A Tour of C-Management’s Cool New Berlin Office
C-Management, a Berlin-based internet company, recently hired interior design firm Seel Bobsin Partner to design their new office, located in a former industrial building “Backfabrik”, in Berlin, Germany.
“This former industrial space of the BACKFABRIK rented by C-Management is characterized by several factors: On the one hand, despite the old structure, it is a continuous open space that allows flexibility. On the other hand, numerous surfaces, materials and traces of use, left deliberately in the inventory, tell many stories. They keep the history of the building alive without being decorative. The requirements for the interior architecture were many and varied. The first goal was to preserve the original surfaces while supporting the spaciousness with flexible modules, which can be used to adjust the number of employees and the work contents to the rental space. Furthermore it was important to improve the poor acoustics caused by the reverberative surfaces while maintaining the openeness of the floor plan. The design agency sbp has created a design solution that offers maximum flexibility regarding furniture, interior fittings and lighting and which complies with the spirit of the popular location Berlin Mitte at the same time. Design elements from the club scene and the industrial sector can be found in the new layout. Large workbenches enable different occupancies without the need to change the number of tables. The workbenches are painted in striking Reseda green which was the classic colour for machines as a reminiscence to the previous factory location. A curtain system implements relevant improvements to the acoustic problems and offers the possibility to seperate teams from each other. Large, closed rooms promote concentrated and co-operative work. A generously sized and atmospheric break-out area offers sufficient space for the in-house catering service. The team space close to the entrance takes inspiration from arena stands to underline the dynamic of inspiring conversations. The open shelf at the reception desk works as a display case for “heroes” and “favorite pieces” of the employees, which also make the hearts of many visitors beat faster. The entire office is color-balanced and subtly designed: in addition to large wooden surfaces of the oak parquet and furniture surfaces, the classic Reseda green can be found in various forms. Text fragments on the walls show the core values of the company“, says Seel Bobsin Partner
- Location: Prenzlauer Berg – Berlin, Germany
- Date completed: 2018
- Design: Seel Bobsin Partner (sbp)
- Photos: Karsten Knocke