“Design Delights” - Art and Design Intertwined

As part of its ongoing mission to enhance workplace environments, ncbham developed an extensive art integration strategy for AG Insurance’s headquarters in Belgium. For the JQ Building, originally designed by Michael Graves in 2003, this vision took on a distinctly historical and personal dimension, revealing a lesser-known facet of the architect’s work: his role as an influential designer of household objects. 

Within this curatorial framework, Brussels-based illustrator Ola Sadownik was invited as a key collaborator, bringing her artistic interpretation to transform Graves’ everyday product designs into vibrant, contemporary visual interventions.

The JQ Building, originally designed by Michael Graves in 2003, underwent a comprehensive renewal of its office spaces, which included a complete rethinking of the floor layouts and the implementation of a new workplace concept. The integration of locally anchored art was a key part of ncbham’s vision.

Michael Graves’ architectural work, along with his broader design legacy, served as the central inspiration for the project’s contextual and artistic approach. Some of his most iconic product designs - such as the kettle, pepper mill, and toaster - were playfully deconstructed, their forms and colors reimagined into bold, dynamic compositions.

Through these compositions, the artworks transform Graves’ iconic designs into vibrant frescoes that animate the renovated “Generations Spaces” on each floor, offering both a strong identity and a unifying theme. Each artwork is paired with the original object and a short note on its history, bridging past and present while sparking curiosity and creativity.

The interventions extend beyond the communal spaces: two introductory panels in the lobby, designed by Sadownik, present Graves’ legacy and introduce the visual journey through the building. From reception to upper floors, the collaboration between ncbham and Sadownik tells a layered story of design heritage, workplace identity, and artistic transformation.