A real Berliner

Zalando

New Work, Berlin, 2019

Kinzo created two unique work environments for Zalando in Berlin - one for the company's headquarters and another office at the Zalando Campus.

Zalando HQ

In a joint design, HENN and Kinzo conceived a kind of refined building shell for the Zalando Headquarters. The interior of the building located close to the East Side Gallery and the Berghain is characterised by the diverse nature of Berlin, the hometown of the young company.

In an architectural design by HENN, Kinzo created a holistically designed and inspiring working and living environment on around 43,000 square meters. For around 2,300 Zalando employees, this created a place of communication and interaction that puts users at the center.

“Our interior design captures the energy of the city and brings it together: Zalando is a Berliner – just as colorful and creative, heterogeneous and international as the various neighborhoods of the capital,” says Chris Middleton, founding partner and CEO of Kinzo.

The focus of all design decisions was on the users. Employees are encouraged to make the spaces their own, helping to shape the vibrant company culture.

A "catwalk" starts from the lobby and connects stacked "living rooms" through all floors. Here, the basic structure of the interior design becomes apparent: It not only promotes horizontal exchange, but also relies on vital togetherness through vertical connections, thus supporting the team concept.

The open atrium of the main building can be experienced vertically as an urban forum, offering an accessible, multi-faceted design, which can be used in various scenarios.

The user has always been the focus of all design decisions. Employees are encouraged to make the rooms their own and become a part of the lively corporate culture themselves. Functional and spatial overlays create synergies and thus, shape a culture based on openness and communication.

Client	Zalando SE
Year	2019
Location	Berlin
BGF	59.000
Architecture	HENN

Zalando M_Eins

Kinzo has also developed an identity-creating spatial concept for another Zalando location: in the new building project M_Eins at the East Side Gallery.

Spread across an area of about 15,000 sqm, the interior design reflects the corporate culture of the young and continuously growing business.

Highlights are the living rooms which depict different themes characteristic of Berlin – an obvious project to the city in which Zalando was founded.

Here, the identity of Berlin can be experienced at first hand. Employees get the chance to occupy spaces and contribute actively to the spatial quality of their work environment.