In-house creativity

From a jungle world to a zen garden: Villeroy & Boch also demonstrates its gift for creating unconventional solutions in the sanitary field in its own head office in Mettlach.

6/14/2019

In Mettlach, Villeroy & Boch and Bochem.Schmidt Architects have converted a historic brick hall with an area of 4,000 square metres into a modern office concept.
Photo: Villeroy & Boch

What do the bathrooms of a sanitary specialist look like? Highly varied is the answer for Villeroy & Boch in Mettlach. For 260 years, the municipality on the river Saar has been the headquarters of the manufacturer of ceramic products specializing in bathroom and wellness, tableware and tiles. Many years ago, Villeroy & Boch built its factories on the site of a former Benedictine monastery. Bochem.Schmidt Architekten have now converted one of the historic brick buildings covering 4,000 square meters to accommodate a modern office concept that recently received the ZIA Office Award: Now the employees from twelve different sections have temporary workplaces but also zones for work requiring greater concentration or communication within a group. All the workplaces are ergonomically designed; for example, the desk height can be adjusted as needed.

For employees from twelve departments, temporary workstations are now available.
Photo: Villeroy & Boch

The former industrial building was also updated as regards energy efficiency and sustainability – temperature, oxygen content and lighting can all be selected via numerous regulating elements. And interior designers Triad from Berlin have produced a colorful highlight in the toilet facilities: There is a total of seven bathrooms and no two are the same. Designed using themes that range from a jungle through to a metallic look and all accompanied by matching music the firm demonstrates on its own premises its expertise when it comes to finding unconventional solutions. Several designs from the Villeroy & Boch bathroom and wellness range can be admired: The toilet models “Architectura”, “Hommage”, “Memento”and the shower WCs “ViClean-I 100 and L”were selected together with the washstands “Artis”, “Avento”, “Finion” and “Octagon”. With a large choice of different finishes from chrome to black and shapes from oval to rectangular the selected products make a perfect fit for the various theme worlds. Thanks to the ceramic finish CeramicPlus surfaces are not only hygienic but also easy to clean. (am)