Hannoversche Volksbank | Hannover
Rosenthal helped the Hannoversche Volksbank implement their design for two new conference tables.
This was no run-of-the-mill task. The management and supervisory boards
of the Hannoversche Volksbank wanted a unique conference table system
which not only integrated the very latest in media technology, but was
also pioneering in its design and function. The new completed
furnishings consist of two Rosenthal conference tables which combine
form, materials and architectural surroundings in a very special and
exciting way.
Raimund Spors (Project leader) and Ulrike Kaiser (Project team member)
were responsible for managing this ambitious project on behalf of the
bank.
The draft was created – all that was missing was the appropriate partner for the implementation.
The concept and planning of the entire system was all done beforehand
by the Volksbank themselves. This is nothing new; it’s traditional for
the organisation. At the request of the Board, they decided to use a
pillar-type design based on a traverse system to create the maximum
amount of leg room. This design means that the table – despite its
impressive size – appears almost to float.
Using as few pillars with as
small a diameter as possible, the table is concreted into the floor.
This project was a real challenge for the Rosenthal Einrichtung team
and for the structural engineers.
It was a prerequisite of the implementation of the new system that
the conference rooms should be left exactly as they were – the rooms
are distinguished by a ceiling panel and wall coverings of Swiss
pear-wood. Ideas for materials and colours were therefore taken from
the existing conference rooms and re-interpreted. Natural stone and
wood now join to form a clear-cut design which blends elements of both
old and new.
It was important that the need for a new, more stable worksurface
should not detract in any way from the table’s distinguished
appearance. The problem with the previous table system
was that years
of use had taken their toll on the solid wood surface – it was heavily
scratched, mainly by folders, and damaged along some of its edges.
After tests using various different wood veneers and linoleums produced
unsatisfactory results, an aesthetically-pleasing combination of
granite and pearwood was used.
The Latest Technology – Perfectly Integrated.
The entire system was equipped with the very latest in modern media
technology – an essential component of modern presentations and
meetings. This was no mean feat – video signals, monitor and projector
integration and network and audio connections for communication devices
all had to be taken into account during the planning phase. “We didn’t
just want technology that worked perfectly – we also wanted to ensure
that it didn’t dominate the system. The technology needed to be
secondary to the table, unobtrusive and visible only when needed. In
Rosenthal Einrichtung we found a manufacturer who had both mastered the
necessary technology and could integrate it expertly into the system”,
says Raimund Spors.
