Omicron Campus Klaus, © David Matthiessen

User perspective - work environments

In our user series, we visit some of our projects and meet our users in an open dialogue, with perspectives from the other side. For us, it was an opportunity to gain insights from their daily life and get to the bottom of questions: What has stood the test of time and what would we do differently today? What emotions does a space trigger? How comfortable do the users feel? What do they like, what would they change? We went on site and let our users have a say in this format.

Interview with Martin Pfanner from Omicron
© Dietrich Untertrifaller

One of our interviews took us to Klaus, in Vorarlberg, to the headquarters of the globally active company Omicron. Martin Pfanner, who managed the company for many years and now works as a product manager, tells us about the Omicron Campus and how the building fulfils the requirements for comfort, sustainability and innovation. The corporate philosophy that the Campus strives for originates from the founder Rainer Aberer.

Right from the start, it is clear that the employees are the main focus here: the campus really has created an environment in which they can develop their potential, with optimal working conditions and with as few rules and boundaries as possible. You can feel the natural materials throughout the building and special attention has been paid to the lighting moods. The light adapts to all times of day and to the incidence of light from outside and is therefore a very strong, omnipresent element. As one employee confirms: "You won't find this light anywhere else".

"Create an environment free of artificial boundaries where a team of excellent colleagues can achieve excellent results while having fun at work. This team deserves recognition for finding the best solutions for our customers."

Rainer Aberer, founder of Omicron

Resting zone made of clay, Omicron Campus, Klaus
© David Matthiessen

Another important feature are the hotspots in the form of a wooden sculpture known as "the body" or the lovingly named "potato" relaxation zone made of clay in the "crossing borders" area. Whether for an afternoon coffee, an after work beer or simply a power nap in between - there is something for everyone. In addition to the cosy corners, the building also offers a variety of areas for communal activities such as table tennis, table football or mini golf. However the most impressive thing for visitors of all ages is the atmosphere they consistently experience here: a very relaxed campus atmosphere. It is often the little things that stand out; the way people treat each other, the fact that there is a lot of laughter.

Martin Pfanner: "While it was planned that the building would reflect us as a company, it was never the intention to create a monument or memorial, it simply had to work for everyone." Another employee quotes: "Not everything at OMICRON is for everyone, but everyone will find something."

And when asked what else he would like to see in the building, Martin gave us an insight: "The building still has to function in 20 years' time, so it has to be flexible and adaptable for future requirements. Something that will certainly be considered once the world of work evolves further is more room for open spaces and shared offices. Recyclability is another issue - there are still solid concrete cores inside the building, where more timber construction will certainly be possible in the future, hence climate neutrality is the overall goal. We are very well positioned in this regard, with our own photovoltaics and geothermal energy."

Text: Anu-Ujin Walser, June 2024

Social responsibility and why we need places of communication

As architects do we actually have a social responsibility? And do we fulfil it? When we deal with a project, we are initially confronted with the question of ‘How?’: How do I manage to accommodate a certain number of people in a given space? With this question we are neither acting ethically nor are we fulfilling our social responsibility. Only when we ask ‘For whom?’ and ‘What can we change for society?’ do we take the perspective of our users and think about moral principles.

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User perspective on learning environments

In our user series, we visit some of our projects and meet our users in an open dialogue, with perspectives from the other side. For us, it was an opportunity to gain insights from their daily life and get to the bottom of questions: What has stood the test of time and what would we do differently today? What emotions does a space trigger? How comfortable do the users feel? What do they like, what would they change? We went on site and let our users have a say in this format.

This series also takes us to a place we all know: school. Far more than a place of learning, it is a place for social interaction and value education and in some ways reflects our society. Hardly any other place combines community and the built environment as concisely as a school. In our interview with the Edlach primary school in Dornbirn, teaching staff and pupils talk about their school life and give us an insight into how they perceive their built environment.

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Omicron Campus, Klaus (AT)
New building, Further construction

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legero united campus, Feldkirchen (AT)
New building

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Wibeba administration, Wieselburg (AT)
New building

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