From the canteen to the modern company restaurant.
The scent of fresh meals and strong coffee as well as the relaxed and casual atmosphere would suggest that we are in a cosy restaurant. Because the oldest printing press manufacturers in the world, Koenig & Bauer AG, has turned the new canteen into a feel-good oasis for their employees. Koenig & Bauer has thus spoken out against the typical canteen flair and declared themselves in favour of the ambience of a new food service.
Koenig & Bauer, the traditional printing press manufacturer, is characterised by a 200-year company history. The number 2 on the global market is the employer of around 5700 workers around the world. Of this, around 1700 employees work in the headquarters in Würzburg. The modernisation of the canteen is part of a technical and aesthetic optimisation programme across the whole company premises, which has now been progressing for two years. Together with architectural office archicult, Koenig & Bauer has devised a project which suits the development of the company towards New Work. The aim of the new company restaurant was to create an architectonically appealing place where employees from all departments of the main factory can meet each day and talk about work or their personal lives. “It was important to us to create a place of identification for all employees – no matter whether they work in production, administration or development,” says Roland Breunig from Würzburg architectural office archicult.
It was important to us to create a place of identification for all employees – no matter whether they work in production, administration or development.
In the planning stage, the employees were included in the form of a survey in order to better meet their needs. An important finding was the desire for different zones which were also implemented accordingly. There is a lounge area and a closed-off coffee corner. The actual eating area is also divided with plants and semi-transparent screens. The highlight is the glazed front cooking area of the counter, where the guests can watch their lunch being prepared live. The overall area impresses with its warm and robust-looking wooden floors which harmonise with the new lighting concept. As a consequence, the room achieves a pleasant, almost cheerful atmosphere which is further emphasised with matching furniture. The organisation of furniture also has creative eye-catchers in the individual areas – the red cafeteria chairs are particularly striking and invite you to spend some time there.
Efficiency and flexibility played a large role in the planning of the company restaurant. Wiesner-Hager made a valuable contribution here with the furnishings: The yuno stacking tables, for examply, allow to rearrange the room quickly. The room can be repurposed into an event space at any time. In this case, the nooi cafeteria chairs serve as row seating, or they can be stacked and stored away to create more space for more guests. In the sense of corporate architecture, the colours and materials used reflect the image and core competences of Koenig & Bauer AG and convey the history and dynamics of the company.
