HISTORY AND TASK

The advertising agency upart commissioned us with the finishing of a new building under construction in a central urban location. As the base level of a multi-storey residential building, 650m² were available, divided over two floors.

The challenge for the architecture was to translate the three central working tasks in the agency's everyday life - concentration, regeneration and communication - in an appropriate spatial manner. This triad served as the basis for the design of the new working environment.

In addition to functional questions about inspiring and efficient workplaces, the formal approach to work with the industrial rawness of the existing concrete structure was particularly appealing to us.

CONCEPT

The existing structure was an invitation to apply the principle of the "open plan" in the design and to declare it a guiding principle. This concept creates spacious, interconnected areas - not only in a physical sense, but also with regard to the actual work process. Zones for concentration, regeneration and communication have different requirements – something that has to be taken into account with a well thought-out approach to openness. Strategic spatial elements take on a subtly guiding function, leading from public to internal and sensitive zones.

IMPLEMENTATION

Rough concrete surfaces, visible pipework and an industrial-looking spatial experience as a given basic structure form the stage for further installations. The choice of materials should follow this clarity - found, finished elements such as Spiro pipes, H-bricks and black steel sit seamlessly next to the reinforced concrete walls on a polished screed.

The bar in the entrance area acts as the heart for communication between employees and with their customers. In line with the agency's core values - brand and positioning - it represents a self-confident appearance. A single flight of black steel stairs leads to the open-plan offices and a more intimate quiet zone on the upper floor.

On the ground floor, there is a kitchen including a terrace, which becomes a place for socialising and a retreat for regeneration during the working day, as well as a separable meeting space. This can be used flexibly as a separate room via a large industrial door or opened up generously to the public area of the bar.

The open workstations made of solid wood tables can be structured and separated by loden curtains. In addition to their acoustic effect, these space-creating elements enable the third element of the work processes - concentration. In addition, "boxes in the room" function as meeting booths for working in seclusion and discussing sensitive issues. This function is supported by their haptic design: soft surfaces such as carpet and felt form a contrast to the spatial experience of the raw structure.

To create an appealing working environment, the cabinet walls have an effective acoustic covering. The surface of the pyramid foam used for this becomes an element in its own way and - like the loden curtains - takes on both formal and functional tasks.