Soccer Shangri-La: "Onefootball" office in Berlin

The start-up, which was founded in 2008, provides information from over a hundred football leagues to more than nineteen million soccer fans all over the world. The well-known football pictogram designed by Otl Aicher accordingly visualises the firm's central motto – "It's not a game, it's football" – on the artificial turf-covered partition wall set up at the reception in the company's newly-designed premises. And the slogan is taken seriously, as reflected in the evenly balanced way in which TKEZ Architecture of Munich has conceived the light and multi-functional office environment for 90 employees. Nothing has been left to be desired in terms of spatial flexibility and acoustic screening, with the choice of workplaces ranging from open desk areas and glass-partitioned group and individual offices to informal settings for casual encounter and discussion, as exemplified by beach chair-type seats and standing areas overlooking the interior courtyard. A stylised, grass-green running track forms a link between the individual office zones, accentuating the flow of movement as it weaves its way through the otherwise neutrally-coloured premises, directing the gaze towards – what else? – a football goal. If taking a kick with the ball provided for this purpose seems a bit provocative, there is always the alternative of letting off steam at one of the two football tables where the staff take their breaks.  The colour green – the central design element – also emphasizes the flooring in the acoustically screened offices and discussion spaces. But it is in the so-called Arena that it comes into its own as a corporate branding element appropriate to the work of the football app provider. Company gatherings, presentations and regular broadcasts of football match take place in the semi-circular space with its rising tiers. Sitting steps covered in artificial turf, an LED light ceiling that can be made to shine in favourite colours, a video projector and retractable screen for showing the latest matches – these are the few but well-thought-out elements that swiftly transform the muted office premises into what can best be described as a soccer Shangri-La. More information on the "Onefootball" project can be found in print in the 2015/2 issue of DETAIL inside.