In the Wilhelmhallen (a former iron foundry), a working space was created that offers the most flexible space possible for communication, exchange of ideas and rethinking work.

Instead of a multitude of closed rooms, there are open lines of sight, multifunctional rooms with flexible partitions and areas without a fixed use of space. There are spacious areas for open communication and concentrated work on two levels.

The entrance area on the ground floor with a lot of outdoor space was implemented as an open café concept without a classic reception counter. Two central kitchen counters lined with planted benches, swings, lounge seating and loose table groups form the joint of both levels. This is adjoined by open areas for spontaneous meetings or workshops, which can be flexibly used in terms of room size by means of curtains and which incorporate the outdoor space in a spatially usable way through floor-to-ceiling windows. On the second level, there are various room and furniture concepts for working in groups, in a concentrated manner or even on the terrace.

Room structures left visible, such as the cap ceiling, the unrendered brickwork, existing floors and crane elements, were lined with new space-creating elements and furniture in a discreet light grey, so that on the upper floor, for example, the worn uneven structure of the brick walls provide a clear contrast in texture to the straight-lined fixtures, such as the rubber floor.

Only the accent colour orange breaks up the light space. For example, as glass doors of the quiet meeting rooms on the ground floor, which direct the sunlight in bright orange onto the light grey screed floor. An acoustically effective pendant luminaire with 2 circuits was developed by us for the project.

The origins of the building and the existing spatial structures are reflected anew through materials and forms. The idea of former metal processing is reflected in the room boxes on the upper floor, which are covered with raw expanded metal. Underneath this surface are acoustically effective materials that invisibly improve the room acoustics.

Likewise, the ventilation pipes running into the cubes above emphasise the impression of the reinterpretation of a factory: a factory of thoughts and ideas. White curved ceiling sails refer to the visible canopy ceiling.

Acoustically effective wood wool panels are used in the rooms as a kind of protective bonnet from the top edge of the doors, and recycled PET panels mark the meeting rooms and telephone booths.

On the subject of sustainability, high-quality, durable furniture was used, which is produced in Europe (short delivery routes). The furniture selection also focused on local, young furniture designs from Berlin. Attention was paid to recycled materials and also to the careful use of standard dimensions and the avoidance of waste.

Example of expanded metal: 1m of raw material = 3m of expanded metal