Fabrik N° 9

Once a home to warehouses and production facilities, Schmidt Architects took on the challenge of transforming a historic building into Factory N°09 - a modern, creative workstation fostering creative thinking and cross-departmental transfer of expertise. Key elements are include modern fittings from Villeroy & Boch, which have been specifically designed in line with design themes developed for this innovative project. 

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Villeroy & Boch is one of the world's leading premium brands for ceramic products. The family business, which was founded in 1748, is headquartered in Mettlach/Germany.

The ideal workplace for every task: With this aim in mind, Villeroy & Boch engaged a project team consisting of different specialists. Bochem.Schmidt Architects has been entrusted with the architectonic work of the building. The further team included amongst an Villeroy & Boch-team and other service providers also TRIAD Berlin as a creative agency as well as if5 specialised in New Work.

The historic building which was once home to warehouses and production facilities had to be remodelled into a modern workstation promoting innovative, creative thinking and facilitating the cross-departmental transfer of expertise. One of the most challenging parts in the architectonic process was to work within the regulations of the protection of historical monuments, to create a modern working environment and to meet the company’s as well as the employees expectations. Working with materials like brick, oak, tiles and screed we created a working environment which is modern and warm atmosphere.

In the beginning of 2018 Factory N°09 opened, replacing traditional office structures with a wide range of working space concepts. Open spaces and varied working areas promote communication and cooperation among all employees. The centrepiece of the building, which covers more than 4,000 square metres across three floors, is a large oak staircase in the new entrance area. It connects the ground floor to the upper levels and ensures visibility between the floors. But the staircase is more than just an eye-catching meeting point. It also symbolises the new working environment at Factory N°09, which is characterised by open communication and creative exchange. Three zones – “marketplace”, “working” and “networking” – provide working space for more than 200 employees from the various communication departments in the areas of marketing, the online unit, PR, and product development and management.

The toilet facilities in Factory N°09 are a particular highlight. No two bathrooms in the building are the same. There are a total of seven bathrooms – all of them fitted exclusively with Villeroy & Boch products and designed using themes developed specially for Factory N°09, with matching music: from energy boost rooms with strong colours or a metallic look through to the zen garden and an Amazonia or jungle bathroom.

Providing workspace for more than 200 people, Factory N°09 is an intriguing fusion of historic building and modern design. Toilet facilities here are a particular highlight with no two being the same. Each bathroom in fact has its own theme, from energy boost rooms with strong colours or a metallic look through to a zen garden and an Amazonia or jungle bathroom. 

More from the Manufacturer:

Villeroy&Boch office concept wins ZIA Office Award

FABRIK N°09 – AN INNOVATIVE OFFICE CONCEPT

Villeroy&Boch’s award-winning Fabrik N°09 project combines history and modernity by creating new working environments and high-tech areas within an existing factory building. The ZIA Office Awards jury was deeply impressed by the highly innovative, yet sustainable approach.

COLLABORATIVE WORKSPACES IN A HISTORICAL BUILDING

As part of the “Mettlach 2.0” site development project, Villeroy&Boch has converted a former warehouse and production site into a new office and conference centre: Fabrik N°09 (Factory N°09) is a modern office building with an innovative and unconventional working concept. With its different working spaces, the building offers open spaces and special areas to promote communication and cooperation among employees from various departments. Furthermore, the building’s sanitary facilities impress with extraordinary creativity. 

SPACE FOR INNOVATIVE IDEAS

With a total area of more than 43,000 square feet across three floors, the new building offers workspaces for more than 200 employees from various departments, including Marketing, the Online and Digital Unit, PR, Product Development and Product Management. A large oak staircase in the centre of the building connects the ground floor with the upper stories. The openness and the high spaces of the building underline Fabrik N°09’s philosophy of working within a culture of open communication and creative discussions.

The three different areas, “Marketplace”, “Work” and “Networking” offer a special environment for every task in Fabrik N°09. For example, teams can collaborate in the group work areas and project rooms; the “silence” rooms are perfect for tasks which require concentration and the networking areas can be used for working in between meetings or to exchange ideas with colleagues.

CREATIVE RESTROOMS IN VARIOUS STYLES

The sanitary facilities in the building are an excellent example of creative bathroom solutions: each of the seven restrooms in Fabrik N°09 is unique. All of them are furnished exclusively with Villeroy&Boch products while featuring different themes designed specifically for Fabrik N°09. From energy-boost rooms with vibrant or metallic colours over a zen garden through to Amazonia or jungle bathrooms – these extraordinary designs represent unconventional and creative restroom solutions.

VILLEROY & BOCH’S EFFICIENT USE OF ENERGY AND RESOURCES

During the reconstruction of Fabrik N°09, Villeroy&Boch put special emphasis on energy efficiency and sustainability. The building is therefore equipped with more than 550 sensors and control elements, which allow a central regulation of temperature, oxygen content and lighting. For example, if the level of carbon-dioxide (CO2) is too high, a ventilation system inserts more oxygen. The water used for heating in winter and cooling in summer is sourced from the Villeroy&Boch’s own fountain. The unique way in which Fabrik N°09 combines tradition and history with modernity and sustainability also impressed the ZIA Office Awards jury.