Carbon Studio
Johan van Hasseltkade 205B
1031LP Amsterdam
https://www.instagram.com/carbonstudio.eu/
mail@carbon-studio.eu +31 6 22692976 Imprint
Carbon Studio
Johan van Hasseltkade 205B
1031LP Amsterdam
https://www.instagram.com/carbonstudio.eu/
mail@carbon-studio.eu +31 6 22692976 ImprintCARBON STUDIO TRIGGERS AUTONOMY
Carbon Studio is an Amsterdam-based strategic spatial design agency, operating from the premise that space should not prescribe behaviour, but enable it. We design freedom.
Triggering autonomy means listening closely to who you are and uncovering what is essential—then carefully translating your identity into powerful spatial experiences that are deeply physical, tactile, and human.
In a world increasingly absorbed by screens, materiality is an essential counterbalance. For us, materiality is not decoration, but a carrier of identity, structure, and intent. Through research and engineering—paired with originality and culturally informed design thinking—we craft environments that enable genuine human interaction and deliver expressive tactile experiences.
Founded in 2017, Carbon Studio is led by Pieter Kool, whose work ranges from large-scale international retail, workplace, and hospitality programmes to bespoke, detail-driven projects. Pieter worked at G-Star RAW from 2004 to 2017, where he later served as Global Creative Director 3D Design & Development and led the design of over 1,000 stores and shop-in-shops worldwide, as well as more than 40,000 m² of office environments and numerous trade-fair pavilions. Pieter also works as a consultant for brands and regularly delivers keynotes on spatial identity, materiality, retail, and workspace design.
Clients
Ace&Tate
Ace Agency
Bugaboo
Barts
Birkenstock
BMW
Bugaboo
Coef Men
Columbia
G-Star RAW
Le Smash Burgers
Nike
OMA - Office for Metropolitan Architecture
Secrid
Scotch & Soda
The Butcher
The Entourage Group
Timboektoe
Toni Loco Pizza
Van Moof
Vitra
Concept and design for the first three Le Smash locations (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and Maastricht), translating the brand’s unapologetically direct food culture into a clear and energetic interior language. The design reflects the essence of the smash burger itself: simple, fast, and intensely physical. Honest materials—stainless steel, tile, and robust surfaces—create a straightforward yet distinctive hospitality environment.
The kitchen is positioned as an open stage where grilling, smashing, and assembling burgers become part of the guest experience. A high-gloss curved bar anchors the space and guides circulation, while solid walnut tables introduce warmth and tactility. Custom 3D-printed concrete luminaires and planters—filled with an abundance of cacti—add a sculptural layer throughout the interior. The Le Smash name is literally “smashed” into the walls as stamped imprints, reinforcing the brand’s identity in a playful but physical way.
Together these elements create a bold, stripped-back interior where brand, product, and space operate as one coherent experience.
images: Maarten Willemstein
