Smart Founding

Light and lightness

The fact that a building wants to appear spectacular with its external appearance is a legitimate right of architecture. In many cases, it is even part of the functional concept. Especially when it comes to a new start-up center dedicated to digital. “Einstein1” is intended not only to attract interested parties – a university is located right in the neighborhood – but also to communicate its activities directly and, above all, effectively to the outside world via the media in a rather quiet urban neighborhood.

To this end, the three-story block building with an edge length of 28 meters and an expandable roof terrace not only received a sociable outdoor terrace, but also an eye-catching facade design: A textile band spans large parts of the upper floor and gives the building a colorful appearance.

LED lighting allows colors and information to be projected onto the facade, which is intended to convey the center’s digital theme. The planners from the resident firm [lu:p] Architektur chose a rough, rather industrial character for the interior, in keeping with the tech-savvy content. Exposed concrete looks like the shell of the building, cement screed flooring, open ceilings and suspended room technology define the atmosphere and combine structural functionality with creative lightness. This develops to such an extent that in front of the elevator a glazed conduit shaft shows off the inner organics of the building, i.e. cables and pipes.

Pleasant expanse

What it’s all about besides the digital, namely communication, can be experienced on the first floor, which has been kept emphatically consistent and is extensively glazed to the outside, where the reception, a café with variable-use lounge areas, an office for start-up consultants, a seminar room and co-working areas are located.

This level is pleasantly expanded by an atrium rising up to the skylights, which also connects the upper floor to the central event and recreation room spreading out below. In it, the rooms are arranged along the outer sides, divided into office units that are practically dimensioned for this location, including two break rooms and a meeting room for all users that can be rented in each case. A printer’s workshop can also be set up. The common area with recreation zones and the invigorating kitchenette is centrally located.

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

Renee Lorenz: A good workplace offers space for individuality and creativity. Its quality comes from good acoustics and lighting as well as ergonomic and multifunctional furnishings that enable concentrated work through separation as well as networking with other workplaces.

Do you see any similarities between the design of living and working spaces?

Yes. Living spaces, like working spaces, consist of public, semi-public and private areas. When designing work spaces, it is important to incorporate the feel-good and experiential character of private living into the work environment. For example, workspaces resemble loft apartments, eat-in kitchens, or hobby and leisure spaces.

Which functional aspects do you consider to be the most important for the future development of workspaces?

Workspaces will continue to develop in their multifunctionality. Individual workspaces will permanently detach themselves from the fixed workplace, so that work will be possible at any time and in any place.