Federal Labour Court

Judicious Architecture

“A notable contribution to contemporary architecture” is how the new Federal Labour Court building in Erfurt was described when winning the Thuringia State Prize for Architecture and Urban Design. The four-storey building impresses due to its high-profile location in spacious parklands as well as to its studied rigour. The facade incorporates a post-and-bar system made up of prefabricated concrete sections with Theuma slate infills and glazed sliding shutters in the panels.

The formal simplicity of the exterior is echoed inside, where use structures are clearly staked out and the decor is unerringly pared down. Exposed concrete, natural stone, pale oak and carpeting - a small number of carefully selected, astutely configured materials make for a suitably disciplined atmosphere and reinforce the dignity of the Federal Labour Court. Green and grey are the predominant colours, standing out against the lighter wooden furniture. This theme is also taken up by carpeting from the Jen collection by Carpet Concept. Two textures, two patterns, four shades of grey and 24 hues go to make up the Jen system.
By switching the colour balance and altering dimensional ratios, variants are pro-duced that are, by turn, nuanced or contrasting, calm or lively, monochrome or in coordinated colour sequences. What helps make this collection such a creative system is that it allows customised schemes and combinations thereof to be achieved.

Carpeting thus takes on the status of a design entity, one that blends in perfectly with its surroundings. The Jen in the Federal Labour Court, therefore, was fashioned and made to the exact specifications of the architect. A subtly lambent grey serves as the ground. The scheme generates fine dotted lines in light beige, the colouring of the furniture wood. Retiring and modest, it constitutes an agreeable design feature within the architectural whole.

More than 75,000 square feet of rugged rib-weave Jen was laid in the hallways and meeting rooms of the Federal Labour Court. Not only does carpeting help define a space, it also absorbs sound. This is a propensity that, on account of its high-quality spun yarn of high pile weight, Jen most definitely has, making it a prime case for the courts.

Architektur: Gesine Weinmiller, Berlin

Teppichböden: Isy R, Carpet Concept, Bielefeld