Intuitive room design

New spaces

For the new domicile of the company S+W BüroRaumKultur in Munich, four rooms were combined into one area. The name “SchauWerkRaum” signals the intention of the specialist dealer for office furnishings: it is about a symbiosis of two functions, compressed in terms of space and formally brought into an overall aesthetic.

Two floors of different sizes are available in a modernistically orthogonal office complex whose structural advantages were convincing: the free floor plans allow for exciting differentiation options as well as open spaces, the room height of five metres virtually calls for architectural elements such as a room divider with a double arch, and an interior staircase or an outdoor area also offer starting points for special zones.

Different spaces

The ensemble, called “Kaleidoscope of Possibilities” by the clients, which develops from the loose combination of effectively usable work areas and a showroom for office furnishings, consists of four corresponding zones: on the one hand, the “Room for Meetings” dedicated to networking with a barista bar for employees and guests and the “Room for Concentration” with ergonomic individual workstations and telephone booths; on the other hand, the “Creative Room” with a materials workshop and flexibly composable furniture systems for project work and meetings; and the “Free Room”. The organisation and usability of this space is geared towards change and can be used for meetings, workshops or even an in-house evening yoga class.

Differentiation and arrangement

This is supported by modular furniture with versatile configuration options. Due to the elongated, T-shaped and partially double-storey layout, which is accessed by a compact access and technical block, it was possible to effectively differentiate and compactly arrange the functional areas. The fact that the furniture range and the supporting storage systems of the Workspace merge with a customer-friendly presentation of the exemplary solutions is also due to the well-being of the everyday users. In the “SchauWerkRaum” they benefit from the carefully thought-out overall concept and find plenty of space for collaboration or inspiration. But it also benefits self-determined individual work.

What do you consider to be the supporting qualities of a good workplace?

S+W BüroRaumKultur: The answers of our experts, the S+W colleagues, are diverse: they range from “ergonomics through height-adjustable desks and appropriate lighting” to “intuitive technology” and “appealing design”. As multi-faceted as the answers are, we all agree on the basic understanding: a good workplace puts people at the centre. The space supports the respective activity and the needs of the employees, the concentrated workflow but also the social exchange. This is achieved above all through activity-based working and free choice of workstation.

Do you see any comparability in space design for living and for working?

The working world is in a state of flux: due to changed working methods, such as hybrid and activity-based working, the office is changing from a place of production to a place of encounter. To make employees feel comfortable here, the design is becoming increasingly homely. On a large scale we see this, for example, in meeting areas with inviting lounge furniture, in detail in the choice of materials. Cosy, soft upholstery fabrics and textiles such as cushions, carpets and curtains are now also being used in the office. Natural materials such as real wood and stone complement the homely ambience.

What functional aspects do you consider to be decisive in the future development of workspaces?

The workspace of the future will be a place of encounter; hybrid working and digitalisation will have a decisive impact on it: Its further development must take this into account. The functionalities of the workspaces must be intuitive and easy to use. In the future, apps will be used in the office to find the right workplace or location that best supports employees in their tasks. The challenge in the future will be to make the extensive offer accessible and understandable for the employees.