offer places to linger around, two-storey high display cabinets present an impressive collection of established and upcoming Dutch design(er)s, all supervised by the DJ who has his position at the very top. At the top of the stairs, Delft blue tiles based on images shown in the airline’s safety video mark his backdrop.

City – the dynamic heart to eat and drink
With a coffee bar, kitchens with live cooking, a Heineken Bar plus a Dutch art exhibit – every niche is represented by a Dutch museum. The City is the vibrant heart of the lounge with active seating around the various &B points.

Sea – to refresh and recharge
The Sea is the most remote, relaxed and quiet part of the lounge. Here is where you free your mind, escape to concentrate or let your mind flow. Spacious lounge seating, a laid back variety of the polder benches, invite to rest, whereas the niche seatings along the wall offer a quiet workspace to concentrate. The floor consists of a custom made carpet, celebrating the Dutch sea in all shades of blue.

Sky – for fine dining and drinking
Including a high-end paid restaurant and bar ‘Blue’, where customers can enjoy a signature menu composed by Joris Bijdendijk of RIJKS®, Rijksmuseum’s Michelin star awarded restaurant; an exquisite cocktail menu, a cheese cabinet, beverage room, private dining rooms and outdoor terrace with a breath-taking view of the runways.

Dutch culture, design, humour and traditions play a lead role and can be found in little details throughout the lounge; a Dutch Mountain, decorative sheep made from KLM uniforms, a disco-ball, dj-booth, a large outdoor terrace, vintage-style suitcases as a note to the airlines heritage, display cabinets along the window showcasing vintage KLM items from the archives, curiosities and Dutch designers all find their place.

Design: concrete
Design Team: Rob Wagemans, Lisa Hassanzadeh, Pim Houben, Cathelijne Vreugdenhil, Sofie Ruytenberg, Natalia Kozyra, Erik van Dillen, Zana Josipovic
Photography: Wouter van der Sar, Wilkins Studio