The production hall, where our taps are manufactured, is an enormous, high-ceilinged space. Five years ago, a mezzanine floor was added to make the area feel more compact and welcoming. Half of the space was quickly put to good use, but the other half still had no clear purpose. “A colleague asked: couldn’t we do something fun with it?” says Paul Rietveld, who has been involved from the beginning. “As often happens at Quooker, colleagues from different departments immediately joined in to help think about ideas.” The first brainstorming session resulted in countless suggestions. “One person wanted a table tennis table. Another wanted a dartboard. Someone shouted: a foosball table. Someone else imagined a living room-style space where people could play games, but also hold meetings.”

Relaxing in the Qasses Eventually, the team realised the available space was large enough to include all these ideas. “I created a floor plan and divided the area into four rooms,” Paul explains. “We then took it to interior design agency InaMatt. They came up with the idea of placing greenhouse-style office pods in three of the rooms, each with its own purpose. The fourth room would become an outdoor-inspired area with lots of plants and picnic tables.” While the design process was underway, Quooker colleagues also started thinking of a name for the renewed mezzanine floor.

“There were an incredible number of submissions, and ‘The Indoor Garden’ turned out to be the favourite. The greenhouse pods became known as the Qasses (Quooker Amusement Spaces): a chill-Qas, a game-Qas and a party-Qas.” The greenery was supplied by Zuidkoop, with plants and trees reaching two to three metres high. “That’s what truly made it feel like an indoor garden.”

A completely different experience Today, The Indoor Garden is used extensively. “Hardly a break goes by without people sitting there. Colleagues play darts, foosball and table tennis, or simply chat together. After work, it’s also become a popular place to have a drink or sing karaoke.” According to Paul, one of the best things about the space is how it brings people from different departments together. “It has become the company’s living room. Yesterday, I even had a meeting there myself. It’s a completely different experience compared to an average meeting room. You are right in the middle of production, surrounded by plants and trees. It feels dynamic and inspiring.” “All in all, The Indoor Garden has become a real asset to the company. A place we are all proud of — especially because it was truly a team effort. That’s how things work at Quooker: if someone has a good idea, we work together to see if we can make it happen.”

Published on 21-08-2025