ONOVA
Onova winds its way through the unknown like a snake, because driving straight ahead is for tourists.
2025
For this design assignment, we were tasked with designing a service-oriented company within an existing architectural context in the Clarenhof project in Mechelen. Although each project started from a similar functional programme, the spatial and visual expression had to be fully aligned with the identity of the chosen concept. The design therefore needed to be not only functional, but also to create a strong experiential layer that reflects the character of the company.
For my project, I chose ADVENTURE NOW, a travel agency aimed at people seeking adventurous, challenging, and boundary-pushing journeys. No traditional cultural trips or relaxing holidays, but experiences that actively take the user out of their comfort zone. The company’s motto stated that the journey begins the moment you step into the office. From this idea, I developed ONOVA.
ONOVA is not a conventional travel agency, but a spatial experience that explores introspection, mystery, and discovery. The interior winds through the space like a snake, with flowing forms and circulation patterns that deliberately break away from straight lines and predictable routes. The design invites visitors to wander, slow down, and become curious about what lies ahead.
The serene atmosphere of the interior is almost deceptive. Behind its silence and simplicity lies a subtle sense of tension and anticipation, as if something unknown is constantly about to unfold. This creates a space that does not merely provide information about travel, but already mentally prepares the visitor for adventure and transformation.
Within the design, experience plays a central role. Different zones gradually reveal themselves, creating a journey in which perspectives shift and spaces are never fully visible at once. Visitors are encouraged to undertake a journey through the interior both literally and figuratively. Meditation, reflection, and letting go form an essential part of the concept: before exploring the world, one first turns inward.
The interior of ONOVA therefore balances between calm and tension, serenity and adventure. The space feels non-conformist and mysterious, fully aligned with the identity of ADVENTURE NOW and the type of journeys it offers.
ONOVA ultimately becomes more than a travel agency. It is an experience that sparks curiosity, disrupts expectations, and prepares the visitor for the unknown—before the journey has even begun.
Whether you're ready for that, you'll see.
