Photo: Werner Huthmacher 
Zeppelin
On September 21, 2007, one of the largest holding companies for construction machinery has inaugurated its new head office in Garching near Munich. Externally the structure signals an international flair and sustainability, internally respect for staff members and change.
The new building at Graf-Zeppelin-Platz 1 is clearly structured, practical and assertive – how else could it be? The prestigious edifice, where Zeppelin had invested circa 24 million euro, comprises 14,000 square meters of floor space. The five-storey building, the headquarters combined with the subsidiaries Zeppelin Baumaschinen GmbH and MVS Zeppelin GmbH & Co. KG, houses 420 staff. It replaces the 40 year old buildings of the former Zeppelin headquarters in Garching.
Successful recent years that were characterised by strategic decisions, diversification of the product portfolio and high growth activities made it necessary to refurbish the headquarter. A new space for "ideas, performance and progress" was supposed to take shape in the form of a new head office for the 1.8-billion-company with 180 offices and 4600 staff members worldwide.
Cosmopolitan structure and architecture
Glass, aluminium and clear lines are the cornerstones of the new building in Garching that was designed by the Nürnberg-based architectural office seegy + bisch. Transparency coupled with an international flair and legitimate assertiveness were to physically embody the company's image – recognising opportunities, overcoming limitations.
The management’s objective in terms of interior and office design was to create space for further growth of the company. Responsibility toward staff, promoting team work, leadership and the desire to change were the benchmarks of the interior design concept.
Functional communication landscape
Based on a site and workplace assessment conducted by consulting firm Congena, a combination office was designed that fuses various zones in a diversified and customised office landscape: Individual and twin workstations alternate with space for open communication, team work and stand up-meetings, communication in the midzone – a smoothly functioning interplay of converging and parallel processes. Complemented by think tanks for concentrated work or team meetings on short notice.
Far-reaching solutions
T-platforms, pedestals on castors, caddies, storage systems and R3 partitioning by Bene were used to implement the structures, jointly developed with staff members and divisions of the company, through maximising flexibility and individual solutions. Being able to utilise standard products in such a specific and individual arrangement to meet the company's requirements was an important quality criterion for the builder and consulter and strongly influenced their choice for Bene.
On the ground floor the focus is placed on "socialising", featuring conference and meeting rooms and the restaurant including an outdoor space for the staff.
Tables, chairs and accessories are made by Walter Knoll, Wilkhahn, Sedus, Rexite, Rosconi, van Esch, or May. A balanced colour concept helps to accentuate all storeys, while conveying elegance and lightness without imposing.
