New canteen for smow, Leipzig
Cook wanted!: The new canteen as a meeting place in the smow logistics centre
Brief
The office kitchen or canteen is the heart of a company. Not only where the coffee is flowing but where weekend experiences are shared and the latest stories from the last team event are exchanged.
The goal of the smow management was to design a space that both expresses appreciation for the employees and is an experience for guests. To this end a retreat for the smow family was to be created, which would unite the various warehouse logistics and office teams, the new room should create a connection to the logistics hall and at the same time meet the smow demand for quality and aesthetics. It was therefore clear from the beginning that it would not be enough to just furnish the lounge with furniture. Rather, it had to be stripped back to the shell and expanded with a tailored holistic concept.
The starting position in pictures
Room without a view: The original condition of the break room offered a rather dreary sight. And provided no connection to the warehouse logistics; however, the view to surrounding countryside gave hope - anything located in such a beautiful environment just had to have potential!
Project Managers
Jörg Meinel
Telephone: 0341 2222 88 10
E-Mail: joerg.meinel@smow.de
Toni Piskač
CEO, tnpx
Telephone: 0341 2222 8866
E-Mail: toni.piskac@tnpx.de
Realisation
The focus of the project was on connecting the smow warehouse, its products and processes with the employees; an aim achieved via the large window with a view of the logistics hall. During the break, you can choose to look into the logistics hall or into the countryside.
Together with Studio tnpx a planning concept was developed whose basic premise was the idea of creating three areas.
The focal point is a large central island with space for all to cook and bake together. Hidden in the wall one finds numerous storage spaces for refrigerated goods, drinks and crockery, while a seating recess reminds of a quiet train compartment with a bench and table and thus references “Walden” by Moormann as a prototype of a garden house.
The material concept is as simple as it is harmonious: Vertically, black-coated, 22 mm multiplex panels with visible edges were installed, while horizontally, solid 60 mm, maple was used, oiled as worktops/table tops and in the benches. All carpentry work was carried out by Carsten Friede from the HOWEKA carpentry shop in Kahnsdorf. The colour concept includes shades of gray and olive, the intensity and granularity being reinforced by the colours from Keim.
In context of the lighting concept, amongst other factors, Midgard lights were utilised in a modular special design above the flushing section. A particular highlight of the concept is the detailed tool wall above the sink: a custom solution developed from Moormann modular kitchen "Erika" worldwide, a wonderful example of an excellent product that failed to achieve a commercial success and was thus discontinued - and a perfect reason for smow to play with it and its uniqueness.
Project Synopsis
The smow location in Leipzig Engelsdorf is still in the early stages of expansion. A contemporary office landscape consisting of a Tiny House, a Team House and a Farm House is currently being developed which it is intended should reflect smow's values of smow and make an important core competence of the company - the realization of furnishing projects - legible. The company canteen was the first room at the Engelsdorf location that now has the smow design and execution quality that smow represents to its customers and for which smow stands as a brand.
The smow kitchen gives the smowies a home and guests, including manufacturer representatives or business partners, a welcoming place. The logistics employees, who work most of the day in the building, have the opportunity in the break room to treat themselves to an attractive view over the bar counter into the countryside or right into the heart of smow logistics. While cooking together now has become an important tradition.
In the smow kitchen the vision of having a company chef is one waiting to be realised: If you'd lie to join, and feed, the smow team please contact us!!!
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Tailored project planning with smow
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 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on +49341 2222 88 66 or by email at project@smow.com.