European Locomotive Leasing VIENNA
Office Design
Client: ELL
Location: Wien
Area: 630 m2
Year: 2025
Fotos & Videos: © Kurt Hörbst
Team
Waltraud Ertl, Manuela Patka | Corinna Danninger, Klaudia Lisak, Ana Nistor, Eva Obernberger
GREEN, OPEN, CONNECTED - The new ELL Office in Vienna
With its relocation to a new site, ELL – European Locomotive Leasing, a provider of electric locomotives across Europe – was faced with a particular challenge: two previously separated floors were consolidated into a single, open level. What at first seemed demanding turned into an opportunity – enabling greater transparency, smoother communication, and spontaneous encounters in everyday work life.
PLANET responded to the employees’ needs for more collaboration, bright workplaces, and clearly defined community zones – merging these requirements into a contemporary design that unites sustainability, brand identity, and wellbeing.
People at the Center
The design process was guided by workshops in which the teams’ wishes and requirements were collected: more meeting rooms, flexible workplaces, and a clear separation between work and dining areas. The result: a shift from fixed desks to flexible workstations, complemented by meeting rooms, phone booths, and creative zones. This created a work environment that supports both focused tasks and collaboration.
A Place for Connection
Conceived as both a productive workspace and a community hub, the new office reflects the principles of New Work: the kitchen, social area, terrace, and lounge spaces encourage informal encounters, while a creative room extends the entrance area into a vibrant place for exchange.
Natural Light & Living Materials
A central design element is the theme of nature: plants were purposefully integrated and define the atmosphere. Generous glass surfaces and exposed ceilings create an open and bright spatial experience. Fluted glass introduces movement into the rooms, refracting light and opening up dynamic visual connections.
Sustainability was equally important: existing furniture was reused and complemented with new, durable pieces. This approach allowed budget resources to be used efficiently while at the same time embracing ecological responsibility.
Identity & Rail Motifs
Although interior branding was not originally part of the brief, it evolved into a key component of the design. Graphic lines, reminiscent of rail tracks, run subtly through the office landscape. Combined with natural materials, they reflect the company’s core values – dynamism, efficiency, and sustainability – and make ELL’s identity tangible within the workspace.
