As companies bring employees back to the office following the pandemic, many are rethinking their workplace environments. The goal: create inviting spaces that feel as comfortable as home, encouraging teams to reconnect in person. Ester Bruzkus Architects were tasked with transforming the Berlin Mitte offices into just such a space. Spanning two floors with an impressive 375 m² and 5.60-meter ceiling heights, the redesign needed to capture the warmth and ease of a residential setting within a professional context.

Ester Bruzkus and her team started by expanding the existing mezzanine level, creating an L-shaped platform above an open work area. The section without a false ceiling sits along the façade with expansive windows, perfect for open or enclosed work. The mezzanine itself becomes the "living room" – a shared hub connecting to smaller, private "pods" where employees can focus in quiet. Acoustics were key: the team used fabric, felt, and open-cell aluminum to manage sound. This thoughtfulness reflects Relaxound's identity – a company known for chirping boxes that mimic birdsong. After all, their name says it all: it's about relaxation. Every design choice, from color palettes to furnishings, had to honor this ethos.

The "living room" features soft, understated tones – think comfortable armchairs and sofas in rose hues against pale lime-green walls. To match the gallery level with existing fixtures, the designers created bespoke room modules in steel and wood. Here, a serene dark blue dominates the walls, furniture, and solid-color MDF fixtures. A blue staircase then ascends to the upper floor, home to additional shared spaces including a kitchen and dining area bathed in soft lime green. The result? An office that adapts to how people actually work. As Peter Greenberg, Ester Bruzkus's partner, puts it: "The design marries workplace efficiency with the warmth of home."

www.esterbruzkus.com

Photos:
Noshe
www.noshe.com

(Published in CUBE Berlin 02|24)