NEW WAYS, NEW WORK PRACTICES, NEW SPACES – NEW WORK ON THE SWABIAN ALB

The first thing you notice about the new building is how light, airy and spacious it is. Look a little closer and you'll see it is also a flexible and comfortable space, expertly tailored to the needs of the employees. The office landscape of Volksbank Albstadt eG demonstrates how companies today can satisfy the demands of an increasingly digitalised world of work though new interior design and work concepts. To achieve this, it was important for everyone involved to be open to new ways of working.

When Volksbank Ebingen and Volksbank Tailfingen merged in 2014, they needed to find a way to reconfigure their space. They needed a solution that would perfectly suit the users who were already facing major change. The customer wanted to ensure the layout of the office space was non-territorial, to minimise on needlessly complicated communication channels and travel time, to encourage communication between employees and to streamline processes. It soon became apparent that it was about more than just purchasing new office furniture and that this project would bring about fundamental changes. Detailed and considered planning was required:
Firstly, before an architect was even hired, the heads of department were asked what they needed from the building. A consultant body for credit unions supplemented the survey results with their expertise. Then followed the architectural tender and the awarding of the contract to a general contractor, as well as in-depth consultations between Interstuhl, the two management boards and the 120 employees.

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"Through our conversations, we learned that (the employees) were making major changes to their previous routines and working structures. Who is working with whom? How do people communicate with each other? What equipment do they need? (...) Is it important that people walking by cannot see what others are working on? We also asked how much time people spend on the telephone. Do they talk amongst themselves a lot, or do they spend a lot of time speaking on the phone?"

Maren Witopil, concept marketing & interior designer

In collaboration with lighting experts Waldmann, Interstuhl designed an office landscape with harmonious furnishing and lighting solutions. All floors are fitted with the HUB system. Features such as sofas, armchairs, screens, side tables and swing benches have been used to create distinctive zones. The workstations are all complemented by a PURE swivel chair (performance class 3). Not only is this good for the health of all employees, but it also strengthens the non-territorial working principle applied at Volksbank.

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"In a project like this, you always have to consider the appearance and atmosphere of the building. You need to create a space where people want to be and where they are happy to go about their work. That was something that we learned from our discussions with Interstuhl."

Benjamin Wurm, Member of the Board of Directors, Volksbank Albstadt eG

The combination of extensive window facades, direct-indirect lights and a primarily warm colour scheme ensures a pleasant overall impression. The design incorporates individually enclosed spaces between the flexible working areas, providing somewhere for discussions, creative meetings or even a place to unwind. The Open Space is broken up by kitchenettes and open communication zones, high tables, seating areas and even a swing bench. The new design has been well received, primarily thanks to the early involvement of the staff. The managers' desire to create efficient channels of communication has also been fulfilled with the help of intelligent zoning.

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"The way we communicate is so much more efficient now. The corporate culture is much better now too. If I want to measure the return on our investment, all I have to do is walk around the building and speak to my colleagues. The feedback is really positive, and if you ask me, there's nothing better than satisfied, smiling faces. That's something that you can't put a price on. It's the emotional aspect."

Benjamin Wurm, Member of the Board of Directors, Volksbank Albstadt eG