The Kontorhaus Mitte isn't your typical office building – it's a flexible workspace. British workspace pioneer TOG (The Office Group) collaborated with Berlin's Weiss-heiten architects to create this concept and establish TOG's first German location. The seven-storey Kontorhaus, with its distinctive natural stone façades, sits prominently opposite Stadtmitte U-Bahn station. Built in 1997, it was designed by Joseph Paul Kleihues to complete the block between Friedrichstraße, Mohrenstraße and Kronenstraße with five new buildings complementing the 1900s structures.

More than two decades later, The Office Group has completely reimagined these two adjacent buildings from different eras. The 1990s office architecture has undergone a total transformation – no two floors are identical, whether in colour scheme or in the varying ceiling heights that distinguish the original and new sections. Each stairwell and all four entrances feature their own distinct character. This eclectic approach extends throughout the interior design. Rich materials like brick clinker on walls and office desks blend seamlessly with minimalist design elements, creating a truly distinctive atmosphere. There's good reason The Office Group calls this Mitte location their "most exciting new Berlin destination." Two additional sites will open in 2022 – at Alexanderplatz and Unter den Linden. According to Tobias Kohlhaas of Weiss-Heiten, Berlin itself inspired the interior concept. Warm hues and materials such as oak and brass evoke the Golden Twenties, while geometric glass partitions and curated designer furnishings from Vitra, Thonet, Carl Hansen, B&B Italia, Gubi, Norman Copenhagen, Montana, Hay and Tecta connect the space to contemporary design.

The kitchens, bars and reception areas are custom installations designed by Weiss-heiten studio, enhanced by thoughtfully curated indoor plants that complement their surroundings. "We wanted to restore the office as a place that genuinely inspires," explains Kohlhaas. Every transitional zone has been outfitted with small kitchens, bar counters, generous tables and lounge areas – spaces that feel like a friend's living room: welcoming and warm. Cork-lined phone booths provide the ideal quiet retreat for confidential calls, and well-appointed shower facilities stocked with quality toiletries round out the modern workspace experience.

www.theofficegroup.com

Photography Credits:

TOG

(Published in CUBE Berlin 03|21)