Office
Axel Springer
The interior of the new building of German media company Axel Springer in Berlin
The futuristic building was designed by Rem Koolhaas
project HQ Media concern Axel Springer
architect Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA)
furniture Lensvelt Contract Furniture
photography Laurian Ghinitoiu, Gwenda Gieseler
Lensvelt collaborated with OMA on the interior of the new building of German media company Axel Springer in Berlin. The futuristic building, not far from Checkpoint Charlie, was designed by Rem Koolhaas, architect and founder of the Office for Metropolitan Architecture (OMA). The design of the building with an open floorplan and private quite spaces, serves as a symbol and tool for the future of this leading digital media company.
tekst 1
A meeting place on the ground floor in the main hall with soft islands with colorfull backrests
Red foam blocks at the Coworking area, a round sofa and the AVL Visitor Chair (right)
Lensvelt developed 12 different shaped sofas
The building is characterized by its open, transparent architecture
OMA architect in charge Katrin Betschinger and Philippe Braun (left) with Lensvelt CEO Rob Brugge (right) and sales associate Mick van der Kolff
The objective for the modern workingspaces
The building expands the traditional concept of working spaces by bringing "people and their interaction" to the core of the building with a giant diagonal atrium. The design of the new offices is based on 75% formal workspaces against 25% informal spaces. The building offers 52,000 square meters of work space and is characterized by its open, transparent architecture.
Lensvelt senior sales associate Mick van der Kolff initially encountered the architects of OMA two years ago and discussed possibilities in an early stage of the development
Katrin Betschinger, architect in charge focused on customized furniture as well as on the acoustic conditions in an open workplace for more than 3000 employees.
Lensvelt developed a range of products for this specific project: easy to assemble and disassemble sofas in 12 different shapes for long term use and 8 different island seats designed by OMA. Printer pods, safety benches, base units with screens for office supplies and power units, acoustic lockers and Lensvelt’s own iconic Stealth cabinet, the best and original acoustic cabinet designed by Wiel Arets.
tekst 2
The view from one of the 13 indoor bridges
The design features an atrium, which runs diagonally through the center of the building
OMA chose a pastel color palette with accent colors
One of the island seats designed by OMA
Lensvelt's projectmanager Gwenda Gieseler moved to Berlin for 7 months, where she was coordinating deliveries of 72 truckloads of furniture. ‘A remarkable experience in times of Covid19, yet also exciting to be working at such an extraordinary project’. Gwenda regulated shipments in close contact with our producers and transporters.
‘In preparation of the delivery I made sure the security department was aware of our shipment. A team of local technicians were set with all the information they needed, to put all items together correctly and disperse to the right place in this large building. I personally checked all the products, the installation and completion area by area.’
Gwenda had kept in touch with the customers at all times for any questions that arised or any requests to guarantee the desired quality of the Lensvelt products.
tekst 3
AVL Visitor Chairs at a conference table with a Stealth cabinet in the background
Meters long soft pink sofas at the informal spaces
Two tone sofas combined with black Maarten van Severen chairs
The Stealth Cabinet is multi functional
The triangle-shaped stage consists of a red lacquered wooden body with a blue seat which is made of coated foam
The Stealth Cabinet has also been applied in black
Acoustic lockers and Lensvelt’s own Stealth cabinet next to MVS CN chair
Soft sofas in bright colors contrast the pastel palette
Multi functional and movable base units
Digitally operated lockers
Specially developed products with acoustic walls
