Neighbourhood

A New Vision for Collaborative Workspaces

For two years, close collaboration took place between the planners from combine Consulting and the employees of Hamburger Sparkasse. A nine-story new building designed by Hadi Teherani in Hamburg, which would unite multiple locations for the first time, was set to be ready for occupancy in May 2024. It would accommodate 1,123 fixed workstations and a total office area of 22,500 square meters. The comprehensive participatory process had a major task to handle, with combine Consulting responsible for the interior design, user coordination, space and occupancy planning, and signage of the new office spaces.

The central narrative that guided the concept was the idea of “neighborhood.” The vision was to create a space that serves as a social-urban framework and center, allowing cultural life to flourish, where rituals and connections can be maintained in its “neighborhoods” and “buildings.” This led to the development of a comprehensive workplace concept called “HaspaONE,” a multi-layered territory of internal zones with unique character, seamlessly interconnected.

A Neighborhood-Inspired Workspace

The “Kiez” (neighborhood) on the 2nd to 8th floors provides conventional workstations and, in addition, lounges and think rooms for retreat and intimacy. Its “streets” include support areas and project rooms. The “Markets” are spaces for communication and the cultural backbone of the neighborhood. The “City” on the 1st and 9th floors consists of public zones, facilitating networking between guests, clients, and neighborhoods. The “Houses” in the city are retreat spaces for concentration and privacy, surrounded by “marketplaces”—the interaction zones. These spaces were individually designed with and for the respective users, aiming for a diverse world, balanced between curated design and free space for the culture of those who utilize the areas.

The shared furnishing and design concept for these work and living spaces is based on the idea of the natural charm of established residential structures. Various elements, collected over time, create a distinctive and unique overall look.

What can architecture do for a good workplace?

Katharina Däullary: Architecture, particularly in the context of workspaces, is always a platform for the respective work culture. When carefully curated, architecture can communicate, connect, inspire, and offer space for intimacy. However, it is only through interaction and the use of the space by people that the room is completed and fulfilled. In short: Space needs culture, and culture needs space.

How much should the design of the workspace accommodate individual concerns?

I don’t think it needs to cater to individual concerns. Rather, the needs of the people should be the foundation of any workspace design. The combination of the individual, the context, and the character of a company creates a DNA that can then be translated into the space through design.

Which functions and/or spaces are the most important for you in a workplace?

The most important spaces for me are those that exude clarity in design, atmosphere, and function. A space that can do everything well might not excel at anything in particular. Regarding function, each company must find the role of the physical office and derive the functionality of the space from that. Additionally, spaces that allow people to come together and inspire one another are always valuable.