Rohde & Schwarz, Hanover

The former Hanomag site in Hanover now houses the new offices of Rohde & Schwarz, a German technology company. The building was constructed in 1916 and originally housed a factory producing artillery – large expansive rooms with the industrial character of bygone days once defined the interior.

BBU.PROJEKT ARCHITEKTEN from Hanover displayed a great deal of sensitivity in mastering the challenge of retaining the building's historic charm. At the same time, they created innovative and modern open-plan offices with optimized room acoustics – a major factor in the success of the project. Transparent honeycomb panels from the Rossoacoustic CP 30 system as desk-mounted partitions together with acoustic pads from the Rossoacoustic PAD range combine with coarsely textured lightweight wood wool panels on the ceiling to create a charming fusion of textures and material qualities.

Asked why they selected products from Rosso, the architects stressed the outstanding combination of acoustic effectiveness and the transparent, lightweight look with its industrial touch. In addition to the open-plan offices there is also a cafeteria with niches and open areas to which employees can retreat. BBU.PROJEKT ARCHITEKTEN based the colour scheme on the company's corporate blue, while also adding a few nuances of its own.