ajando Next Level CRM

The dynamics of information, materialized in the interior design, constitute at the same time the unmistakable main element of the corporate architecture concept of “ajando Next Level CRM”. In contrast to this, the plain office furniture in the conference rooms, lounge areas and all workplaces is distinguished by neutral characteristics and thus provides an important basis for each cross-media implementation. The integrated illumination of the rooms can create additional impulses of energy as needed and thus generate the appropriate background atmosphere for all occasions.

The core business of the agency ajando.CRM is based on information reception, information processing and information transfer. The dynamics of these information flows can be considered as the main driver of the entire company.

Information, at first sight an invisible element, not only provides the basis for further processing, but can also be a source of inspiration and motivation for all employees and co-operation partners. According to John A. Wheeler of the Princeton University, USA, one of the co-developers of the quantum theory, information even represents the ultimate physical world, whereas energy and matter are only surface appearances.

Consequently, the architect Peter Stasek considers the visualization of these information dynamics not only as the creative approach for the redesign of the interior space but also as the actual basis of the new corporate architecture concept for ajando. In addition to the architectural shaping, graphic components have also been developed based on a gyrogrid pattern, which will be integrated into the interior design as 2D foil print and 3D print (digital fabrication) respectively. The gyrogrid pattern, developed in collaboration with PatricGünther (Voxel-Studio Detmold), is intended to be a symbol for the digitalized global network.

The layout of the functional areas as well as their development within the suggested loft office concept for ajando will be implemented according to the motto of Josef M. Hoffmann, the famous Viennese architect of the turn of the 19th/20th century: “The concept for the paths and the room are one and the same.” Just like with information, the visitor is to be guided in the most direct way to the place where the reason for his/her visit is maintained, consulted, processed and forwarded. Consequently, the dynamics of information are represented in the design of the pathways. Therefore, the cross-media platform of ajando stands for convergence also in the materialized interior design and demonstrates its function as a shortcut.

The lighting design was developed in collaboration with Licht-Team Speyer and also contributes significantly to the corporate architecture concept of ajando. The illumination of the corridors, the lobby as well as the entire open space office was designed under the motto “Light as a wave, light as a particle”. Accordingly, the longitudinal wall within the conference room for example is equipped with a panel (7,5 m long x 1,6 m high) draped with a special fabric. Behind this fabric, LED strips are installed. As a result, luminous structures in the shape of waves are created. The illumination of the existing historical brick wall in the open space office by programmable power LEDs will ensure a discreetly stimulating background atmosphere for the working area. The light in form of moving particles will be created by projection in the middle of the open space within the half-open stairway shell. In this manner, white snowflakes above the staircase will be projected on the rusty back wallas fluttering photons. The gliding of these light particles should be seen as an additional visualization of the information flows. These are omnipresent and thus display the entire strategy of the company as a connecting and never resting element.

Overview The last part is the hardest: Germany‘s oldest featherbed factory, a Wilhelminian Style industrial monument located at the Mannheim harbour is being converted into upscale office and retail spaces piece by piece since 2006. In this historical context creative industries, event spaces, restaurants, and even a beach club come together as what‘s known as the „Hafenpark“. The older part of the ensemble has a beautiful substance consisting of strong brick walls, and ceilings resting on cast iron beams. After the conversion of the historical spaces was mostly completed, there was still one major challenge: The 40 meters long, three-storey tall concrete hall, that was attached to the old building during the 1960s still remained untouched.

The client and owner of the Hafenpark, the familiymanaged H::M Projektmanagement GmbH & Co. KG, had an open mind about the architecture chosen. Their goal for the project was to transform the rather cold and spartan concrete hall into an office space whitch stands a direkt comparision with the older part of the Hafenpark and its picturebook like office lofts. The client also needed a flexible solution for the 750 m2 big space. The chosen design is able to devide the loft in up to four individual offices with minor interventions.

Brief loftwerk was commissioned by the owners to design, and execute the conversion. It was our goal to carve out the spatial qualities of the tube-like hall, and to find the right way to deal with the historic substance it is added on to. At the same time creating an efficient open space office on the 3rd floor as well as more useable storage space on the remaining two floors. Challaging aspects of the designprocess was the demand of maximum usage of natural light, as the fire prevention requierments did not allow any bigger changes to the outher walls.

Design The final design is comprised of an entrance hall that is located in the historical part of the building, across from which a large meeting room is set up. As you‘re stepping through the now again laid open round arch portals into the office loft, you‘ll notice how the structure of the hall itself is being used to signify the different segments, rather than just putting up barriers, thereby creating an the open space design. The office loft holds up to 70 workstations, and all auxiliary areas on the main floor and the gallery.

Where the original structure of the hall was altered it had a significant effect, all the wile the focus was to preserve its industrial character. The faced brickworkwall facing the old building, has been taken out, exposing the old brick facade, which has then been delicately restored. The two smaller exterior walls have been completely opened to achieve maximum daylight exposure, even deep inside the office space. The floor to ceiling, wall to wall windows also accentuate the length of the hall, and allow for stunning panoramic views of the old industrial landscape and the inner harbour.

Resting on a filigree steel construction, is a seemingly floating gallery creating a middle level in the hall. The bright white, sleek, rounded structure of the gallery is contrasted against the carmine red, structured brick wall across the room. Below the gallery the lounge area and secondary rooms are lined up along a free flowing outline.

The surface design of the area, and the furniture designs were put together in collaboration with Mannheim local interior designer Peter Stasek. The forms and Materials are corresponding with the initial loftwerk design. The special requirements of the office loft‘s tenant, the consulting agency ajando next level crm GmbH, were also met by putting up large, wall mounted installations that abstract the agency‘s fields of business.