By now we’d transformed much of this north German steel factory, and it wasn’t just a case of sprucing up a few slightly tired buildings. Work like this can have a profound effect, reinvigorating the workforce, giving them a sense of pride in their work, and raising the company’s profile. It was time, then, to turn our attention to the third and final element – the administrative building – which would give the company welcoming spaces to meet, greet visitors, and manage operations. We would procure and manage all contracts and take complete ownership of the project – as architects, interior designers and project managers. As the final piece of the Stahlwerk jigsaw, there’s been a particular pleasure in getting to this point. We’ve given the original mid-century building a brand-new shape and form: the traditional pitched roof is ‘peeled away’ to reveal new transparent offices. A former factory clock – which we love for its materials, its mechanism and its history – has been painstakingly restored and given pride of place. It’s now almost the first thing you see as you approach, through the new glazed façade.