Diagonally Planned

New Horizons: UNStudio Establishes Its Presence in Frankfurt

A world-renowned architecture firm from Amsterdam is expanding its presence — this time, in Frankfurt am Main. This move is not merely the establishment of a new office; it is also a statement — a calling card that reflects UNStudio’s identity, design ethos, and above all, its commitment to a progressive work culture.
The Frankfurt Office was designed to serve its users: 17 employees working across 400 square meters, located on the first floor of a historic side wing of the revitalized Bethmann Bank building. The building now houses a curated selection of young players from the worlds of business, sports, fashion, design, and sustainability — an ideal environment for innovation.
For the interior, UNStudio developed a concept that translates healthy and stimulating workplaces into a cozy, localized office culture, creating an atmosphere “of freedom and creativity” that encourages a sense of belonging. The already generous structure was further opened and elevated internally, forming a large “Welcome Lounge” — a space that, in contrast to the building’s original refined character, now embraces a distinctly industrial charm.

Spaces for Interaction, Focus, and Play

The office floor comprises two workspace areas linked by a library and a centrally positioned, solid “Family Table,” crafted from reclaimed wood. This table quickly became a favorite communal gathering point.
For focused planning work at individual or four-person desks, adjacent meeting rooms provide formal seating and quiet spaces, separated either by partition walls or curtains. A designated “Community Room” offers a place for interaction and the development of free ideas.
Vibrant color accents in yellow, red, green, and blue weave through the interior design, lending a cohesive language to the intentionally dynamic topography of the space. Especially notable is the use of zoning and diagonally striped, graphic flooring, composed of both the original red Bethmann carpet and a new CO₂-neutral material, evoking the feeling of an urban landscape.
Playfulness and inspiration are core principles underpinning this new working environment, supported by a furniture concept that is diverse in form and material, complemented by space-defining curtains. The furnishings were developed in collaboration with the UNStudio Product & Experience Design Team.

What can architecture contribute to creating a good workplace?
UNStudio:

Architecture should create inspiring and productive environments that evoke positive emotions. To achieve this, it is essential for us to understand our clients’ needs, culture, and ambitions, and to capture them with surprising ideas and holistic concepts. The notion of a “one-size-fits-all good workplace” is becoming obsolete. Instead, our architecture lays the foundation for spatial configurations that can be adapted to specific tasks, enable new models of collaboration, and foster creativity.

To what extent should the design of a workspace address individual needs?

We see our role as creating working environments that can be individualized through use. We aim to encourage users to claim and appropriate the spaces for their specific needs, thereby uncovering new possibilities. To do this, we carefully reflect on project briefings to derive subtle needs and values, which we then translate into our design solutions.

Which functions and/or spaces are the most important to you within a workplace?

For us, the human being is at the center of all considerations. This means creating environments that are as healthy as possible — both physically and mentally — and that deliver the most positive impact for our clients. Typically, this involves a combination of communicative, collaborative areas and retreat spaces for individual deep work. Depending on the company, industry, and business unit, the specific requirements vary, but human scale and touchpoints for identification with the company are usually key aspects.