Precisely Crafted

Tailored Workspace Design for Productivity and Efficiency

Not only in tailoring is a customized solution undoubtedly the one that fits best and provides lasting satisfaction. Architecture, as a complex system always involving many specialists, also benefits from meticulous cooperation. Especially in commercial and office buildings designed for productivity and efficiency, the organizational effort involved in coordinating the entire development process between the client, architects, and interior designers proves worthwhile. This was the case in Freudenberg, where Harburg-Freudenberger Maschinenbau GmbH built a new headquarters: 3,185 square meters of office space for 200 employees, or 176 stationary workstations. The interior of the site, named “HF Mixing” – a four-story building with a polygonal floor plan and its elegant dark facade – was designed by w: architekten. It was important to translate the core processes of the company precisely into the layout, while pursuing an open-office concept. This was made possible through a prior organizational restructuring of the administration within the company.

Activity-Based Working and Regional Design

The decision was made to adopt an Activity-Based Working principle, which applies across all three floors of the office building, with workstations placed accordingly. As a result, all workspaces are open and flexible, complemented by a wide range of collaborative spaces. The ground floor, which houses the entrance and reception area, provides additional communication points for employees as well as for clients and guests. It also includes the company’s restaurant – 385 square meters have been allocated for gastronomic services – as well as a customer center. The design language of the architecture and interior demonstrates a bridge between the region’s historical construction styles and the products and production methods of the client: raw materials with individual design references create a specific spatial experience. Reflections of the slate architecture of the surrounding area, as well as regional industrial buildings, are apparent. Even the historic half-timbered architecture of Freudenberg is abstracted and incorporated into special zones.

What can architecture do for a good workplace?

Mathias Walter: Beyond the spatial and functional foundations of a good workplace, architecture serves as a projection surface for the user’s identification with their workspace. It reflects the identity of a company. In addition to all functional and representative aspects, the work environment must also meet social and emotional needs, which is greatly supported by good architecture.

How much should the design of the workspace cater to individual needs?

Individual needs are only relevant when work requires certain fundamental elements, such as specific equipment, tools, spatial dimensions, or lighting conditions. In general, workplaces should not be tailored to one individual but should remain structurally and spatially flexible and agile. The design must primarily serve the organization, not the personal preferences of its members. The spatial and structural characteristics of a building are resilient and sustainable when they meet a wide range of requirements and allow for adaptability.

What functions and/or spaces are most important in a workspace?

The coffee kitchen is the most important space in a workplace. This may sound trivial at first, but much about the spirit of a workplace and the company can be observed around the coffee machine and its surroundings. These places tell a lot about how people collaborate, how communication works in an office, and the level of appreciation and understanding given to employees.