Turning a warehouse into a workspace prototype — Hermann-Hagenmeyer-Straße 1, 71636 Ludwigsburg, Germany — 1,473 m² — 05.2019 — AOK Baden-Württemberg
Tradition informing the future
In the south of the baroque city of Ludwigsburg, near the railway station, is a site marked by industrial charm: GETRAG. It is there that blocher partners interior designers created a workspace prototype for the AOK Health Insurance fund, geared toward project work and offering maximum design space and spatial flexibility.
The designers created an innovative working environment on an area of 1,473 square metres, dividing it into different zones. Their goal was to create positive working spaces – with a focus on people. Thus the architectural concept involves an interplay of communication, exchange and privacy. Its mix of creative spaces and idea spaces, an energy area, a sports field, dining area, rest zone as well as separate and private workplaces, allows employees to reshape their working environment freely, to meet individual needs. In keeping with the health insurance firm’s motto, »gesundnah« – “to your health” – various design elements underscore the connection to nature in the working environment, promoting the well being of the staff. The large glazed façade also creates brightly lit work surfaces and supports the natural circadian rhythm, increasing well being and productivity.
With this in mind, the interior design concept of blocher partners foresees an interplay of communication, exchange and privacy; in other words, an interaction between work, conversation and networking, movement, open and private space, with the human being always at the centre of focus. This mix enables the free design of the environment and allows employees to structure their working environment anew each day, according to their needs.
Throughout the light-flooded AOK floor, with its generous glass façade, one finds objects, materials, colours and shapes that reflect the natural world – be they green carpets, hanging plants or wall coverings of wood and cardboard tubing – that promote both well-being and productivity.
An orientation system developed in cooperation with the communication agency typenraum, a sister company of blocher partners, enables employees to experience their workspace on a higher, intuitive level.
Flexibility for project-related working groups
The concept is based on the division into project groups. In addition to permanent workplaces, there are open, creative zones and relaxation spaces. Various meeting rooms with flexible wall elements can be used for private discussions or open workshops. So-called Moving Spaces with large, adjustable whiteboards create environments for brainstorming.
In the open dining area between workstations, colleagues can meet to exchange ideas; and in a zone for health and exercise, they can recharge their batteries through sports. The blocher partners interior designers also created a forest of discovery: a retreat surrounded by dense greenery.
In order to make the mobile workspace as uncomplicated as possible, the blocher partners product designers designed a toolbox that functions as an individual storage system, replacing the traditional briefcase. Alongside the entry hall, there are lockers for toolboxes and office supplies.
Foreseen as a test space for trying out new working environments, the project house is a work in progress. The goal is to develop the optimal working environment of tomorrow, for adaptation to other project houses. The positive feedback from the users already shows the success of this concept.
