Insurance Company, Munich. Kinzo

"When Standards Meet Character: How do you create a location for a Japanese company with international operations that aligns with its global brand while still having a distinctively Munich feel? This very question was the starting point for this project. On a site of approximately 600 square meters, the goal was to create a new work environment that would welcome, support, and represent employees, customers, and business partners alike. The result: an office design that combines a global brand identity with local roots. From Floor Plan to Posture: The space was organized functionally. Workstations lined the facade, with a functional central zone; it was very open, with little structure and little character. The space served its purpose, but it didn’t tell a story. Our new design takes a consistent new approach to the floor plan. A spacious reception area now forms the centerpiece of the space. Meeting rooms, communication areas, and quiet spaces are being created in a functional yet fluid central zone. Room-within-a-room elements organize the various work areas within the space: They provide orientation while also incorporating acoustic solutions, storage, coat racks, and separate communication areas, all without fragmenting the space.Japanese tranquility. Munich warmth: The most striking spaces often emerge from contrasts. Here, the clarity and precision of international design standards meet the region’s material culture. Soft color tones, calm spatial structures, and the brand’s graphic order blend with felt, brick, bronze, and references to local materials.Felt, brick, bronze, and surfaces reminiscent of the Nagelfluh rock typical of the region lend the interior a timeless and warm atmosphere. The brand’s graphic circular patterns are reflected here, as is the inspiration drawn from Isar river pebbles and the natural movement. The result is a work environment that is at once sophisticated, high-quality, and surprisingly comfortable. Faster than the Calendar: The timeline was particularly challenging. Following a six-week pitch, a complete design—including a request for proposals for a general contractor—had to be developed within three months. We supported the entire process, from the concept phase through to design quality assurance during implementation: Even under intense time pressure, spaces with character can be created when concept, communication, and planning work together seamlessly. Standardization Meets Character.
The international design guidelines set the framework; KINZO adapts it to the Munich context. Clean geometries, soft colors, and a precise brand aesthetic meet warm materials and local references. This ensures that the location remains an unmistakable part of the global brand while simultaneously embodying the essence of Munich—without veering into the folkloric. After all, global guidelines and local identity are not mutually exclusive. All you need is a design partner who speaks both languages." Kinzo Homepage: https://kinzo-berlin.de/en/projects/thinking-globally-made-in-munich/