When our long-standing project partner blocher partners asked us to take on the interior design of a new office building for the energy supplier Rottweil (ENRW), we didn’t have to think twice. It sounded like a great challenge! The background to this was a relocation of operations to the industrial park in the Neufra district of Rottweil, as the State Garden Show is to take place at the company’s original location in 2028.
The new headquarters in Neufra offered ENRW the opportunity to consolidate its most important corporate functions in one location. And that is precisely what makes this project so exciting: the mix of office and commercial space. In addition to the three-storey office building with 60 offices and three meeting rooms, a two-storey warehouse with additional offices was added.
Our task? To turn blocher partners’ design ideas into reality. And to do so in a way that is not only visually appealing, but also functional and sustainable. From the lobby to the canteen, from the offices to the meeting rooms: there’s a lot of garlic know-how in here.
What’s particularly exciting is that the entire project has been certified by the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB). The aim of this NGO is to actively shape the transformation of the construction and real estate industry towards sustainability. ‘For us, this meant that all materials used in the renovation had to meet sustainability criteria,’ explains project manager Steffen Ortlieb.
This required careful selection of materials, perfect organisation of the construction site (with as little construction noise as possible!) and a well-thought-out waste disposal concept. ‘The certification was a real challenge. Every material had to be submitted, documented and approved. Such a premiere was also something special for us,’ says Steffen. A real challenge, then, from which we learned a lot!
We have long been experienced in working with hydrogen-based paints, but in some cases we also had to find new suppliers. For example, we found a new supplier in Austria, trikustik, which manufactures acoustic wall coverings from solid spruce wood. Thanks to these continuous acoustic coverings inside and outside, the offices remain pleasantly quiet.
The furniture – i.e. kitchenettes, washbasins, storage units and meeting alcoves – was manufactured in our in-house production facility in Markdorf. Precisely planned, produced and assembled – we love this triad!
The colour concept of blocher partners? Fresh and natural: khaki and sage are the dominant colours throughout the entire building. The offices are equipped with soundproof walls, and 120 plant pots not only provide privacy but also ensure a pleasant indoor climate and a feel-good atmosphere.
Special highlights include the meeting rooms, the bar tables and benches in the staff restaurant and the cosy kitchenettes. Fifteen washbasins, seven kitchen units and plenty of storage space solutions – a truly mammoth project that challenged us as creative interior designers.
Despite the high demands on sustainability, acoustics and ergonomics, we completed the project on time and with great passion. An office building that not only looks modern, but also sets new standards in terms of functionality and sustainability. We love it!
