FF 51, Salzgitter
Internal co-working space for a global corporation
Client: Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH
Planning: smow Hamburg
Year: 2022
Areas furnished: Lobby, Kitchen, Co-Working Space, Meeting rooms
Brief
FF51 - what sounds like the latest hip bar, or trend beer, is in fact an internal flagship project of Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH focussed on the development of a new working world within the group.
Specifically, the meeting rooms and offices of building 51 on the concern's Salzgitter base became F(it) F(uture) 51; were cleared and renovated by way of preparing the creation of a novel Co-working space.
In October 2021 smow Hamburg took over responsibility for the the design of what was then, essentially, an empty shell, a rough diamond awiting its final cut. In competition with a tight time frame, a reality defined by the rapidly approaching opening date, the motto was to make and implement quick decisions.
To this end, a usage and spatial concept was developed, in context of which details such as separating the three meeting rooms from the hallway with a glass wall were added in a very short time, as was the acoustic planning. The main challenge for the team of experts from smow Hamburg was the overall concept, which should be clearly visible as a common thread throughout the composition.
Project Manager
Leonie Aretz
Project & Furnishing Consultant, smow Hamburg
Telephone: +49 40 32 52 97 704
E-Mail: leonie.aretz@smow.de
Realisation
Many roads lead to Rome. And to smow Hamburg. For the FF51 project the smow team was not initially commissioned; rather the manufacturer Bene. Bene however asked smow Hamburg to join the project by way of integrating the team's acknowledged planning and conceptual know-how. For this reason, the concept was largely implemented with Bene furniture, complemented by, amongst others, Vitra. The entire planning took place in several rounds, and thanks to the constructive feedback from Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH, smow Hamburg quickly achieved its goal.
A space utilisation, furnishing and acoustics concept was developed, which includes specially made curtains from Litex, a lighting concept implemented with Artemide and glass walls, doors and acoustic walls which were planned and designed by smow Hamburg in collaboration with the smow graphics department and realised by Rembe.
Mobile furniture alternates with fixed, built-in, objets in a concept in which the wooden one Townhall (which is reminiscent of Bene's product of the same name) plays an important role; a Townhall space which reminds of a small theatre through the stepped construction and form. The circular, acoustically shielded, half-open, room-within-a-room elements PARCS Toguna high from Bene also form a striking feature that encourages movement in space. Short meetings or brainstorming sessions are always welcome.
And all staged within a coil shaped design concept, a creative decision based on the primary product of Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH.
Project synopsis
Internal and external meetings and gatherings of up to 60 people take place in Salzgitter Flachstahl GmbH's FF51 space. In addition to innovation and teamwork, flexibility was an important keyword in the development of the project, which is why the large space known as Area51 was designed to be as freely variable as possible.
From the original uncut diamond of a gutted factory building a feel-good atmosphere that underlines identity has been created - starting from the hallway, the kitchen, Area51, the FF51_Werkstatt, on to the FF51_Beta as a soft meeting space and the FF51_Alpha, the classic meeting room.
The focus was on the general design concept, which was intended to underpin the company's corporate identity.
What's better than happy customers? The customer's return. And since completing FF51 the smow Hamburg team now regularly advises numerous departments within the group on interior design and furniture selection, for example for the training centre.
A relationship forged in FF51.
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Together with you, we design spatial office solutions and planning approaches for your office. In cooperation with our architects and interior designers, we accompany your project from conception to implementation, so that you can continue to work productively and relaxed in the future. The smow project planning team can be reached Monday to Friday between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. on 031 981 40 67 or by email at project@smow.ch.