We resume the series of designer offices, out of sheer curiosity to know what the offices of those who design spaces are like. Just like with fashion designers, the offices of those in charge of designing the best spaces say a lot about them and what they're expected to do.

Designlige It is a German studio made up of twenty young designers from different branches, who are not only dedicated to architecture and interior design, but also to product design and visual communication. With such a diverse reach, one couldn't have expected more creative and unique offices than those located south of Munich.

Designliga's offices in Munich

Near the Isar River and surrounded by studios, workshops and the spaces of the Gasteig Munich, one of the largest cultural centers in Europe, Design League has carried out an exemplary architectural intervention. For 10 years, it was located in a former industrial site, but in 2021, it decided to undertake a comprehensive renovation of the warehouse, a metalworking workshop belonging to Stadtwerke München, which it has transformed into much more than a simple office: a workspace that reflects its culture, values, and vision.

In the entrance and lobby areas, the flooring combines cross-grain larch parquet with concrete surfaces, providing visual richness and texture.

This mid-650th century industrial building, with a surface area of ​​XNUMX m², still retained obvious signs of its previous use as a mechanical workshop. For this reason, the team decided to preserve historical elements, such as a elevated office for the foreman, from where operations were overseen. This structure, along with other traces of the past, acts as a physical testament to the rationalization, order, and hierarchies that characterized the German industrial era. For Designliga, this legacy is not only inspiration, but also a point of reflection on the evolution of work in the digital age.

The project's conceptual approach is based on an exploration of contrasts: industrial versus digital, collective versus individual, technical versus human. According to Sasa Stanojcic (CEO and Creative Director) and Christina Koepf (Head of Interior Architecture and Design), the goal was to design a place that would awaken curiosity and attraction immediate, and that anyone – whether a client, friend or visitor – felt the urge to become part of the environment.

The central part of the building was organized as a town square, with a central structure and two buildings attached to the sides, containing individual offices on two levels.

One of the design responses to these challenges is the “restoration of closeness”, expressed through the metaphor of townThus, the design is organized around a small interior village with gabled houses, a central plaza with a bench, and open work areas simulating gardens. All this creates a welcoming, intimate, and collaborative environment, where traditional hierarchies give way to a horizontal community.

The intervention is inspired by industrial architecture, but maintaining original elements such as the large clock hands, crane rails, exposed brickwork and exposed heating systems. These references to the industrial era They evoke values ​​such as efficiency, discipline, and functionality, which are juxtaposed with the dynamics of digital work: hyperconnectivity, decentralization, and the search for meaning. This tension generates a hybrid space, aware of the challenges of the present: the loss of authentic physical experiences, the abstraction of digital work and the need for belonging.

The original building has a rectangular floor plan and ceilings that reach more than 10 meters high. The east and west walls are constructed of glass bricks (pavés) and incorporate rows of windows at eye level, allowing for constant, glare-free natural lighting.

In addition to the central building, on both sides of the nave there are buildings Two floors that house different spaces and functions. The one immediately upon entering, on the right, houses one of the design offices, separate from the rest of the multi-purpose workstations in the area below.

The former foreman's office was refurbished as a meeting room, strategically located to provide a view of the entire complex. Following the same minimalist style as the rest of the spaces, here, however, they introduced a contrasting Klein blue color on the walls and dressed the area with a Persian rug. Above it, the following stand out: three iconic pieces of contemporary design: the chair Diamond, Harry Bertoia; the coffee table de Isamu Noguchi and the chair Playwood, by Charles and Ray Eames, who also signed the ones surrounding the conference table.

Materiality plays a central role in the experience of space. Natural and textured materials such as larch wood, brass and exposed concrete, that provide warmth and material honesty. The design avoids excessive decoration and opts for a timeless and understated aesthetic, where the objects have a history: many have been designed and manufactured by the team themselves, imbuing the space with authenticity.

Despite the aesthetic care, the authors emphasize that the office is alive: The boards display the moods of ongoing projects, there are samples of materials on the tables, and towels are hung up as they often bathe in the nearby river. The controlled disorder is part of the place's vitality.

In addition to the work and meeting areas, Desigliga's offices have library, garden, basketball court and rest areas that invite relaxation and stimulate creativity.

Of course, one could not be missing community kitchen, with a homey aesthetic, including a large table, a variety of chairs, designer lamps, and a retro refrigerator. This space encourages informal interaction and a sense of community. In addition, basement a was installed workshop which the team uses to build its own furniture, reflecting its “maker” approach that reinforces the customization of the environment.

This layout creates a feeling of human scale within an industrial volume. Each zone serves a specific purpose while also being integrated into a cohesive spatial narrative.

Photos: Designliga