DATA SHEET
Owner: Roman Klis Design
Interior design: Ippolito Fleitz Group
Lighting design: Pfarrè lighting design
Furnishings: Custom made millwork
Lighting: Apartament 91, Barthelme, Estiluz, Moooi, Philips, Sattler, SLV, Strutec
Photo credits: Philip Kottlorz
The product communication agency, founded in 1995 by exuberant designer Roman Klis, still retains its headquarters in the southern German city of Herrenberg, despite having branch offices in Istanbul and Hamburg. Well-known brands such as Nestlé, Maggi and Colgate rely not only on his expertise and creativity, but also on his Juhu Spirit. Voted top employer for his ability to involve and reward his employees, Klis aims to “create success” by listening and adapting to an ever-changing market, which now includes generations such as Gen Z, and dealing with the epoch-making turning point that is Covid-19.
When Klis had to redesign the headquarters in Herrenberg, he called on identity architects of the Ippolito Fleitz Group and Porsche Consulting, with whom he shares an international profile and deep-rooted German origins. The ‘Le Maldive del design’ project was established from a desire to create spaces that stimulate creativity, encourage interaction and the sharing of ideas.
As if found on a tropical atoll, the fundamentally flexible, open spaces, while having more intimate and secluded zones, are bathed in natural light and enriched by no fewer than 2100 green plants, which makes each environment more comfortable, mitigating noise pollution and improving air quality.
In addition to winning major awards such as the Iconic Awards 2020 and the German Design Award Special 2021, the real achievement was a 30% increase in productivity, further reinforcing behavioural nudge theory, which states that it is much easier to guide people’s behaviour by utilising their everyday situations rather than imposing rules and prohibitions.
Ippolito Fleitz Group designers explain:
“The aim was to transform the Klis agency into a New York-style office – from a place of work into a place of need. We have therefore merged our ambition to provide an intelligent solution for each challenge, the strong Klis brand identity and insights from behavioural sciences, this all down to the inescapable partnership with Wolfgang Freibichler of Porsche Consulting. The result is a holistic concept that playfully reconciles the human element with corporate objectives.”
While keeping the existing structures as they were, the new project reworks the spaces via the use of water and the psychological value of colour, as well as ‘plant performers’. The ceilings provide all the relaxing nuances of white and blue, the dynamism of pink adorns the carpets and furnishings, while the tropical wallpaper acknowledges the soft, rounded shapes of the furniture and the accessories. A dramatic entrance hall and cafeteria round out the project.
