Differentiated Places

Harmonious working landscape

In the urban area “The Circle”, located directly at the Zurich airport, an international pharmaceutical company moved into its new Swiss branch. Together with the company, the planners from Ippolito Fleitz Group organized more than 30 discussion rounds and workshops – just to give an impression of what it ideally means on the part of those involved to present their working environment in terms of content and to compose it conceptually. The goal was to move away from standardized individual workstations toward a working landscape that is at least as productive, but much more harmoniously usable – flexibly deployable, spatially fluid, and with a strong presence.

One basic insight became the guiding principle: office activities change throughout the day and require variable working positions and locations. Included, for example, were morning brainstorming across teams, tackling a problem together in small groups, concentrated individual work and intensive customer phone calls in a quiet room situation, or an active break design that is lively, noisy or smelly when it comes to freshly brewed coffee or lunch.

Centerpiece

The planners see the “social hub” as a “communicative centerpiece”, a place for random exchanges or joint action, with seating groups that can be freely arranged to flexibly occupy the space for different usage ideas such as regular town hall meetings. The ambience arranged around it received flexible furniture and surfaces for multiple usage scenarios, for example supported by movable walls with whiteboards that can be included spontaneously and quickly for collaborative processes.

The installed folding walls function in two directions: They define segregated seminar areas or open everything up into an overall space. Controlled acoustics are indispensable, which was achieved here thanks to selected carpets and specific acoustic elements. The cylindrical absorbers of the ceiling design, which float above everything else, became a striking recognition motif of the workspace in terms of both their functional and aesthetic effect.

As a designer, how would you define the term “New Work” briefly and succinctly?

Christian Kirschenmann: We understand New Work to be a far-reaching change process that must be firmly anchored in the corporate culture. The built office is only the visible part of the process; there are also changes in the organizational form, management model, work processes and employee development. In the end, it’s about a new work culture that creates opportunities for unexpected encounters.

There is currently a lot of talk about sustainability: Do you have a basic approach to it?

We think sustainability very broadly: from the use of appropriately certified materials to modular space systems that adapt to changing requirements to “green” healthy office environments. In addition, there is what we consider to be the most important factor: only what is permanently accepted and appreciated can be sustainable. The quality of the space and how it relates to the company in question are crucial to ensuring long-lasting and therefore sustainable spaces.

Is it possible to respond to the home office trend in office design, or should there be a clear separation between private and office interiors?

Many of our customers are really demanding this. Home office is becoming established, and office space can be used differently as a result. Hybrid and changeable scenarios are our answer to this. We also create spaces where users go because they want to, not because they have to. This can be done by offering additional space or by simple gestures that show appreciation to employees.