From Bank Branch to "Byro"
A remarkable transformation in the Glockenbach district
Coworking spaces are proliferating across the city—designed for everyone from freelancers working from cramped home offices to startups in their early stages, and even departments of larger companies seeking dedicated project space. The appeal is straightforward: you're part of a community, not isolated at home. A coffee break becomes an opportunity to connect with fellow professionals and exchange ideas.
In the heart of the city's Glockenbach district, a multi-story former bank branch has been reimagined as just such a workspace—the Byro. G22 Projects, architects from South Tyrol, oversaw every phase: planning, design, construction administration, and interior design. The challenge was substantial: fitting maximum functionality into minimal space while respecting the existing structure. Yet the result speaks for itself—a sophisticated, versatile coworking environment that eschews playful color for refined restraint. Carefully curated materials and furnishings form the foundation of this cohesive design, anchored by a restrained palette of soft neutrals. Black-framed partitions and light beige tones create visual tension throughout the space. Work areas span two floors, with a strategically inserted mezzanine that softens the building's original geometric severity. The renovation cleverly activated the bank's original interior architecture: the atrium—once merely a threshold—has been opened and expanded into a grand, hotel-like foyer that welcomes visitors. Here, a reception desk mingles with intimate seating clusters ideal for informal gatherings. The surrounding floors offer every working configuration: individual offices, team spaces, meeting rooms, phone booths, hot desks, and of course, a coffee bar. The design approach fuses industrial simplicity with contemporary workspace thinking—exposed cables, unadorned mechanical systems, and linear minimalist details create an honest, purposeful aesthetic that elevates the everyday act of work.
Photography Credits:
Alex Filz
www.alexfilz.com
(Published in CUBE Munich 03|22)
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