In the former Hoepfner Brewery in Karlsruhe, known as the “Burg”, a new working environment has been created for a leading provider of connected car services and mobile payment at the petrol pump. rmg • studio was responsible for the complete design and coordination of the transformation project in the building, which was constructed between 1896 and 1899 in the Neo-Gothic style, with the refurbishment carried out whilst the business remained open. The design addresses the central theme of “Working under the petrol station roof” across all areas, without compromising on functionality or new-work approaches.

The aim was to create an identity-defining working environment across an expanded area, closely aligned with the corporate identity of Pace Mobility. Prior to this, the spaces had been fitted with new load-bearing structures made of exposed concrete, whilst the original masonry walls were largely retained and the vaulted ceilings had been exposed. “The conversion of the ‘Old Malt House’ and the ‘Old Malt Store’ offered an exciting building fabric with no significant obstacles to the concept,” says architect Raffaele Maier. The client wanted a high level of visual impact right from the moment one enters. As the company’s focus lies on the digitalisation of the petrol station market, this is where the central theme comes in: an urban, fresh, design-oriented workspace that invites you to experience it – cosy, yet ready for work. A key requirement was to accommodate up to 40 workstations: including breakout zones, sufficient meeting spaces, and representative reception and conference areas, as well as space for creative workshops, meetings and internal coaching sessions, and a ‘marketplace’ that can occasionally be noisy, complemented by a quieter focus area.

The design concept is based on the theme of a ‘petrol station’, particularly the ‘floating petrol station canopy’. This element characterises all areas: beneath the raw, exposed concrete ceilings, graphic ceiling panels in blue and white – the company’s corporate colours – span the space, dividing the rooms into zones and structuring the workstations below. Sandstone walls, coffered ceilings and the industrial parquet flooring have been retained. The carpeted floor in the “Alte Darre” area has been replaced by a micro-concrete floor that mimics the raw character of a petrol station floor. The new working environment is dominated by harmonious pastel shades in beige and Cubanite tones, complemented by shades of blue from the corporate identity and accents of yellow. Acoustic effects are provided by ceiling mobiles and table screens, as well as partition walls, all of which are made from partially recycled PET felt. Particular attention was paid to ASR-compliant workplace lighting. For reasons of flexibility, the choice fell on floor lamps that meet the parameters of Human Centric Lighting (HCL). A graphic wayfinding system that picks up on the ‘automotive’ theme complements the overall concept.

www.rmg-studio.com

Photography:
Nikolay Kazakov
www.kazakov.de

(Published in CUBE Inspire 01|26)