Open-plan office with concrete ceiling and free-hanging acoustic panels

Weisenburger HQ

Project: Weisenburger HQ

Segment: Office

Country/city: Germany, Karlsruhe

Architect: Tadao Andō

Photographer: HG Esch Photography

Production year: 2017

Exposed concrete and ceiling panels

The irregular square building consists of four wings of different heights, each with different facades. Inside, especially in the representative areas, such as the entrance hall or the inner courtyard, one finds the typical Andō aesthetics: exposed concrete in tatami format with a flat, homogeneous and silky-looking surface, the even grid of anchor holes, an impressive light and play of shadows, clear lines, flush surfaces and lots and lots of glass.

On the standard floors, however, the picture changes: there is a, surprisingly, spatial diversity. Because Weisenburger previously resided in Rastatt in an office building with individual offices, and the company management in Karlsruhe was planning open spaces, they approached the employees early on. The departments were able to adapt the floor plan and the furniture to their individual needs.

The middle zone is equipped with intimate meeting islands, with seating alcoves and telephone booths, with glass "think tanks" and bar tables, with copy areas behind shoulder-high room dividers, into which cloakrooms are integrated.