Save

Share

On around 20,000 square metres and five floors of a former Siemens office building, we have used intelligent conversion measures to create an innovative live-work space that allows for a broad spectrum of hybrid diversity and can therefore be adapted to a wide range of wishes and needs. To underline the fact that work is not just about sitting behind a desk, but should be understood as a triad of health, lifelong learning and social encounters, an agile opportunity space was created that invites free use at any time of the day – an energetic landscape with inspiring places where the tenants of BRAINHOUSE247 have the freedom to constantly reformulate their concept of work in addition to a wide range of functional offerings. At the same time, fresh opportunities to gain new impulses are ever present.

These include a Maker Space that encourages hands-on crafting (be it sewing, 3D printing or prototyping), studios for recording podcasts, films or music, and a games area that offers all ages the chance to hone their cognitive skills: from board games, some of which are home-grown, billiards and classic arcade machines, to a virtual golf course for league-level e-sports.

There are also activities that take the ‘poetry of work’ to the extreme and break habitual behaviour patterns: Rooms where you can shout out loud and release aggression if necessary; rooms that make you foggy so that you can see clearly again afterwards; and rooms that ensure absolute peace and tranquillity thanks to their Zen-like atmosphere. The concept is complemented by an event space and a campus with stimulating and varied programmes that promote exchange and continuous professional development. Whether you’re a student, a start-up founder or part of a big company, all target groups are offered stimulating opportunities that encourage unexpected encounters and intensify communication around the clock.

Hospitality areas on every level complete the picture: from a breakfast club to a café with outside space to a fine dining restaurant. As well as being used for traditional gastronomy, they can also be configured as meeting places, conference rooms or co-working spaces. Flexible spaces, such as the new, spacious Social Stair, can be transformed on the fly into stages or communication platforms. Finally, dedicated areas such as the IT helpdesk and in-house mailroom provide added value and make everyday life easier.

To bring the concept of constant change to life in the space, we developed an aesthetic concept for the existing 1970s building that clearly illustrates how we are all in a constant state of flux and never finished. Change should be seen as a positive thing and integrated into our own actions and thinking. Accordingly, the walls are unpapered or left raw, the ceiling grids are open, pipes remain visible, the existing tiles on the walls and floor have been retained and not completed. The balance between value and appreciation is evident in every detail: the existing has its own charm and quality – what can be further developed opens up countless possibilities. For example, old ventilation shafts were opened up, lounges were installed and the 15-metre-high space above was made accessible in a new way. Pleasant acoustics, the integration of lush planting and the use of sustainable materials also ensure a good working and indoor climate.

Design: Ippolito Fleitz Group
Design Team: Arsen Aliverdiiev, Laura Andraschko, Nadine Batz, Alessandro Belometti, Juan Manuel de Ayarra del Olmo Manu Dhanked, Jule Dörr, Timo Flott, Roger Gasperlin, Lena Grzib, Johannes Hanebuth, Katja Heinemann, Christian Kirschenmann, Tim Lessmann, Irene López-Oliver Reimers Loretta Pittino, Kerry, Anika Plieninger, Erkin Sagir, Kirsten Schäfer
Photography: Philip Kottlorz