An active building

'Of course we want the Villages to mix and mingle, and so we also focus on cross-Village "tourism" and have put certain infrastructure only on certain floors. This creates a balance where you feel like you have a home base but you are also part of a larger ecosystem,' explains Nicolas Martin, head of On's Retail Expansion and Office Spaces team. Part of the company’s initial start-up mode is also that everyone can see what everyone else is doing and everyone understands the big picture. To this end, a ‘trail’ was developed, leading from the ground floor to the top floor. To keep employees physically and mentally active, On has broken up the floor structure of the building.

The long trail serves not only as a connection between the individual villages, but also as a vertical extension of the office. It begins in the flagship store as a prominent staircase and zigzags upwards, leading to spiral staircases that connect the office floors at various points. Many highly visible co-working spaces have been positioned along the path, as well as interesting and inspirational elements called 'gems'. Here and there, employees and visitors encounter works of art, such as a hanging tree, a rock garden or a light tube that replicates the curve of a running track, as well as a small On Museum exhibiting various prototypes and test models of different shoes. It is these types of surprises that enrich and enhance the path, as if on a hike. Specific spaces tell a story and reveal the inner workings and functioning of On. Staff can take the trail to access specific villages while they are on the phone, or simply as a way to clear the mind and activate the body. The individual zones and spaces throughout the building are open and flowing, mirroring the flat hierarchies at On.