Hybrid working, bringing multiple companies together on a single site, and creating spaces that balance sustainability with corporate culture – these were the key challenges faced by the VOSS Group. There was also the question of how to design office space so that it provides orientation, supports collaboration, and remains efficient to operate over the long term – despite hybrid usage. The goal was not to create a traditional office, but a workplace environment that fosters connection, provides orientation, and motivates employees to work together with a shared sense of purpose. The collaboration with Sedus resulted in a holistic workspace concept that unites functional requirements, a clear sense of identity, and long term flexibility.
Workspaces with identity: an office concept for hybrid teams at the VOSS Group
| Name | VOSS Group |
|---|---|
| Ort | Admannshagen, Germany |
| Jahr | 2022 and 2024 |
| Fläche | 800 m2 and 400 m2 |
| Fachhändler | BSR - Bruhn & Schlie Büroeinrichtungen |
| Fotos | Michele Feresin / MHL Media Hub Ludwigsburg |
The VOSS Group in Admannshagen near Rostock brings together several specialist companies under one roof. With different business models, ways of working, and cultures, the shared site places specific demands on organisation and the way space is structured. Two of these companies are VOSS GmbH, which provides the legal, financial, and organisational foundations for implementing and operating large scale sustainable projects, and VOSS Energy GmbH, which designs and builds renewable energy systems, develops the associated infrastructure, and continues to manage these systems as part of ongoing operations. Sedus was responsible for outfitting for both companies, creating an integrated office concept designed for hybrid working approaches.
Spaces that bring sustainability to life
The two buildings – one with a total floor area of about 800 square metres, the other about 400, both arranged over two floors – stand side by side. The IZ 1 building, home to VOSS Energy GmbH, was completed in 2022 and offers 28 workspaces. In 2024, the IZ 2 building was added, providing 20 workspaces and becoming the new headquarters of VOSS GmbH. The 49 employees at the site are predominantly hybrid or mobile workers, meaning that only a few require a permanently assigned workstation. Traditional spatial concepts with fixed desk assignments would not have met these requirements.
Sedus furnished the office spaces in close collaboration with specialist dealer BSR – Bruhn & Schlie Büroeinrichtungen. They worked together to develop a concept that reflects both the diverse needs of the company and the overarching goals relating to the site. The true strengths lay in the holistic approach, the interaction between individual systems and seating, as well as the colour scheme and concept design. The wide range of options for team workspaces was also very important to the client.
Furthermore the theme of sustainability needed to be reflected in the concept and colour scheme. In IZ 1, this was achieved through the use of concrete and wood elements and complemented by bold colour accents. In IZ 2, the palette is dominated by warm, muted and light colours.
This differentiated design not only supports the identity of each company, but also contributes to long term sustainability goals – particularly through durable, adaptable furnishing solutions that can evolve with changes in work organisation and team structure.
Different Sedus furniture solutions were used depending on the type of workspace:
Team workstation
In the team areas, height adjustable se:lab twin double workstations paired with ergonomic black dot net swivel chairs provide an environment that encourages both movement and effective teamwork. The configuration delivers strong space efficiency without compromising user quality. The double workstations maximise the available area and at the same time support dialogue within the team – essential in hybrid settings with varying on site presence.
grand slam cabinets help structure the open areas, offering storage and physical zoning without visually enclosing the space. The workstations are complemented by se:cube M room in room solutions that provide dedicated spaces for focused work or confidential conversations, creating a balanced interplay between openness and concentration.
Agile working and collaboration
For agile working environments and creative processes, flexible and informal settings were deliberately chosen. The se:lab high desk serves as a central meeting point for brief discussions, workshops, or brainstorming sessions. In combination with se:lab hopper and se:fit stools, a dynamic working atmosphere is created that encourages movement and supports changes in perspective. This facilitates spontaneous exchange and deliberately complements traditional meeting structures, offering clear added value for project based and interdisciplinary work.
Meeting & seminar rooms
In the meeting and seminar rooms, flexible turn around high desk chairs are used alongside the se:lab high desk and se:lab hopper. The combination enables a variety of use scenarios – from formal meetings and training sessions to interactive workshop formats. This ensures that the rooms remain flexible even as team sizes change or new requirements emerge, thereby contributing to efficient use of space in the long term.
Hubs & intermediate areas
At hubs and intermediate areas, sopha lounge furniture and sweetspot armchairs create intentionally informal lounge areas. These zones encourage spontaneous interaction between employees, provide brief retreat opportunities, and offer alternative workspaces for less formal tasks. At the same time, they give the office areas a homely character and play a key role in creating an inviting atmosphere – an important factor for emotional connection and acceptance of the office as a workspace.
Canteen, bistro & cafeteria
In the Work Café, homely se:living armchairs invite people to relax for a moment, introducing targeted colour accents that blend harmoniously into the overall concept. The furniture supports multifunctional use of the space, serving as a setting for shared breaks, informal interaction or even for focused working as an alternative to the classic desk-based space. In this way, the Work Café takes on a central social function and strengthens both community and a sense of identification with the site.
Where variety meets flexibility
The aim of the design concept was to create a working environment that fosters identity, provides orientation and meaningfully supports hybrid working approaches. The outfitting was intended to reflect the company’s different business areas, convey diversity and quality, and optimally support flexible working methods, without compromising on clarity or structure.
The outfitting concept has been very positively received by the employees. The open-plan design and attractive colour scheme are particularly appreciated. The Work Café has been a huge hit thanks to its welcoming furniture arrangement. Sedus has managed to achieve the goal of creating a place where people can eat together, work, and and enjoy a coffee in a pleasant atmosphere – by providing bistro tables and a lounge with armchairs.
Collaboration between the client, the dealer and Sedus proved to be exceptionally efficient. The workspace design team at Sedus provided key support during the concept and planning stages. The integrated planning approach turned out to be a decisive factor in the project’s success.
René Klagge from BSR – Bruhn & Schlie Büroeinrichtungen describes the planning process as follows:
The challenge was reconciling a wide range of different expectations. It was all the more encouraging that the initial plans were so convincing – a sure indicator that we all shared the same goals.
A convincing result
Thanks to the holistic workspace concept implemented by Sedus, the VOSS Group has gained a working environment at its Admannshagen site that is perfectly tailored to its needs: flexible structures for changing requirements, clearly defined areas for focus and collaboration, and an atmosphere that encourages employees to return to the office. The design also reflects the company’s identity and values – and translates them into a physical presence. The VOSS project is a prime example of how hybrid work models, sustainability ambitions and design quality can be combined within a future ready workspace concept.
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