Better Than Home Office
Contrasts Spark Creativity in a Media Agency with Refined Interiors
Design agency Undplus has now been commissioned twice to create the workspace for media agency Intermate. The new offices occupy a sprawling period apartment in Charlottenburg, complete with herringbone flooring, ornate stucco ceilings, and over 24 rooms. Undplus translated this grand belle époque residence into a dynamic modern workplace built on a simple concept: balancing old and new, conventional and unconventional. The result is a carefully curated mix of open collaborative zones and private work retreats, designed to give employees genuine flexibility. The focus is squarely on collective work, communication, and interaction—acknowledging how the modern workplace has shifted away from isolated individual desks. At the same time, the dense distribution of meeting rooms and phone booths ensures the space supports both in-person and digital collaboration seamlessly.
Across more than 800 m² of thoughtfully renovated period space, Undplus has played with materials and moments to create something genuinely distinctive. Beyond the numerous custom-designed meeting rooms, quiet retreats, and focus areas, the offices feature a welcoming reception, two kitchens, a relaxed living room, and a bar—each room with its own considered color palette and character. The bar and adjacent living room anchor the space, functioning as the social and collaborative heart of the office. Meeting and focus rooms shift in purpose throughout the day, adapting to different types of work. The supporting spaces—quiet zones and shared kitchens—ensure employees always have the right environment for their needs. What sets the interiors apart is this thoughtful differentiation: one moment you're in a green-focused room, the next in a violet and yellow composition, then back to classic warm browns in the bar. It's contemporary design meets authentic period charm. The furnishings are an intentional blend of existing pieces and new acquisitions, with bespoke elements like the custom reception desk and bar adding layers of personality and warmth. The outcome speaks for itself: a workplace where people genuinely want to be—one that embraces both solitary focus and genuine collaboration, making the return from home office not just necessary, but desirable.
Photography:
Yves Sucksdorff
www.sucksdorff.de
(Published in CUBE Berlin 02|24)