In Düsseldorf, a former production building from 1909 underwent such a transformation. The existing structure, four stories high with a small tower element and a square floor plan, had been repurposed multiple times over the years. The current owners have now subjected it to a revitalization carried out by Beilmann Architekten for the agency UNBOUND MEDIA. In the process, the original aesthetic, along with its industrial and workshop character, was carefully restored: among other measures, the previously whitewashed brick façade was returned to its original red color. At the same time, structural refurbishment and reinforcement measures were necessary: the building required new concrete slabs and columns. The ceilings are now defined by untreated exposed concrete, while in some areas the floors feature 100-year-old planks sourced from farmhouses. The walls have been given an authentic patina through the exposure of the original brickwork. Previously bricked-up windows were reopened and enlarged, and fitted with energy-efficient timber-aluminum frames. The building is equipped with an ice storage heating system, geothermal energy, and photovoltaic installations. Sustainability is further enhanced by the reuse of existing office furniture, whose wood, for example, has been repurposed in built-in cabinetry. In this way, 1,700 square meters of office space for 160 employees were created, organized across individually configured floor plans. Open-space areas alternate with hybrid and conference rooms as well as meeting islands. Lounge corners and seating steps provide individually adaptable work settings, supported by flexible furnishings and the use of zoning acoustic curtains. On the first floor lies the “heart of the agency”: a generously designed dining area with kitchen and bar, where a six-meter-wide panoramic window opens up views of the extension building with a ground-floor garage. On its upper level, this annex features a tranquil inner courtyard with trees and shrubs, enriching the working environment with additional amenities such as nature, table tennis, foosball, and a barbecue area.
