Waterdrop Headquarters | XAL Inspiration
The innovative microdrink manufacturer Waterdrop decided to provide its team and visitors with a particularly pleasant atmosphere at its headquarters, which was elaborately converted in the historic Gösserhalle in Vienna. The industrial building was erected by the Austrian Federal Railways before 1900 as a workshop building and was later used by the Gösser brewery as a beer warehouse. Most recently, the building was used as an event location. The striking arched clinker brick facade has long been a defining feature of the area – an identity-forming brick building that the architects AllesWirdGut are carrying into the future. The lighting design was developed by architect Andreas Burghardt.
A start-up and a building steeped in history
The architectural framework is the historically charged enclosing walls.
The building was completely gutted except for the facade and erected as a new, independent three-story structure with a smaller footprint and a setback from the facade. The new headquarters provides workspace for 200 people on 3,000 square meters. Since the new structure did not match the old window axes, the new lighting system had to partially compensate for the lack of natural light.
Unique and inspiring work environment
The architects and designers chose wood as a central design element, which, in combination with raw concrete walls and anthracite-colored metal accents, harmonizes perfectly with the light earth tones of the walls. A key element is the carpet, which was deliberately chosen in a very light color, as it serves as a light-scattering surface for the selected SASSO luminaires. Above the workstation area, BETO office luminaires help to increase work efficiency. However, architect Burghardt also focused on the common areas and corridors, which are often neglected. The resulting installation is characterized by diffuse light and accents with luminaires in a warm light color (3,000K).
The generous hall, with a ceiling height of 12 meters, had to be illuminated and staged. Architect Burghardt specified linear lighting along the vertical axis – and the right product was found in JANE. The luminaire is easy to install and also meets this unusual length. However, the sloping roof would also cause the lower edge of the luminaire to be on a sloping plane. JANE solves this problem with a flexible suspension system to achieve a horizontal lower edge. Functional light is created by spotlights on the ceiling. This allows spatial staging and thus decorative lighting to be separated from the lighting, which is not perceived by the observer.
The elegant hall
“My vision was to find a linear luminaire with a large length. We then found and repurposed JANE because it is designed as a tendril and is therefore very flexible and bendable. The challenge was therefore, paradoxically, to make it absolutely straight.”
As an architect, I specialize in – among other areas – office design and consulting. This means that I support both project owners and tenants throughout the entire process, from the initial concept to the building lease agreement and the construction project. Interior design is a significant, if not the only, factor in the success of a project. And here, light plays the biggest role for me in the appearance and well-being of the user. Lighting is therefore the most effective design module in office design quality.
Photographer: tschinkersten fotografie
Architecture: AllesWirdGut
Lighting Design & Interior Design: BURGHARDT ZT GESMBH
