Bene Office Furniture

Burkhard List, List-Straße 1

Burkhard List’s grandfather, Franz List, founded a small joinery in 1950 in Aspang, Lower Austria. Since then, the company has become of the market leaders in yacht outfitting. Apparently, it all began with a slice of Sachertorte: List met the owner of the yacht company Oceanco at a trade fair for cruise ships. Soon thereafter, List sent the managing director the cake ’as a sweet foretaste of working together with an Austrian company‘. Six months later, the first order came through the door. List outfits eight to ten boats a year. It can take up to four years for this kind of ship to be finished. In addition to private yachts, List also makes interiors for cruise ships; the MS Deutschland, also known as the ’Traumschiff‘ [‘Dream Ship‘], was outfitted by List. Located in Lower Austria, the 500-employee-strong family firm has become one of the world’s most exclusive outfitters for hotel and construction projects, as well as private jets and corporate aircraft.

Mr. List, among other things you outfit large luxury yachts. What do workplaces or offices look like on these kinds of ships?

Not really all that different than offices on land. Probably somewhat smaller because of space limitations, but functionally speaking, there’s not that big a difference. In terms of design, these rooms are always integrated into the overall design concept.

What do you have to focus on most?

Like in every other office, our attention is focused on the user’s personal needs. Ergonomics and user friendliness are priorities, and they are paired with the highest quality standards.

How does work take place on the water?

In our highly technologised world, it’s really not very different from on land – every kind of connection is available via satellite. If the seas are really rough, though, then it might be a little harder to concentrate on work....

Would you like to have your office on a yacht?

For me personally, it’s a very romantic idea to have a mobile ’swimming‘ office. If I had a yacht, I would also have an office on it!

Why don’t you have a yacht?

I don’t have a yacht because I would probably be too distracted. Also, it’s not my job to own one; instead, as a provider for yacht owners, my job is to built out their yachts to fit their tastes.

What do you have pay attention to most when outfitting a yacht?

The requirements for security organisations are very high, and the balancing act between fulfilling these requirements and realising the owners’ and architects’ ideas is often difficult. Of course, we have to remember that this is floating real estate, which means that all of the parts are subject to both static and dynamic loads and stresses. Our customers expect the highest quality and professionalism in all of our processes and products. The greatest challenge is to meet these demands consistently and everywhere.

Do you have a ’primary workspace‘, and, if yes, where is it?

My primary workplace is at our location in Bad Erlach in Lower Austria. That’s where I spend most of my time. My personal office is there.

Do you like to work constantly at the same place, or do you like a change of scenery?

Every work-related scene, whether it’s a meeting or working on a computer, requires an appropriate environment. So adapt the scenery to the situation at hand. Our location has the right environment for every situation.

What significance do you assign to the office as a place? What functions do you ascribe to it?

It’s mainly a private place for thinking. I also do my computer work there. Because I spend most of my day at my office, it has major importance for me. It’s important that you feel comfortable in your surroundings. This includes not just the equipment and furnishing aspects, but also the geographical position of the building and the friendliness of colleagues.

What do you like and not like about your office?

I like the quality of the furnishings (we made them) and above all my chair, the aluminium chair by Eames and Vitra. I also like how the office is positioned. The sun shines here in the morning, and then during the day it’s shady. Unfortunately, it’s not the right size for meetings.

Do you have the feeling that your office makes a statement about you?

I’m absolutely convinced that my office says something about me. I think that it reflects my personality very well – no fuss, and don’t reveal everything right away. As our motto says – ’first we change our rooms, and then they change us‘ – I think that we should design our environment according to our personality.

Are there any places or locations where you have particularly enjoyed working?

I really like to be at the ’scene of the crime‘, meaning the construction sites, in the workshop, where our work is both visible and tangible. Because my workday tends to play out at desks or conference tables, a day spent on-site is a nice change of pace.

Are there places where you would especially like to work?

I love freedom and nature. An office in the Xth floor of a skyscraper in the middle of a metropolis would be the worst workplace ever for me. A mobile office would be very exciting for me – regardless of whether it floats, flies or drives – because you could find a place outdoors that you like. Unfortunately, because of my job this isn’t possible – we work as a team, and we always have to be at the place where we are doing our work.

Do you find your office a place of inspiration, of creativity?

Yes, and also a site of inspiration.

Are there certain rituals that you consider important in your everyday office routine?

For me, the morning round of greetings is very important.

When you look back over the entire period of your ’office life‘, what changes would you describe as most decisive?

Modern communication options have profoundly changed the everyday routine of office life. Often, however, it would be better to just stand up and have a discussion in person rather than exchange information via email.

What is the most important object in the office?

The desk – it turns the room into an office!

What's the most personal object in your office?

The photograph of my girlfriend.

What is the most important tool for your work?

My head.

What is your favourite activity in the context of work?

Structured discussions with a clear output.

The thing you most wish for in an office?

A view of nature and the outdoors.

How many hours do you spend in your office a day?

About 10 to 12 on average, about half of that in my own office.

What inspires you?

Everything possible. It’s often small details that I start to dig deeper into....

What bothers you most at work?

When there are no results.

What would your dream office be?

A treehouse in a towering tree.

Thank you for the interview.