Much more than a workplace

“What a great topic,” exclaims Sabine Kraus when we ask her about this year's mcbw theme, and Metin Seyrek adds: “For us, it's a perfect fit.” Together with Katharina Kraus and Leif Geuder, the two run the BECC Agency. About a year ago, they moved their brand and design agency into an old railcar depot in the south of Munich and have since been experiencing what it means to create their own “playground of possibilities”—not only mentally but also physically.

They had actually intended to downsize, but when they discovered the Isarwinkel while searching for an office, it became clear that something significant could happen here. Just in time for mcbw 2025, the BECC creatives inaugurated the new premises and now recognize that nothing better could have happened to them. The 700-square-meter old railcar hall, idyllically situated in the countryside not far from the Isar River, proved to be a genuine playground with manifold possibilities. They hadn't been seeking this, but Metin Seyrek says, “This place showed us that we can do much more with the agency than we have done so far.”

Not only do the agency's 40 or so employees now work in the Isarwinkel, but the rooms are also used for a wide variety of events and can be rented freely. BECC has been designing events for clients such as Vodafone, BMW, and Personio for many years, and now the agency can utilize its own premises as an event venue while also opening the space to others. This has added another dimension to BECC's offering, as the brand agency is now also an event location. Yet what Sabine Kraus and Metin Seyrek find most compelling is what this space does for them, their team, and everyone who comes to Isarwinkel.

How a space changes people

“Even with the old agency, we wanted to be an open house,” says Metin Seyrek, “but in a classic office building, that's naturally different than in this garden loft.” Above all, the long table and open kitchen invite people to talk, cook, be creative or not, discuss, argue, and laugh together. Thanks to the new premises, the agency is now much more than just a workplace.

And how can you see that in concrete terms? “In the cheerfulness you notice in everyone who comes in,” says the designer. “We feel this cheerfulness in ourselves and our customers. But walkers often come in spontaneously, and even the mail carrier likes to stay longer. The space conveys a cozy feeling and everyone feels welcome here without anyone saying ‘welcome.’” This feel-good effect has also greatly changed the relationship with customers; people now meet much more on an equal footing, and a stronger sense of togetherness has developed.

An environment that does you good

Sabine Kraus also confirms that everyone's behavior has changed dramatically. “People love coming here,” she says, “and they like to stay. We eat together with our customers; some come in the morning for an appointment and then just sit down somewhere to continue working with us until the evening.” It's almost like a patchwork family, laughs Sabine Kraus. But it's not just the interaction with customers that has taken on a different quality; there is now also a much more direct and friendly exchange with other agencies working on the same project. “It's good,” confirms Seyrek, “when we agencies also join hands.”

For BECC Agency, the Isarwinkel has also had a significant impact on its own team. “The environment is more creative,” says Sabine Kraus, “and fosters a much more open atmosphere. People don't just sit in their home offices; they genuinely enjoy coming here, and so the teams have grown closer together again.”

How cooperation promotes creativity

“This place is truly a playground of possibilities,” says Kraus, “and the work has become a collective endeavour.” One very important team player is the coffee machine.

Seyrek laughs that he fought for it for ten years, but now it makes a big difference because it has become natural for everyone who comes in to slip into the role of host. The open kitchen, the long table, the various rooms, the grandstand, and the sofas encourage mobility on the one hand and invite people to sit down together on the other. This is very good for creativity, as BECC has noticed. Instead of sitting at a fixed workstation, everyone moves around more and exchanges ideas. This benefits the younger employees in particular, who now also pick up on things that are happening in other groups and learn on the side. “The brainstorming and exchange of ideas that takes place between disciplines, but also between customers and employees, has become completely different,” summarises Sabine Kraus.

The courage to try new things

After Corona, entire business areas had temporarily collapsed, people had been working from home, and the new premises were intended to help the team grow closer together again. Looking back, BECC views this disruption as positive, as it made them more receptive to new approaches. “You can't say, 'I've always done it this way,'” says Sabine Kraus. “You have to move with the market and explore without fear, learn new things and see what can emerge from it.” Something truly special has indeed emerged in the Isarwinkel. Those who come here enjoy being here and feel inclined to interact with others beyond business.

BECC is particularly looking forward to mcbw. The creative minds want to hold back on grand topics; the focus should be on humanity and togetherness. Kraus and Seyrek appreciate that mcbw provides a framework for bringing so many diverse people to Munich, and with the Isarwinkel, BECC is now expanding its offerings to include a distinctive creative playground.