Office Conversion in Berlin by Ester Bruzkus Architekten

For the Berlin-based company Relaxound, Ester Bruzkus Architekten designed a working environment that offers a variety of spatial scenarios and atmospheres – all within an open spatial continuum on around 500 m² of old building space. The interior design combines the contrasting requirements of modern office work: exchange and concentration, community and privacy.

Relaxound is located in the Mariendorf industrial estate on the southern edge of Berlin – far from the homes of most of its employees. This made it all the more important to design the offices in an attractive way to offer added value to the employees. The company works on two levels in a room about 5.60 m high. Despite the potential for noise, the acoustics are pleasant. For meetings and concentrated work, there are small, acoustically decoupled rooms made of sound-absorbing materials: although the partitions are thin to save space, they are made of solid MDF boards, which absorb noise well thanks to their density. Acoustics were crucial to the project because Relaxound produces small loudspeakers that play relaxing sounds such as birdsong or the sound of the sea.

The two-storey main room is flanked by an L-shaped gallery. © Noshe

The existing gallery level was extended and a second level with additional workstations was added on steel and timber beams. It was important that all fixtures were reversible and easy to dismantle. The architects avoided coated materials and instead used untreated wood, coloured MDF throughout and aluminium foam acoustic panels. 

Playful wall design with in-house chirping boxes in the sanitary area. © Noshe

As well as the acoustics, the visual design was also important. To calm the space and make it easier for employees to find their way around, the architects chose a sophisticated colour scheme. Areas with low ceilings are decorated in a dark blue tone, providing space for concentration and relaxation. Workstations are bright and understated, while social areas are livened up with bold colour accents. A yellow carpet meets red armchairs, a blue sofa meets a yellow chair. This creates a pleasant balance between calm and vibrancy.

Read more in Detail 10.2024 and in our databank Detail Inspiration.