Introducing Kreon
We have the pleasure of introducing you to our newest partner: Kreon.
Kreon is known primarily as a manufacturer of introverted lighting equipment. In other words, luminaires that are completely built into the ceiling wall or floor; luminaires that want to be anonymous in architecture. However, with their new line -kreon kagi-, they have done the exact opposite. It's extrovert and intrudes into the architecture.
We can't choose and love both, and that's why we're very excited to have their designs in our Belgian Pavilion.
Thanks to Kreon, our Pavilion will light up in a sustainable, modern and beautiful way.
We interviewed Marnix Schrooyen, Kreons Global Sales Director, to learn more about their company.
How was your company created? What motivated you?
The company was created from a dream to develop creative lighting solutions to emphasize the architectural vocation of spaces. The company name Kreon derives from the word “crayon” which is French for "pencil”, the instrument any architect or designer uses to express creative ideas.
The fundamental motivation lies in the conviction that light is a substance nobody can live without but is not always applied in the right way. This leads sometimes to frustrations from the creative community. Our ambition is to provide lighting tools that provide the most complete and complex options for anybody who wants to enhance spaces with qualitative light. Kreon wants to do that with a pure and elegant form language that puts architecture on a pedestal by providing the best possible lighting.
Later on, we expanded the lighting into ceiling solutions: the more one has the surface under control, the better one can seamlessly integrate other techniques as well like audio, ventilation, climatization, acoustics and light of course.
How many people do you employ?
250
What do lighting and design mean to you? What impact do you think it can have?
Light is a fundamental substance. Lighting tools come in all shapes and sizes. Kreon applies a design philosophy that wants to put forward light quality and design purity. For us, this means to stay in the background and allow architecture to assume a prominent role. Being surrounded by the right light directly impacts your feeling of well-being. Moreover, being surrounded by aesthetically pleasant and elegant objects provides an artistic and stylistic environment that inspires positivity to people in their daily lives.
What do you consider to be the biggest strength of your designs?
We aim for purity and universal proportions in our formal language. Since our designs are based on universal proportional principles, we are sure they never go out of style.
Moreover, they are technically advanced: both our lighting and ceiling technologies are modern, solid and sophisticated.
You are providing light fixtures for the Belgian pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. What did you take away so far from the cooperative effort between a governmental agency and your company?
World Expo’s have the history to bring all countries of the world together in a positive spirit of collaboration beyond borders of religion, race or political preference. The Dubai Expo and the Belgian pavilion courageously opted to address global themes like innovation, ecology and mobility. As a forward-thinking company, Kreon feels proud to be part of this Belgian and international community since we are convinced that sustainable, qualitative and beautiful architectural solutions highly contribute to addressing these global challenges.
What do you think of the general design of the Belgian pavilion? Does it complement your designs?
Absolutely. The design is modern, elegant and ecological. The choice for this design is a brave and relevant statement that stresses the position of Belgium as a state of the art nation that knows something about design and beauty. We believe Kreon is like that, too.
What is the vision you want to bring to the Belgian pavilion and Expo 2020 Dubai?
Kreon is a Belgian company that identifies itself with high-end architecture, technology and sustainable innovation, pillars of Expo Dubai and the Belgian pavilion. We show light ànd integrated ceiling solutions. Kreon Ceiling Solutions is a key solution to achieve highly energy-efficient buildings, the dominant theme in European and global political agendas.
What projects do you have for the future? What are your dreams for the future?
Kreon wants to continuously invest in durable relationships and experiences invaluable and interesting network locations across the globe and platforms like Expo Dubai. Through these relationships, it is our intention to bring our light and ceiling solutions to a wider audience and contribute to better and more sustainable building.
What are the biggest challenges you face regarding your work?
A company is nothing without a great team. It is our continuous challenge to find the best and most suitable people who share our ambitions and dreams and who act as ambassadors across the world to spread our story.
The current global market provides challenges in the supply chain, raw materials, increasing price and shortage of goods. It puts our own supply chain under pressure and challenges our key ambition: to provide the best product & service to our clients.
What are the values and objectives that you bring to your work?
We aim to make constant progress in our activity and bring prosperity to all the people - internal and external - that are part of the #worldofkreon.
How has the current pandemic affected your work?
It has resulted in a stressful 2020 with lots of unclarity, practical and human resource-related issues. Currently, we are happy to see a strong market revival that positively affects our performance and the atmosphere.
Do you have any advice for others who want to start off on the same adventure as you?
Let your passions guide you in your daily life and try to make a living out of it!
Not including the Belgian Pavilion, which is your personal favourite project you have worked on and why?
Lately, we participated in an office building renovation to support that company's expansion. The overall surface of the space had to increase 2,5 times and thanks to Kreon's light and integrated ceiling applications the client does not pay 1 EUR more in his electricity bill!
It is my favourite because it is a wonderful technical achievement and evidence that Kreon brings not only beautiful but also relevant building solutions to the world of the future.
