Cologne is home to one of Germany’s most digitalized office buildings, known as The Ship. Inspired by its success as a model of contemporary working, a second project is being added just next door: the Vorum.
The image of seafaring romance was naturally quite intentional, emphasize the founders of FOND OF GmbH, who were the project’s initiators and developers: “The Ship represents a collective journey undertaken by a skilled crew who are setting sail for new horizons. Like on a yacht, it is all about working together as a team, networking, taking a shared approach to challenges, as well as vibrancy and commitment from every single person.”
Setting sail for the future
As you would expect, the architectural concept provides this fully digitalized office building with an eye-catching platform: “When viewed from above, the building looks like a yacht with the adjoining Alte Wagenfabrik as its harbour. Unique in its design, the building embodies the spirit behind the idea of gaining momentum by working together.”
The Ship fosters a contemporary mood that promotes new forms of working: networked, responsive, collaborative.
Historically speaking, the site is of great significance. Although it now serves as office space, the first electrically powered ambulances were just some of the creations to be manufactured here by the Cöllner Elektromobilgesellschaft. The Alte Wagenfabrik was opened in 1923 by Heinrich Scheele, who pioneered electric vehicles in Germany.
Back to the present
With an eye to continuing this pioneering spirit of innovation and mobility, The Ship has been built in accordance with the gold standard of the German Sustainable Building Council. It is equipped with high-end technology, and also fosters a contemporary mood that promotes new forms of working: networked, responsive and collaborative.
The Ship uses open room layouts for activity-based workspaces.
The architects of The Ship
In the words of the property owner: “The Ship uses open room layouts for activity-based workspaces. This means suitable rooms are available for any situation at work, such as meeting rooms, creative labs, think tanks and phone capsules. Digital room management offers bespoke support. The units for rent are divided into modules as required.”
Success with school bags
Everyday business practice at FOND OF GmbH proves that this isn’t just marketing-speak. Their school bag brand ergobag has turned this huge market upside down since it was launched in 2010, and in the meantime they have also taken lasting control of the hipster segment with brands such as pinqponq and SALZEN. Almost 250 employees now work at the company.
The courtyard can also be used for meetings.
“When we were planning The Ship, we involved the FOND OF employees and conducted a comprehensive needs assessment,” explains co-founder Dr. Oliver Steinki. “Accordingly, the building is precisely tailored to the requirements of our team. Using comprehensive, intelligent building digitalization, we have been able to optimize features such as climate and lighting, thus generating extra comfort for users. For instance, there are automatic controls for brightness and temperature.”
Numerous benefits
The building app is another digital showpiece. Controlled via smartphone and offering numerous benefits, this feature provides a keyless access system, digital payments in the canteen, workspace reservation system, smart navigation throughout the building using 3D maps, and much more.
Employees are offered enough room to move about and develop.
According to Steinki, flexibility is a top priority at FOND OF: “Rigid room layouts have probably now become a thing of the past. We are aiming to offer our employees enough room to move about and develop, and so different areas alternate within the building. These areas are designed to meet the differing requirements in everyday working life.”
Spontaneous encounters and constructive talks
Besides many other spaces, the think tanks have proven especially successful. “They enable people to leave the open space office when they need to focus on a piece of work or talk on the phone,” says Steinki. “There are also areas such as the roof terrace, lounges and restaurant, all of which have become popular locations for meetings and breaks. We wanted to create as many areas as possible that enable spontaneous encounters and constructive talks.”
In future, the office will no longer be a physical place where people work, but rather a place that symbolizes the culture, values and visions of a company.
Oliver Steinki, managing director of evolutiq GmbH
But Steinki has even clearer visions: “In future, the office will no longer be a physical place where people work, but rather a place that symbolizes the culture, values and visions of a company. It will be important to create working environments that focus on fostering a sense of well-being, productivity and the development of potential.”
New neighbours
In line with this belief, his investment management company evolutiq GmbH has already unveiled plans for the construction of another office property. Due to be completed by 2024, the Vorum will be built right next door to The Ship. It is expected to offer room for 800 workspaces with a total of 20,000 square metres of floor area.
Due to be completed by 2024, the Vorum will be built right next door to The Ship. It is expected to offer 800 workstations with a total of 20,000 square metres of floor area.
Once again, the individual needs of the building’s occupants will gain centre stage, as Steinki emphasizes: “The Vorum is going to be built entirely in line with the human-centred design process and will be based on state-of-the-art research into the interplay of digital building technologies and the areas of health and well-being. In addition to modern digital solutions, it will include health, infrastructure and mobility concepts.”
Campus character and marketplace feel
In tandem with The Ship and the Alte Wagenfabrik, the developers aim to transform the area into an entrepreneurial campus, using synergies and pressing ahead with innovations. “The pandemic has established hybrid models of working that will continue into the future. We are seeing that the office is turning into a place where people are looking to communicate with others– in a safe environment,” explains Steinki. Accordingly, the workspaces in the Vorum will be designed to allow tenants to adapt them flexibly, as required.
The workspaces in the Vorum will be designed to allow tenants to adapt them flexibly, as required.
The concept behind the five-storey construction aims to support this aspiration. Managing director of kadawittfeldarchitektur Kilian Kada outlines the design: “A central, light-filled atrium inside the building will create an airy, open atmosphere. It will be a kind of marketplace that encourages inspiring encounters and a lively exchange during everyday working life – as is suggested by the name of the building itself.” And so all that remains is to wish the developers every success for the navigation of their projects!
