Valentyns sets a striking new standard for workplace design, launching a progressive model in Cologne, Germany, that puts small and mid-sized businesses on par with global firms. Housed in a modernist 1960s building with views over the Rhine, the 2,100 square metre space combines private offices, a wellness floor, and bookable meeting rooms, alongside a street-level restaurant and terrace open to the city. Membership is capped at 150 to foster meaningful collaboration, referencing Dunbar’s Number to ensure quality over scale.
Spearheaded by entrepreneur Ferdinand Stahl and architect Thomas van den Valentyn, the project draws inspiration from research by firms like Google and Microsoft, prioritising design-led environments proven to boost performance. From administrative ease to wellness support, Valentyns handles the details so members can focus on building their businesses.
The architecture signals intent from the outset: a polished Gneiss plinth acts as the reception desk, while the names of resident offices are displayed behind it; a visual commitment to permanence and pride. Interiors are curated by designer Johannes van Linn, and are defined by clean lines, cool pastels, and iconic furnishings, including USM Haller desks, Fritz Hansen chairs, and Le Corbusier LC2s arranged in social clusters. Subtle transitions in light, acoustic panels, and art prints from Gerhard Richter and Andy Warhol reinforce the office’s ambition to energise and inspire.
The wellness offering includes a Finnish sauna, infrared sauna, gym, custom ice bath, treatment room and Byredo-stocked bathrooms. HydraFacials and IV drips are bookable through a full-service concierge, who also manages catering and logistics. Since opening, members have reported a 30% drop in sick days, a measurable impact that reflects the workspace’s focus on longevity and wellbeing.
Valentyns reframes the office as a high-performance tool, an extension of business ambition rather than a utilitarian backdrop. For Stahl and van den Valentyn, it’s a shared vision made tangible: one that redefines what work can look like when quality, care and community are the foundation.
As Ferdinand Stahl puts it: “our vision was never just to build a workplace, but to create a modern tool that gives ambitious companies a competitive edge. Better tools lead to better outcomes, and the office should be no exception. Collaborating with my uncle Thomas added a personal dimension to the project and naming it after him felt like the right way to honour our shared belief: from the simplest, the best.”
Valentyns Cologne Photography, Felix Speller.
