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Right on the harbour’s edge, the Schulte Group, a family owned shipping company, planned their new head office in Hamburg, SWA were commissioned with the interior design. The Schulte Group has many themes, ideas and passions that Stephen Williams Associates were keen to integrate into the design: The company’s long and rich history, culture and tradition, but also its modern-day knowledge and competence. The family’s passion for the maritime world was equally important as their love for arts – they own a considerable collection, parts of which were to be displayed at the new premises. The architect’s design balances these contrasts in a way that they enrich and complement one another. Dark and elegant areas with an air of old hanseatic tradition lead into bright, fresh and dynamic spaces. Throughout the building, niches for artwork are integrated into the architecture and make room for antique paintings, furniture and books.
Maritime details can be found in unexpected places: A window in the elevator cabin shows a Plimsoll line on the shaft wall, the blue mosaic floor in the cafeteria reminds of a nautical chart. Many shipping firms display models of vessels in their lobbies. The Schulte Group presents their fleet in a unique way: The “Schulte horizon”, a long-stretched display case, runs like a catwalk from the lobby to the cafeteria. Passersby looking in can see ships lined up like in a view out to sea. A large LED-screen above the front desk looks like an art installation at first glance. A closer look reveals a world map, linked to a purple finder sharing the position of their ships live-time. This installation displays the company`s values in combination of technology and tradition.
Special attention was paid to the efficiency and comfort of the workspace furniture system. Stephen Williams Associates found solutions that work well and look good. There are many clever details to discover: Suspended light boxes above the desks provide a private atmosphere within the open plan office, but also improve the acoustics. Custom built desks are arranged in a way that from every work station facing the harbour side, staff can enjoy unobstructed panoramic views that they would not want to miss anymore.
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