Bespoke Office Concepts
Activity Based Working at Roche Basel
The redesign and transformation of office landscapes: We have been working with the pharmaceuticals company Roche since 2015. In Basel, we used a jointly developed manual as the basis for the redesign of a number of interiors that focus on flexibly usable working environments and encourage cooperation and productivity.
Expansion and modernization for sustainable growth
In order to master the combination of increased spatial requirements and the dynamic growth of the pharmaceutical company in Basel, Roche commissioned a series of projects for expanding, revitalizing, and restructuring office space. The objectives included improving the quality of the workspaces and meeting the requirements for a modern, dynamic working environment.
Manual for flexible offices
We worked intensely with the client to develop a bespoke “Office Handbook,” which follows the basic principles of the ABW (Activity Based Working) concept. This manual ensures the optimal alignment of all measures with the needs and working methods of Roche. It defines such things as basic design principles, zoning, and furnishing, taking into account the existing building substance and architecture.
Human-centered
Our various building measures rigorously implement the fundamental notion of the flexible office. The office space is always divided into three core areas “Concentrate,” “Communicate,” and “Conference.” The workspaces and zones are arranged to offer users maximum flexibility and functionality. This approach facilitates such things as decentralized meeting rooms, quiet zones, and ergonomic working areas. As a result, the employees benefit from a diverse mix of workspaces and are able to carry out each task in the appropriate surroundings.
Highlights from the individual projects
Building 08 – A place of collaboration and innovation
One particular challenge was the design of a working lounge-zone with a remarkable area of 500 m². Now, the open, light-filled space is shaped by a 24-meter long “workbench” – a central zoning and design element with a range of working and relaxing corners and storage space.
In light of this huge area, we were faced with the question of how we could design it as a functional and, at the same time, attractive ‘market place,’ where employees would enjoy getting together. We developed the ‘workbench,’ as a way of organizing the working lounge and breaking it down into quieter and more active zones.
Caroline Ohnmacht
Architect, Group Leader in Innsbruck
Building 690 – Modernization of two office floor
In order to save space and keep furniture away from the glass facades, we designed adapted and rotatable locker units. Collaboration and focus spaces are located at the heart of each floor, along with a dedicated working lounge, which is either furnished with working sofas and large meeting areas or can be transformed to host several meetings simultaneously or larger events, with the help of cinema seating. Some of the workspaces are designated as “silent areas,” where employees should neither speak nor telephone.
Building 092 – From depot to modern ABW office
The nine-story building, which was originally a library, offers users a completely transformed spatial experience: Art, function, and color merge together, forming an attractive working environment. Special accents were created with the help of the targeted use of colors and complementary colors in the collaboration spaces.
Recycling and upcycling – a higher degree of sustainability
Completely in line with spirit of Roche, we selected materials and furniture in line with the principles of cradle-to-cradle (C2C) and environmentally-friendly, regional production. We mostly used recycled materials: carpeting made from fishing nets, chairs made from PET bottles, and textiles made from farmed wool and recycled fibers. This enables us to achieve a very high degree of sustainability.
We drew up the criteria and carried out several furniture evaluations together with Roche, the local architect, and the users. This enabled us to achieve a degree of sustainability of over 85 %. We are proud to have made our contribution.”
Caroline Ohnmacht
Architect, Group Leader in Innsbruck
