Anyone visiting the new premises of the Handelsblatt in Düsseldorf will notice one thing above all else: diversity. The minimalist lines of the swivel chairs surround the luxuriant curves of a sofa that winds its way through the room like a sculpture to be sat on. The busy humming from the newsroom, where editors produce uptotheminute news, ends at the doors to the silent rooms where people can sit in armchairs with high, protective backrests to contemplate matters or make quiet phone calls. The matt gray of an elliptical conference table is framed by bright orange and yellow chairs. About one hundred people work here. Ask them how they feel and they will tell you about the comfort of being able to swap ideas in different rooms, about the joys of discreet technology and splashes of color, about the pleasure they take from retreat rooms and their favorite armchairs. This is the world developed by Walter Knoll. It is a highly promising example of the vision of New Work: a creative combination of open space and rest areas, daytoday business and brainstorming, flexible discussions and confidential interviews.
