HiSolutions AG
There are many reasons why it makes sense to refurbish an old building rather than completely redevelop the site. It preserves a viable structure, takes advantage of the existing infrastructure, and it creates real estate that has character and history. More than anything, though, it conserves valuable resources. These were the sustainable advantages that led to the new work environment in Berlin-Steglitz of the IT consultancy HiSolutions AG. The main question was: How can we make something completely new out of what is already there? How can we use our creativity to form a modern, feel-good place that will provide contact points and an inspiring workspace for our employees – as individuals and as a community – so that they come up with ground-breaking ideas? At HiSolutions AG, the company’s success is dependent on knowledge transfer between its employees. Ultimately, they wanted a place that would be so attractive that the staff out in the field would come back in even on a Friday afternoon to exchange news and views with their colleagues.
Dismantle is out, makeover is in – but where?
After Drees & Sommer SE had carried out a feasibility study and provided a rough concept, HiSolutions AG settled on Forum Steglitz as their new location. Forum Steglitz is a shopping centre that was built during the 70s – in fact one of Germany’s first – and is an absolute gem from that era.
Today the building no longer draws the crowds that it used to; the hip districts of Berlin are all elsewhere. Nevertheless, HiSolutions AG is keen to have its new office right here. They intend to rejuvenate the area and tap into its synergies and infrastructure. Why? Because refurbishing old structures is sustainable and opportune. And because together we have recognised the potential of the space.
“The new home for HiSolutions was much more than a design project. It was a creative process that we were involved in from the beginning as idea providers and saw through, as the executing partner, right to the end.”
Annette Schorr
Design Lead, Drees & Sommer
Preserving by refurbing
The former shopping centre’s third floor had an area of roughly 5,000 square metres and at first had the appearance of one of the gloomy levels of a multi-storey car park. It was in dire need of a bold and future-proof vision. The plan was to fill the space with light and an openness and quality to make it somewhere to feel at home in – and at the same time preserve its distinctive character.
The main concept, based on sustainability and a use of minimum resources, meant exploiting the existing structure to the utmost. So, the ceiling was simply resprayed. This extraordinary element, which is encased in fire-resistant foam, could remain completely intact and is untouched by any of the new fixtures. A further advantage is that it greatly enhances the acoustics of the space.
Quality that lasts
HiSolutions AG spent 25 years in their former premises and demanded similar longevity for their new abode. Spacious and flexible planning is the best foundation for a growth in employee numbers, and not only that: it also allows for effortless reconfigurations within the space. Sophisticated biophilic design and a convenient supply of fresh air contribute to the creation of an excellent spatial experience that all employees benefit from – all the time and wherever they are. The high-grade furniture integrates perfectly into the quality and sustainability concept.
Islands, bridges, and home ports to return to
Human beings are the key success factor at HiSolutions AG, and they require support for their diversity and creativity. That is why a variety of workspaces have been created that employees can select at will to suit their task, their work style and their individual needs:
Different meeting rooms and retreat spaces populate the floor space like small islands, acting in a sense like independent dwellings. They are named and designed after inventors and famous people of universal genius, and incorporate their pictures and quotations, the idea being that they reflect the company’s pioneering spirit and make HiSolutions AG perceptible as a brand.
Collaboration zones and high-end workplace equipment foster innovation and information exchange, and form bridges that connect the employees with each other. This idea is expressed graphically throughout the new workplace via grid patterns on the furniture, walls, floors and ceilings.
Human beings regularly need a welcoming place to drop anchor, a home port with a casual atmosphere and comfortable surroundings to recuperate in for a short while. The cafeteria with its own bar, the computer games zone and the table football room are shared spaces that cater to precisely these needs.
Mixed use and neighbourhoods
The repurposing of Forum Steglitz into a mixed-use building has led the former shopping centre to completely reinvent itself. This was another reason why HiSolutions AG decided to move in. Besides typical urban features such as ideal access to public transport, these premises provide opportunities for other synergies: the building also houses a large gym, additional office space, well-known food stores and various other retailers. The on-site carpark provides low-cost parking facilities.
HiSolutions AG’s new workplace is a perfect example of how the repurposing of redundant space can help to reposition entire building complexes. And how the redesign of empty space can have a positive impact on the surroundings, reinvigorate entire districts and create immense ecological benefits. However, this strategy of sustainability not only makes sense – it has become a necessity, due to the increasing pressure to densify. Thanks to bold visions, we are seeing the emergence of modern, high-quality spaces that provide added value – for users and for neighbourhoods.
HiSolutions AG
Acoustics planning
Lighting planning
Needs analysis
Interior design
Project management
Workplace consulting
Biophilic concept
Signage
Move management
Fixtures and furniture planning
Location: Berlin
Project duration March 2019 – May 2021
GFA: Approx. 6,000 sqm
iF Design Award 2023
Design discipline: Office Interiors
Frank Wiegand