Audio, video, and web conferencing—combined with mobile-enabled knowledge sharing—have fundamentally changed how teams collaborate. These digital workflows demand new considerations for furnishings, acoustics, and indoor climate control in the physical office. Acoustics, in particular, play a crucial role in creating a productive modern workspace. Troldtekt's design solutions for acoustic ceilings and walls demonstrate that superior sound management doesn't require aesthetic compromise.

Reinforced concrete, plastic, and glass dominate contemporary interior design—but their smooth, reflective surfaces create a problem. Phone conversations, movement, and equipment noise all bounce back into the space, steadily raising sound levels. The result: diminished concentration, reduced productivity, and potential health impacts. To address this challenge, Frankfurt-based planning firm neotares developed a thoughtful acoustic design concept for Delivery Hero's new Berlin headquarters.

Forum on Museum Island
For several years, Berlin's Mitte district has been home to one of the city's most ambitious construction projects. Spanning the area between Oranienburger Strasse, Tucholskystrasse, Monbijoupark, and Museum Island, ten predominantly heritage-protected buildings are being transformed into the "Forum on Museum Island." By the end of 2021, the complete renovation and reconstruction of the site will be finished, creating an integrated destination for residential, office, dining, and event spaces.

The roughly 200-year-old complex is divided by Ziegelstrasse. The gatehouse sits in the northern section, nestled between two historically significant buildings. On the western side along Tucholskystrasse stands the former telephone exchange, erected in 1926. For several years now, this Art Deco masterpiece from 1926/27 has been home to the company Delivery Hero.
Founded in 2011, Delivery Hero operates online food ordering services across 14 countries under various company and brand names. Of their global workforce of more than 12,000 employees, around 1,000 are based at their Berlin headquarters. To support continued growth in an expanding market, the company gained access to purpose-built office space in the 5-storey Torhaus Ost building starting in late 2020.

Design Strategy
The upper floors (2–4) feature open-plan office areas, while the top floor provides a generous break-out space for employees. Each standard floor spans approximately 300 square metres and accommodates around 40 workstations. Beyond the main office, every floor includes dedicated meeting areas, restroom facilities (including accessible options), and a pantry.

The open-plan design prioritises both acoustic and aesthetic refinement. Following an industrial design approach, the concrete ceilings (3.0 metres clear height) are only two-thirds covered with suspended acoustic panels. Ventilation ducts, outlets, and ceiling suspension systems remain intentionally visible. Electrical distribution relies primarily on cable trays integrated into the raised floor system.

The three upper floors feature wood wool acoustic panels arranged as ceiling islands—each with distinct colours and surface textures. Made from certified wood and cement sourced from Danish raw materials, these Troldtekt panels represent three striking solutions from the award-winning design series. The collection earned an ICONIC Award and the German Design Award 2020—the highest honour from the German Design Council—and received a DETAIL Product Award 2020 nomination.

Design with Pattern and Rhythm
"With bespoke acoustic solutions, you can build distinctive designs with their own visual patterns and rhythm – and each design element can be varied and scaled to appear as unified, expansive surfaces across ceilings and walls, creating a cohesive aesthetic throughout the space," explains Michael Christensen, architect at Troldtekt A/S in Denmark and developer of the new design range. These industrially manufactured acoustic panels offer competitive pricing without compromising performance. All design solutions deliver the same acoustic excellence, fire safety, and climate control as classic Troldtekt panels. The complete Troldtekt range—in Natural Light and standard colours—is Cradle to Cradle Certified® Gold.

www.troldtekt.de

Photography: Olaf Wiechers