Non-profit association Aktion Mensch has an emphatic motto – “Together we will win”. Inclusion is especially important to this private charity, which runs a lottery to support social projects. Its focus is also reflected in the organization’s new head office in Bonn, Germany. The design concept by the Ippolito Fleitz Group takes diversity as a central theme. And it also turns interior design into a strong framework for displaying the humane side to life.
#smart office
From heating plant to co-working centre
Studio Perspektiv has transformed a historic industrial landmark into a modern office building. Bratislava’s former heating plant, designed in functionalist style by architect Dušan Jurkovič, now serves as a spacious Base4Work co-working centre.
#smart office
Green oasis in concrete tower
In the Vietnamese metropolis Ho Chi Minh City, an increasing number of new office towers are shooting skyward. Local architectural office MIA Design Studio makes sure that nature isn’t forgotten in the process. Even if it has to flourish inside busy interiors.
#smart office
High-tech timber for Norwegian banking
Timber construction can be decidedly high-tech, as illustrated by the head office built for SR Bank in Stavanger, Norway. Bjergsted Financial Park offers workplaces that are fit for the future, and it is among Europe’s largest engineered timber buildings.
#smart office
Pairing wood and stone in a Danish design
Sejet Plant Breeding in Denmark develops modern grain varieties. The company cultivates plants using state-of-the-art, sustainable technology, and has adopted the same approach for its new entrance building, designed by GinnerupArkitekter.
In the service of biological diversity
Good news for local fauna: The dedication of not-for-profit organization CABI to combatting climate change through innovative agricultural solutions is reflected in the architecture of its new headquarters in England.
#smart office
“Smart means something is communicating with me”
Alan Hofmann is a building engineer and timber constructor from Austria. His company Woodplan occupies a digital niche for building projects around the world. In this interview he describes his interpretation of intelligent offices, and how an office can be smart in an old Austrian building.
#smart office
In full control
In everyday office life, automation is especially key to success. Lighting, sound, shading, heating, cooling, ventilation and access systems can be operated centrally with intelligent controls by Loxone.
#smart office
New Work from New York
The new co-working space Hammerbrooklyn in Hamburg is designed to be a place of inspiration and creativity. Besides its passion and dedication, this curated community thrives on a desire for innovation and thirst for the future.
#smart office
A Cobot Hub for humans and robots
Heralding a bright future in an innovative, exciting location, this robotics centre in Denmark designed by 3XN is expected to become the perfect place to work. It is a Cobot Hub for the employees at two companies. And also for the robots developed there.
#smart office
Cost-free solutions on a billion-dollar market
Big tech can actually be avoided. The small Swiss company Infomaniak is taking on digital office tech giants like Zoom and Microsoft. Without any charges or advertising, it is offering videoconferencing that can also be used by inexperienced users.
#smart office
Sealed by the sultan
In Istanbul the two spectacular towers for Ziraat Bank have grown high into the sky. While their shape is oriented on traditional calligraphy, the interior displays state-of-the-art technical features.
#smart office
A little bird told you …
Inspired by traditional survival strategies of experienced miners, the architects at 3XN/GXN have “bred” a stylish canary that takes care of our health in the workplace.
#smart office
A wanderer with a high-tech trailer
As he was constantly on the move, technology entrepreneur Jeff Kleck was looking for a clever solution for a live-work space. His brilliant idea? To convert an old Airstream into what is probably the world’s best mobile smart office, which he calls “Kugelschiff”.
#smart office
How smart lifts think for us
Automated machine communication is enabling new applications. In predictive maintenance, smart lifts indicate whether they are working or need attention.
#smart office
The building that thinks
You’ve seen smart homes, now it’s time for smart buildings. Cube Berlin, an office complex that controls itself via artificial intelligence, opened in early 2020.
#smart office
“This is just the tip of the iceberg!”
Andreas Thamm is a “smart office” expert. As Chairman of the Management Board at UBM Development Germany, he is steering the company towards an intelligent future. It is an issue that is particularly relevant in times of COVID-19.
#smart office
The digital world of tomorrow
In China, Zaha Hadid Architects are building two 400-metre giant structures that make sensational use of digital possibilities. With its smart solutions, Tower C is efficient and, above all, environmentally friendly.
#smart office
Office tower as city highlight
Architecture studio Foster + Partners have designed an extraordinary office tower for the heart of Buenos Aires. As a sustainable and flexible building, Avenida Cordoba 120 is set to provide more than just an optimum working environment. Its public space is intended to enhance the entire district.
#smart office
The flexible icon
The office complex ICÔNE has been created by the architects at Foster + Partners as an elegant answer to current working trends. This new flex office building is currently under construction in Luxembourg’s Belval Quarter, where urban renewal is set to create the city’s new “best address”.
#city planning #smart office
Beneath the dragon’s skin
The new showpiece unveiled by Swatch is not a watch, but office architecture at its finest. To create the reptilian curves of the new Swatch headquarters in Biel, star architect Shigeru Ban has built one of the world’s largest timber-framed constructions.
#smart office
Google (re)invents itself
Internet giant Google wants to do more than provide the right answers every time on the digital front. With the construction of the new headquarters in Silicon Valley, it wants to supply the solution to every workplace problem. Specifically, it aims to revolutionize working environments completely!
#smart office
Axel Springer: new headquarters as a statement
Berlin has a new landmark: the new Axel Springer building. The avant-garde complex isn’t just an urban statement, it also stands for the future of working in the digital world.
