With Safety

A Landmark of Functionality and Design

Insurance is not only a meaningful and important part of life for customers. With their often large-scale locations in cities, they frequently become a well-known feature of the urban architectural landscape for many passersby. A customer service center covering a total area of 7,300 square meters, such as the one recently built by the Württembergische Gemeinde-Versicherung in their home city of Stuttgart, presents itself as a prominent entity, serving as a workplace for 230 users and also inviting customers and guests – across six floors. Corporate identity plays a fundamental role in all three of these functions, both in terms of language and the internal organization of the design. Dittel Architekten took on the design with a focus on high-quality spaces, optimal orientation, and efficient use of space.

A Harmonious Blend of Functionality and Aesthetics

While the modern work environment is located on the upper office floors, the new approximately 600-square-meter customer service center is placed on the ground floor, divided into three functional zones: both street-facing entrances, as well as the path from the underground parking, lead directly to the reception and information desk with clear sightlines. From here, service employees have an optimal view of the waiting area with seating islands. A wall element with integrated functions, such as an info screen, brochure holders, and a water dispenser, provides the waiting visitors with first-hand information and ensures a pleasant waiting experience. Views into the landscaped inner courtyard and integrated plantings create a pleasant atmosphere and healthy indoor climate. Areas with heightened soundproofing requirements were equipped with acoustic ceilings and panels, ensuring balanced room acoustics with the necessary privacy and speech intelligibility. The consulting spaces, designed with plenty of natural light and an open work layout, are arranged along the glass facade. A semi-transparent wooden slat structure offers protection and discretion for both customers and service personnel without overly isolating the spaces. Closed rooms for meetings and focused work complement the consulting area. Attention was also paid to subtle effects: the light gray, rather cool terrazzo floor contrasts with the warm appearance of the oak wood in the slats or the reception desk. Fine brass strips frame areas and mark zoning.

What can architecture do for a good workplace?

Frank Dittel: Companies are facing the challenge of inspiring employees to return from home office while simultaneously attracting new talent. An appealing work environment becomes a key factor. Flexible and needs-oriented offices that enable both productive and creative work offer added value that remote work can hardly achieve. This not only strengthens employee retention but also increases the company’s attractiveness to new talent.

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

Our approach focuses on individual solutions that meet both the employees’ and the company’s operational requirements. An inclusive planning process is essential to ensure that the spaces are usable in the long term and can be adapted to new needs. Through preliminary workshops, we specifically analyze the needs of future user groups. This ensures that the spaces are optimally tailored to their ways of working.

Which materials do you recommend to your clients in construction or interior design?

We recommend that our clients choose high-quality materials that are both durable and sustainable. One example is terrazzo flooring, known for its resilience. Natural stone is also a timeless building material that can be sourced locally to reduce transportation emissions. Materials with a high proportion of recycled content, such as recycled steel or concrete, support the circular economy. Such investments should be viewed as lifecycle investments, as their durability contributes to the preservation of the building’s value and optimization of operating costs.