In 2016, A und O Architekten—specialists in crafting distinctive brand spaces—reimagined the agency headquarters for FCB in Hamburg's historic Kaufmannshaus. The design drew inspiration from industry titans like Google and Facebook, translating creative workspaces into playful, energizing environments complete with collaborative zones, themed areas, and a music studio. Two years later, following a strategic pivot and corporate rebrand to CarlNann, the company needed premises that would authentically reflect its evolving culture. That's when the search for new spaces began—spaces that would tell a different story.

What set this project apart was the rare opportunity for early dialogue between the future occupants and the building's landlord. This allowed the architects to collaborate with the agency from day one—understanding their needs and translating them directly into spatial solutions. The resulting design philosophy prioritizes open, adaptable workspaces tailored to the agency's creative workflows. But here's the shift: instead of a "ball pit" approach, the team embraced sophistication. The brief called for understated elegance—refined, contemporary, substantive. The location reinforced this vision perfectly: SKAI's urban setting in HafenCity, positioned at the threshold between the historic Speicherstadt and the iconic Elbphilharmonie, demanded nothing less.

The interior evokes the metropolitan sophistication of 1960s New York's advertising scene. Brass and oak anchor the aesthetic—appearing in custom furniture and fixtures—while rubber flooring grounds the design. The upper floor features an expansive social hub where brass surfaces grace the counter and pantry elements. Early hesitations about wear and patina? The team's response was elegant and pragmatic: "Fingerprints welcome." Custom-designed dining and bar-height tables enhance the flexibility of this multifunctional gathering space, accommodating collaborative work, client meetings, and events with equal grace.

Vertical oak room dividers echo the building's façade geometry, creating visual continuity. Throughout the space—reception, work areas, conference rooms, and commons—the same refined material palette, restrained color story, and custom brass detailing weave a cohesive design narrative across all levels.

www.aundo-architekten.de

Photography Credits:

Klaus Frahm
www.klaus-frahm.de

(Published in CUBE Hamburg 01|21)