The new 10,000 m² workshop for people with disabilities, with 120 workplaces and an integrated support facility, combines high technical requirements with social responsibility. It creates an inclusive working environment with workshop spaces for document shredding (with vertical chutes spanning all three floors), woodworking, metalworking, and other skilled activities. At the same time, the building offers an inviting, light-filled atmosphere that fosters community and participation.

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Three differently shaped courtyards – a triangle, a square, and a circle – structure the building and bring daylight into the 50-metre-deep floor plan. These courtyards serve not only as points of orientation, but also as places for encounters and exchange, creating a calm, introverted outdoor space in the otherwise hectic industrial area Am Oberfeld, located between the federal highway and the railway line.

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A particular added value of the project is the creation of additional communal areas that were not part of the original brief. Thanks to efficient planning with four sculptural external staircases and a compact circulation ring, both the roof terrace and the communal space between the courtyards could be realised at no extra cost. These additional spaces form the heart of the workshop, encouraging encounters and providing room for social interaction.

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The architecture emphasises openness and transparency: large glazed areas and numerous visual connections invite people to engage with one another. Round windows and portholes in the doors offer glimpses into the various work areas, reinforcing the sense of community.

Robust materials such as steel, concrete, timber, and twin-wall polycarbonate sheets give the building a functional and resilient workshop character. Due to technical requirements (column-free workshop spaces and circulation for pallet trucks and forklifts), the main structure is made of reinforced concrete. Energy is supplied via local heating from the neighbouring carpentry workshop, supplemented by photovoltaics. From the roof terrace, employees can look down into the planted courtyards, where trees are growing (photos will be available in summer), while blue furniture offers spaces for rest and socialising.

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The workshop is far more than just a place of work – it is a space for inclusion, self-determination, and social interaction, placing the needs of people with disabilities at its core and creating a pleasant and supportive working environment.