We’re all familiar with the invigorating properties of fresh water, but did you know that water can also improve concentration and performance? Companies like Vodafone that are at the cutting edge of technological development value qualities such as fitness and keeping up-to-date. And because employees are naturally more motivated when they feel refreshed, Vodafone took the decision to upgrade the water supply in all of the office kitchenettes when renovating its Niederlassung Süd premises in Munich between 2010 and 2011 in 2010/2011. Around 450 employees now have access to filtered drinking water thanks to the innovative kitchen fittings supplied by GROHE.
The move to GROHE systems aims to make the process of supplying clean, safe water to employees less complicated and more efficient. Indeed, one of the stated aims of the entire renovation project is an end to bottles, kettles and microwaves. “Vodafone is strongly committed to sustainable concepts and a green carbon footprint. The switch to a direct drinking water supply on site was more then just a logical move. With its innovative systems, GROHE turned out to be the perfect partner,” explains project coordinator Gerhard Zeitler of interior design firm merTens, which was given the task of redesigning the premises.
One thing that GROHE and Vodafone have in common are innovative ideas presented in an appealing design. The company premises are well served by transport links and are located right next to the Munich Trade Fair Centre. The offices were redesigned as a large, modern, open space flooded with natural light. This not only conveys a sense of greater transparency, but also encourages teamwork and creative freedom. “The kitchens serve as meeting points. Some of them have actually been brought into the open space. The attractive, yet discreet design of the GROHE fittings makes them the perfect match for the new design concept,” adds Kerstin Kabis from merTens AG.
The outstanding functionality of both water systems impressed the employees of Vodafone right from the word go. The GROHE Red® Mono adds a touch of comfort and luxury to the kitchen design. In kitchens that only have a cold water connection, its eight-litre boiler supplies up to six litres of boiling water without the wait – and unlike water boilers and kettles needs no additional space on the countertop.
The innovative filter system in the new GROHE Blue® fitting takes ordinary tap water and turns it into pure and fresh-tasting water, which tests prove stands up to comparisons with established premium mineral waters. It filters the water, chills it to the perfect temperature and serves still, lightly sparkling or sparkling water directly from the faucet. Each filter cartridge can purify up to 600 litres of water, making it economical as well as innovative. This is the equivalent of around 50 crates of mineral water – the average annual requirement for a family of four.
Together the two systems work in perfect harmony with the kitchen design concept in Munich – so much so that they are set to be used again at the Vodafone offices in Stuttgart and Berlin.
