What distinguishes a dream factory from an ordinary production facility? And how should a building be designed to create real innovation?

On the occasion of the book release "Traumfabriken" (Dream factories), Gunter Henn talks with Steffi Burmeister in the VDMA Industry Podcast about "Traumfabriken – Architecture for Innovation." Using the example of the Innovation Factory for Wittenstein, he explains the crucial role that architecture plays in fostering innovation within factories. He sees the role of architecture as designing factories in such a way that people from different disciplines can interact with one another – enabling the exchange of diverse perspectives and ways of thinking.

"Innovation is not just another function that I can assign somewhere. Innovation is a social process. Everyone has their own space, but these spaces are not accessed via a rigid corridor or a central hallway in an office building; instead, they open up to one another in various ways. And that was the breakthrough for this Innovation Factory, which not only opens outwards, with large façades, but also inwards."

Other podcast guests include Dr. Manfred Wittenstein (Honorary Chairman of the Supervisory Board, WITTENSTEIN SE) and Hartmut Rauen (Deputy Executive Director of the VDMA and co-editor of the book "Traumfabriken").

The recently published book "Traumfabriken" features cross-industry portraits of 25 "Traumfabriken" from the DACH region and explores the subject of production architecture. It was edited by Olaf Salié and Hartmut Rauen and published by Prestel Verlag. The book is now available in bookstores.

Listen to the podcast here (in German).

More information about the Wittenstein Innovation Factory.