
Good ideas often come in the middle of the night. That was also the case for Lukas Lagerweij, who specializes in industrial design and 3D visualization. During a fun evening with friends, they devised the idea for de Pantry. An unmanned local shop in areas with few or no options for daily groceries.
From a Nighttime Idea to a Concrete Plan
Since the idea was still fresh in his mind, and he might have forgotten the details by morning, Lukas immediately got to work with SketchUp when he got home. Between 2 and 3 a.m., he created his first mood board for the Pantry. This allows him to go to bed with peace of mind. The next morning, it was clear that the late-night brainstorming session had been productive. The concept could be further developed!

“When you get a great idea in the middle of the night, SketchUp is your best friend.”
Lukas Lagerweij – Pantry
“SketchUp is your best friend when you get a great idea in the middle of the night. It lets you work out your ideas in 3D immediately, capturing those spontaneous inspirations so they don’t fade by the next morning. This way, you can go to sleep with a clear head, without dwelling on ideas you want to jot down the next day,” says Lagerweij.
The Power of a Mood Board
With a printout of the mood board strapped to his bike, he visited a few people who might find the Pantry concept appealing. “You can explain the idea briefly and concisely. Using the image, people can think along with you, and immediate steps can be taken to develop the concept further. A visual like this makes something in its early stages much more tangible and excites the involved parties significantly,” he continues.
Quickly from Sketch to Realization
Although a few months passed between the initial idea and the production design and permit application, construction could start fairly quickly. “Even in that phase, SketchUp and especially LayOut were crucial for me. With SketchUp, I can quickly and accurately visualize the concept in 3D. LayOut helps create work and detail drawings efficiently, which can then be used for the permit application. We also used those drawings during the Pantry’s construction,” he explains.

From Concept to Photo Reality
From the initial sketch in SketchUp to the final product, the idea evolved into a full-fledged project. Another visualization tool Lukas frequently used for the project was Twinmotion. “Twinmotion is a 3D rendering tool that provides instant feedback on your design choices. It’s as easy to use as SketchUp, and you can create photorealistic images and animations in no time. This allows stakeholders who are less familiar with 2D drawings and sketches to immediately see your vision. It shows the concept in its natural environment, giving a clear idea of what it will look like when built. This way, neighbours and other stakeholders can familiarize themselves with the concept. The photorealistic presentation also has a high wow factor, making it more persuasive!” Lukas explains the benefits of a 3D rendering tool.

“In Twinmotion, your ideas truly come to life. With photorealistic materials and lighting, you can immediately see how the Pantry will look in real life. This also allows me to make design decisions quickly because I get instant feedback on material and lighting choices,” Lagerweij continues his account of Twinmotion.

Sustainable Materials from the Region
For the construction of the Pantry, local materials were used as much as possible. Just like the products that would eventually be sold there. “For example, we sourced the wood from Wilpsche Stoomhoutzagerij and the aluminium frames from Aarnink in Deventer. The entire structure has a natural and serene look, making it a perfect fit for a rural setting without being overly conspicuous. The colourful scene behind the glass facade should attract enough attention to draw people into the Pantry,” explains Lagerweij about the final material choices.
A Glimpse into the Future
On October 24, 2021, the first Pantry was officially opened in Wilp. Hopefully, more Pantries will follow in the future, such as at the Ede-Wageningen train station, where an application has already been submitted.
