Assmann Büromöbel An office with wooden swings and a game console—at first glance this might look absurd, but it has been a part of daily life at Heliotron Deutschland GmbH in Freiburg since autumn 2018. Behind it is an innovative furnishing concept that is rounded out with furniture systems from ASSMANN BÜROMÖBEL GMBH & CO. KG and is loved by the company’s partners, customers and employees.
Visitors entering the new business premises of this family-owned company in the German state of Baden-Württemberg immediately notice the stylish arrangement of diverse table lamps fitted with Heliotron candles, as well as the inviting light-coloured reception desk complemented by a white storage space solution with a dark mirrored glass laminate. The cupboard, whose appearance fits in beautifully with the modern overall impression, comes from the product range of the ASSMANN company, as do many other elements of the decor.
Traditional design is a thing of the past
The relocation was necessary, because the company wanted to give its employees more space and to enhance its appeal as an employer both internally and externally.
„We looked at various progressive work models, and we realized that it’s important to give more responsibility to our employees. That increases their sense of satisfaction, which in turn results in less fluctuation and fewer missed workdays.“
Oliver Schneeberger, Managing Director of Heliotron Deutschland GmbH
The new work environment at Heliotron is far from being traditional. The open-plan office contains about 40 individual workstations and several meeting zones—and at the centre of it is an area with a game console, three swings and a small library equipped with comfortable seating.
The company’s innovative concept also includes flexible working times, unlimited vacation time and the opportunity to break out of conventional processes. These liberties are coupled with the employees’ responsibility to organize their own work in such a way that their tasks and projects are always completed on time.
„Contrary to all the skepticism we’ve encountered from people outside the company, we can say that this concept also works here in Germany. The employees’ acceptance of our new Heliotron work environment was based on the fact that we included them in the planning process and gave them the opportunity to stay abreast of the latest developments.“
Oliver Schneeberger, Managing Director of Heliotron Deutschland GmbH
Modern working
Heliotron considered it important to have high-quality furnishings so that the employees could feel comfortable not only during their breaks but also while working. With their white desktops and elegant anthracite-grey frames, the employees’ desks form a discreet contrast to the carpets, some of which are colourful and wildly patterned, as well as the red back walls of the sliding-door cabinets that are distributed throughout the room. The cabinets serve to separate off parts of the open-space area, and thanks to their roomy compartments they also support the company’s clean-desk policy. Every employee has a workstation assigned to him or her, but individuals can also change workstations if they wish—on the condition that at the end of the workday every desk is cleared of all personal items.
The foyer of the office hall, which is inviting and has been decorated with a great love of detail, looks like a small café. This is where the employees come to have lunch together and take coffee breaks. The entire area is not only stylishly decorated with candles from the company’s own product portfolio but also provided with countless accessories from the world of pilots. This is where Oliver Schneeberger has added a personal touch. He’s an amateur pilot, and in the decor of this area he has expressed his passion for flying with extraordinary flair. The Aviator Lounge with its model planes and playful details thus forms a harmonious arc with the “office playground” with its game consoles and swings.
The innovative concept of this Freiburg company impressively shows how an appealing mix of an inviting leisure atmosphere and a creative work environment can be achieved with support from ASSMANN.
