Neighborhoods, such as swimming pool, are defined by colors, some of which contrast, like the Muuto high-back sofa and orange carpet round, to help the sight-impaired easily demarcate spaces. Photography by Philip Kottlorz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nKeeping that \u201cwe\u201d in mind, reenvisioning Aktion Mensch\u2019s 40,000-square-foot office was a highly collaborative process that took nearly three years to complete. While the majority of the brief was straightforward\u2014transitioning from closed offices to open-plan, improving acoustics, incorporating up-to-date digital tech\u00adnologies\u2014the project also had to take into account a nonprofit\u2019s budget, the wishes of its donors, and the specific needs of the nearly 15 percent of Aktion Mensch\u2019s employees who have disabilities themselves.<\/p>\n
After months of workshops between reps, the workers\u2019 union, and the Ippolito Fleitz team, the architects \ndeveloped a prototype that was tested and refined, then rolled out slowly, giving employees a chance to get used to the change. \u201cIt was important that the staffers really agree that this was a good project,\u201d begins \nIppolito Fleitz managing partner Peter Ippolito, who, along with co-managing partner Gunter Fleitz, is a member of Interior Design<\/em>\u2019s Hall of Fame. \u201cA socially driven, human-centric organization has a much higher consciousness about those things than a commercial one.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/noscript>In the market neighborhood, FormvorRat side tables stand beneath the acoustical ceiling, painted with color-coded circles. Photography by Philip Kottlorz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nMuch of the knowledge-sharing that took place during the design phase had to do with accessibility. While the building, completed in 2004, was already somewhat wheelchair-friendly, Aktion Mensch brought to the table a nuanced list of considerations for those with learning disabilities or impaired sight or hearing\u2014as well as cutting-edge ideas for accommodating them. In addition to outlining industry standards for sink and handle heights, aisle widths, and curtain clearances, the Aktion Mensch team, led by project manager Clemens Hollingsworth, advocated for the scheme to be \u201cmobile first,\u201d he says. \u201cIt helps people with disabilities tremendously when everything relating to their daily needs can be combined in one tool.\u201d One such example of this is the installation of iBeacons at the office\u2019s bus stop, main entrance, and first-floor conference rooms; they trigger visitors\u2019 phones to display guidance and information in their preferred format, such as a reading service for the blind or a graphics-based representation for those with learning disabilities.<\/p>\n
When it came to considering the needs of the employees themselves, color played a huge role in functionality, particularly when it came to spatial orientation. Not only do high-contrast colors make it easier for those with visual impairments to delineate between spaces but colors also make for a simpler wayfinding system for the learning impaired. Ippolito Fleitz took this information and used it to solve a key problem at the heart of the project: the building\u2019s labyrinthine layout, an endless sequence of identical corridors and staircases that couldn\u2019t be altered architecturally. The firm devised a neighborhood system that breaks down the office into eight more-digestible departmental zones, each assigned its own color scheme and ultra-simple name, like blue swimming pool, pumpkin market, and red-rose garden. Each neighborhood has a central lounge that serves as a welcome area and features walls, ceiling decals, and carpeting in its signature bright hue, while sharply contrasting carpet colors define the boundaries of adjacent meeting rooms and workstation areas.<\/p>\n <\/noscript>Liberal use of fabric paneling and nylon carpeting throughout helps temper acoustics, which Ippolito Fleitz says is the main driver of well-being in a workplace. Photography by Philip Kottlorz.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\nAlso adding liveliness to the interiors is a system of modular acoustic panels\u2014available in a menu of densities, textures, and shapes\u2014that each employee\u00a0 can configure for their own work space to suit their aesthetics and level of privacy. Mounted to easy-to-install-and-deinstall floor-to-ceiling tension rods, the panels (as well as the mirrors in conference rooms) were purposefully designed to be charmingly asymmetrical and uneven, as a metaphor for the organization itself. \u201cThe shapes all have their own personalities,\u201d Ippolito notes. Seeing them deployed throughout the office in unique ways, he adds, resembles \u201ca gathering of diverse characters, doing something great together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite the project\u2019s appreciation for diversity, however, it doesn\u2019t immediately appear to be a workplace for differently abled people. By keeping the focus on universal design\u2014making sure, for example, that every table is height-adjustable and has extra space around it, not just those meant for wheelchair users\u2014Ippolito Fleitz ensured that the end result would accommodate disability without singling anyone out, making it a beacon for Aktion Mensch\u2019s message of inclusivity. \u201cEvery space is accessible for everybody,\u201d Ippolito states. \u201cIt sends a strong signal that however you come, you\u2019re welcome, and we\u2019ve created space for you to perform your best.\u201d<\/p>\n
Project Team:<\/strong> \nMichael Bertram; Marlene Court; Pilar Huerta; Tim Lessmann: Ippolito Fleitz Group. Lichtwerke Gmbh K\u00f6ln<\/a>: Lighting Consul\u00adtant. LBH: Custom Furniture Workshop. Designfunktion<\/a>: Furniture Supplier. Hoffmann Interior GmbH & Co. KG<\/a>: General Contractor.<\/p>\nProduct Sources:<\/strong> Hay<\/a>: Stools (Swimming Pool, Port Meeting Room). Muuto<\/a>: Sofas (Swimming Pool, Market), Lounge Chair (Market). Wilkhahn<\/a>: Chair (Meeting Room). La Palma<\/a>: Chairs (Lounge). FormvorRat<\/a>: Side Tables (Lounge, Market). Holmris B8<\/a>: Table (Port Meeting Room). Arper<\/a>: Large Table (Lounge). Cappellini<\/a>: Lamp. Throughout:<\/em> Brunner<\/a>: Ottomans. Vitra<\/a>: Task Chairs. Camira<\/a>; Febrik<\/a>; Gabriel<\/a>; Kvadrat<\/a>: Fabric. Findeisen Nadelvlies<\/a>; Object Carpet<\/a>; Tarkett<\/a>; Vorwerk<\/a>: Carpet. Apartment 91: Curtains. Caparol<\/a>; Sikkens<\/a>: Paint.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"With the Bonn, Germany, headquarters of Aktion Mensch, Ippolito Fleitz Group proves an inclusive and accessible workplace can be attractive and inviting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3527,"featured_media":151991,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"featured_image_focal_point":[],"legacy_django_id":19108},"tags":[],"id_tax_domain":[14],"id_tax_product":[],"id_tax_program":[],"id_issue":[],"internal_flag":[4220],"class_list":["post-134291","id_project","type-id_project","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","id_tax_domain-workplace"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
Ippolito Fleitz Group Designs an Accessible Workplace<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n