When Spotify announced the concept of "Work from Anywhere," it created quite a buzz, as it was one of the first companies to allow its employees to choose where they wanted to do their work from, also in the post-pandemic era.

For the team of MNA merten nibbes architekten and tp bennett, which was commissioned with the design of the new Spotify office in Berlin, this led to the challenge of creating a place that would compete with the personal atmosphere and appeal of a home office, a co- working space or one of Berlin's numerous cafés.

Aiming to enable the user appropriating their workplace, the architects created spaces on two floors of a landmarked building in the historic center of Berlin that foster exchange, collaboration and identification. In addition to flexible workstations and zones for focused work, Spotify team members, who see themselves as a global "band," can share ideas in a variety of meeting rooms; numerous areas allow for spontaneous communication and dynamic working.

The heart of the office is the Spotify hall, a two-story atrium with a glass roof. In everyday office life, informal meetings and workshops take place here, but on special occasions also events with several hundred people can be hosted here.

The design concept of the space echoes the urban and rough Berlin character of the location. The hard materials of the building fabric were retained and exposed, but supplemented by built-in elements and furniture made of high quality, durable and sustainable materials such as wood, linoleum and wool fabrics. They provide a homely atmosphere that facilitates an appropriation of the barrier-free and non-hierarchical spaces for local team members as well as for guests.

The technical building equipment and lighting design (Büro Happold) were planned to maximize the flexibility of the large spaces. The lighting design was conceived in interaction with daylight and can be individually adjusted in scenarios. Natural ventilation and a chilled ceiling in the office areas reduce the need for mechanical ventilation, and numerous plants provide better air.

The reverberant surfaces of the existing building, the open spaces and the flexible usage concept with the option of music events posed particularly high acoustic challenges. By involving acousticians (WDSG/ ADA) right at the beginning of the planning process, it was possible to integrate the necessary elements for good room acoustics into the design. Individual listening rooms are acoustically decoupled, allowing music to be heard without being disturbed or distracting others. Successful acoustic taming of open spaces proves an important basis for user acceptance in a dynamic working environment.