Client: SPD Nordrhein-Westfalen
Planing: Ehrich Architekten & smow Düsseldorf
Year: 2022
Areas furnished: Reception area, offices, conference and break rooms
Common good and progress are important principles of the SPD Nordrhein-Westfalen, an organisation whose HQ on Kavalleriestrasse in the heart of Düsseldorf is not only a well-known landmark but has witnessed numerous milestones in social democratic politics in the contemporary Germany.
Yet a building whose age was beginning to tell necessitating the need to transfer ideas of progress into the building and the offices via a redesign; a redesign of the SPD headquarters which primarily sought a casual structure and a modular furnishing of the rooms - perfectly adapted to today's work. The challenge for smow Düsseldorf in terms of furniture and furnishings was to implement an existing concept while making everything appear to be from a single source at the product level.
The nature of smow's business is such that projects often arise in unpredictable and non-linear ways. Such as that for the new SPD headquarters in Düsseldorf which didn't arise from a conventional tender, but rather developed from an apparently unspectacular exchange between Ehrich Architekten and smow Düsseldorf: originally Ehrich Architekten contacted smow about a Vitra chair; however during the conversation it became clear that the chair was a component of a larger whole in which smow Düsseldorf was able to offer valuable support thanks to their furnishing expertise.
In cooperation with Ehrich Architekten, who developed the original concept, smow Düsseldorf initially carried out comprehensive consultation which set itself the task of ensuring that the furniture and furnishings employed meet the high standards of the new SPD headquarters and which were also responsive to the finalised floor plans and usage concept.
When selecting the furniture smow relied on renowned manufacturers such as Vitra, who supplied high-quality office swivel chairs, as well as Arper and Muuto, who brought a stylish and contemporary touch to the furnishings. In addition, smow integrated conference furniture from Wilde + Spieth to meet the requirements of the meeting rooms. For practical storage space, Vario's proven solutions were chosen, in particular the M1 frame, to complete the functionality and aesthetics of the project.
The SPD headquarters in Düsseldorf, which covers an area of some 2,000 square meters, was in need of comprehensive modernized. In this context Ehrich Architekten developed a concept while smow Düsseldorf took over responsibility for the furniture and furnishings.
The result of the SPD project is a modern, modular, representative office complex that fully meets the requirements of contemporary work. The careful planning and implementation by smow Düsseldorf, in cooperation with the architectural firm, has created a functional working environment that not only enables efficient working, but is also aesthetically pleasing and meets the needs of today's working world. "Progress” successfully implemented.
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Together with you smow design tailored solutions for your specific requirements, simply contact our planning department to discuss your project! Our experienced architects, interior designers and designers have the know-how and creativity to implement your personal wishes.