A PLACE FOR CREATIVE MINDS TO GATHER AND CREATE

Written by Beverly Pereira Robert Hoernig is the photographer; Image courtesy of ifg ippolito fleitz group, an architecture firm based in Stuttgart, designed a flexible and modern office environment for the European headquarters of a Korean advertising agency. This comes as no surprise given that the agency is young and design-conscious, and it exemplifies the positive impact that open communication and flexible workspaces can have. Innocean Worldwide’s office in Frankfurt reflects the agency’s creative and transparent attitude. The architects took into consideration the need for a creative environment that is always in a state of flux and that encourages healthy contact and the exchange of ideas by including an open-plan layout into the four-story fit-out that encompasses a total area of 2,800 square meters. When you approach the wide reception area that is surrounded by glass, you will see that there are crucial elements of movement and energy in play. In contrast to the warm wooden greeting, an elaborate suspended ceiling installation that is made up of sparkling spheres fashioned out of micro-perforated satin-polished aluminum stands out. This artwork reacts to the natural light flow and casts mesmerizing shadows on the floor. The collaborative mentality of the organization is reflected in the wooden swing seats that are provided for both staff and visitors. In order to create semi-public gathering areas, polygonal spatial components with all-green interiors are used. Additionally, white geometric furniture with orange accents is utilized to provide a touch of modern style. This creates a feeling of vitality, especially when contrasted with walls that are mostly white and gray. The idea of continuity is pursued via a number of open work zones, a staff library, and an in-house gym that is located on the fifth floor and provides fantastic views of the city. The only public areas that are discrete are the conference zones, which are characterized by subdued colors such as gray, black, beige, and white. These colors are suitable for meetings consisting of both employees and clients. During the design process, one of the challenges that was encountered was the need to combine the current design character of ippolito fleitz with the robust architecture of the building, which was carried out by architects schneider+schumacher and completed in the 1990s. Nevertheless, the architects, who were well-versed in the process of developing distinctive identities for clients, simply communicated their design intention in the most straightforward manner possible. The team believed that this was in part easily executed, thanks to the client’s propensity to maintain an open mind. Here is a link to the photographs of the office that can be seen on indiaartndesign.com.