Atrium with Vertical Slats

The headquarters is located at Godsbanen, a district under development in Aarhus. Lidl occupies five of the building’s eight floors, while the upper floors are currently being leased. On the ground floor, facing the School of Architecture, there is a Lidl grocery store, and the main entrance to the office levels is situated near the Godsbanekollegiet student residence. The building also includes a parking facility for customers, employees, and local residents.

From the reception area, visitors ascend one floor to an impressive five-story atrium. Geometrically, the atrium is asymmetrical, yet it maintains a calm and Scandinavian expression through its material choices.

The atrium is intersected by walkways crossing the space. A centrally placed staircase connects the various levels within the atrium. Both the staircase and walkways are constructed with white steel stringers, referencing the building’s façade grid of steel profiles. In contrast to the white ceilings and steel railings, all wall surfaces in the atrium are clad with oak slats backed by black acoustic fabric, ensuring a pleasant sound environment throughout the space. The continuity of the wooden slats across the atrium’s levels provides a refined counterpoint to the horizontal lines of the architecture.

Warmth Through Wood
The slatted walls are composed of oak veneer slats assembled into panels, ensuring a high degree of precision and a homogeneous, calm appearance. Special panels have been used around electrical outlets to simplify installation. Doors to technical rooms are elegantly concealed within the slatted walls, with only the digital lock visible.

Beyond the atrium, the same oak slats are used in the interior design of the workspace areas. In addition to their acoustic properties, they add warmth and variation to wall surfaces around niches, locker rooms, and bulletin boards. Lidl’s cafeteria is located on the atrium’s lowest level, facing the city. Here, wooden slats are also used to create a welcoming atmosphere. The flooring is wood as well, transitioning smoothly into the atrium’s brushed natural stone floor.