Sensitive Workspace

Tradition and modernity

The client, the Evangelical-Lutheran Comprehensive Church Community of Regensburg, wanted to present itself with its new deanery rooms in a way that was both modern and traditional. From this, the architects developed the following guideline for their design work: “The principle of linearity fits well with the theme of clarity, simplicity and tradition of a church use.”

They had to work on the southern corner of the mezzanine floor of the Alumneum, a four-storey hipped-roof building erected in 1901 opposite the Church of the Holy Trinity. In keeping with its period of historicism, it has large windows, heavy exterior walls and a varied interior design including bay windows. In addition to existing facilities, the administrative centre of the largest Bavarian deanery in terms of area was to be housed here on 200 square metres of floor space. Accordingly, organisational services as well as a relatively high frequency of processes and visitors had to be taken into account.

The premises

The room programme includes the dean’s corner office as well as four rooms with individual desks and one with two fixed workstations. The connecting corridor, which runs at right angles and is entered through a double door directly from the building’s prestigious foyer, serves as a reception and waiting zone. The inner, windowless core area of the floor, where two WCs and the kitchenette are located, is also accessed from here.

A functionally and socially important place is the meeting room, which is located in the north corner of the floor and is available for meetings on the one hand and as a common meeting place for personal exchange on the other.

Library

In addition, the deanery’s book collection is archived there in the form of a library on shelves all around the building. The basic structure of the Art Nouveau building was left untouched due to preservation requirements. Elements to be preserved, such as the dark wood panelling and the historical frames of the green lacquered doors, were used as an atmospheric vocabulary to create identity.

The sober interior is dominated by light-coloured room shells and white built-in furniture, parquet floors and wall fixtures made of white-oiled oak in the circulation area of the corridor, which is also used as a lounge for visitors.

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

fabi architekten: A good atmosphere with a high feel-good factor and comfort. Influencing factors are good light, comfortable seating, backgrounds with acoustic effects, etc.. In addition, a natural feeling of space through special material properties of the surfaces with haptic, sensual experiences, e.g. wood, textiles, stone, clay, etc.

Which functional aspects are decisive for you in the future development of workspaces?

Due to advancing digitalisation and home offices, individual workspaces within offices will become smaller and more flexible, and may even be used only temporarily. Interaction and communication areas will have to be designed to be even more valuable, qualitative and attractive. The office will become a cultural place, a meeting place, a place of exchange. At the same time, there must be more retreat areas to hold video conferences and to create rest and recreation zones.

What material-related aspects are decisive for you in the future development of workspaces?

As in the textile industry, for example, materials should be used that are recovered from recycled materials and recycled into office furniture in order to contribute to sustainability. In addition, office furniture should be equipped with additional digital functions, such as an inductive charging function for tablets, mobile phones, etc., and also be multifunctional. At the same time, a qualitative and high-quality feel must be maintained in order to have a high feel-good factor and a good room atmosphere.