Individual work in the "Smart Office" by Sedus

(Image: Sedus Stoll AG)

(Image: Sedus Stoll AG)

(Image: Sedus Stoll AG)

The employees at the center: With its new company headquarters, the office furniture manufacturer Sedus has implemented the principles of Human Centred Architecture (HCA) and Human Centred Design (HCD) in Dogern, Baden-Württemberg. These concepts consistently focus on the wishes and needs of the people who will use the building – in this case, the company's own employees. The new building, opened in 2019, supports the four essential work processes of communication, cooperation, concentration, and contemplation through furnishings and building materials. There is a suitable environment for each work requirement. An important contribution to the employee-friendly environment in the "Smart Office" is also made by the flooring from Interface. The architects and users chose a combination of nora rubber flooring and modular Interface carpet tiles. The different floorings create a harmonious design ensemble that supports an attractive appearance and a friendly spatial effect. At the same time, they offer functional advantages through their good acoustics and ergonomics.

Zoning of Different Work Situations

With high-quality furniture "Made in Germany," Sedus is represented worldwide as an international brand in over 50 countries. The "Smart Office," designed by Moser Architects Lörrach and occupied in April 2019 at the headquarters, is not only an exemplary workplace for its own employees but also a competence center, test laboratory, and showcase for international clients traveling from all over the world to the Hochrhein region. The color concept of the new building follows the "Sedus Colour Cookbook" and is characterized by a lot of white and modern pastel tones. About 100 employees from various departments and the executive board now work under one roof – which in this case also means: in a single space. This offers a spacious, light-filled environment across a full floor and gallery spanning nearly 3,000 square meters. The "Smart Office," whose design involved the employees from the beginning, impresses with a mix of openness and security, fixed and flexible workplaces. "There are three circular zones: the outer with the 'Me-Space' for focused work and retreat, the middle with the 'We-Space' for meetings in informal small groups, and the inner with the 'All-Space' for casual encounters without fixed appointments," explains project manager Mathias Grether from Moser Architects. The flooring was selected to zone the individual functional areas in the open-space office. The change in materiality signals the transition from one work situation to another. The gallery and movement areas, i.e., We-Space and All-Space, were equipped with noraplan sentica. "We have been using rubber floors in various projects for many years and have good long-term experience – the coverings are attractive and offer a lot of design flexibility through their colors and different designs, but due to their high durability and longevity, they are also a good functional choice," emphasizes the architect. The sand-colored noraplan sentica installed in the Sedus Office appears subtle and restrained with its tone-in-tone granulates and fits perfectly with the rose-toned seating groups and white desks. The rubber flooring has also proven its worth for more than ten years in the predecessor building, the development and innovation center in Dogern. The employees also referenced the positive experiences from the second production site in Geseke when choosing the modular Interface carpet tiles. In the Me-Spaces and seating areas of the communication zones, carpet tiles from the Colletion "Composure" were used. They create a cozy atmosphere with their harmonious, nature-inspired design in three different shades of brown and beige. "We were very impressed by the appearance of the carpet tiles with their subtle liveliness," emphasizes the architect.

Concept Calculated for Perfect Acoustics

Good acoustics are crucial in large open-plan offices for the well-being of employees and relaxed working. The "Smart Office" is equipped with sound-absorbing elements on walls and ceilings that ensure a pleasant noise level. For particularly focused work or confidential conversations, seven cubes with different equipment can be used. The flooring also contributes to the "quiet" environment: "To reduce reverberation times in the open-space office, we needed acoustically effective floors," explains Grether. An acoustic consultancy calculated the ideal ratio of rubber floors and carpet tiles – with convincing results. "In the 'Smart Office,' there is fantastic acoustics; despite the large area and many people, it is very quiet," the architect is pleased.

The interplay of rubber flooring and carpet tiles convinced Moser Architects across the board. Therefore, they also rely on this combination for their own new building, which will be occupied in 2020.