Kraftwerk is a former power station transformed into a unique space that includes meeting rooms built out of shipping containers, event hall as well as a Café with an inspiring atmosphere and distinctive interior design. The area is split accordingly into three parts. The entrance to the building is the Café’s entrance too, those visitors who aim to the meeting rooms or event space unavoidably have to pass by the Café. Thereby, it was interesting to observe interaction spesifically in this area.
Interaction observation notes
Guest & Space:
- some visitors, especially women with kids first occupy the table and only after some time make an order, assumingly due to more space required for all the kid’s necessities; other visitors go straight to the bar, for them it might be more important to receive their order faster.
- by arrival guests evaluate and take the best, in their opinion, availaible spot in the Café
- by arrival some guests wait at the entrance area or at the bar, still wearing the outerwear
Guests & Objects:
- chairs are used as a holder for visitor’s belongings, if not occupied by other visitors
- guests work with laptops
- guest study with laptops and books on the table
- reading books from Café’s book exchange shelf
- eating/ drinking, Cafè offers a good range of food and drinks, however, it doesn’t look like guest come there to only eat or drink
Guests & Staff:
- to order food and drinks
- to make payment
- to learn more about menu or space
Staff & Space:
- the entrance glass door is located parallel to the bar, so staff is aware of what is going on outside in front of the entrance
- staff cleans up the table after the guest’s visit
- staff changes the lightning in the Café to evening mode, more dark
Staff & Bar Appliances:
- all kind of tools from spoons to coffee machines are arranged and used in the most efficient, purposeful way
Staff & Staff:
- showing how things work, sharing information, discussing
Guests & Guests:
- greeting each other in case familiar to each other, otherwise asking to join the same table in case there are no other available sits
- holding a business meeting, typically two persons with laptops or copybooks
- chatting, a company of women with kids
- playing children
- co-working, two or more people are having a meeting with laptops
Guest-Staff-Object:
- staff takes an order from the guest and puts it into the system
- proceeding payment
- catering the orders to the table
Insights
- interaction is a purpose-driven activity
- the interaction „guest & objects“ makes up a big portion of the environment in the Café area: main activities observed were co-working, working with laptops, discussing business, thereby there is a strong sense of working environment
Why not to…
… have a childcare room where kids could spend time with other kids, while their parents would enjoy a good cup of coffee with their friends or business colleagues?
… place an overview of the Kraftwerk’s offer at the viewable by visitors place right after entering the building?
Master Design, Alexandra Sasha Steinmann