HIVE e.V. – Hub for Innovation, Vision & Execution 

Transformation as a Principle

Within just nine months, a bold idea and 22 reused shipping containers gave rise to a place that sets new benchmarks in the Filstal region: HIVE e.V. – Hub for Innovation, Vision & Execution. Where an old industrial hall once stood, companies, research, start-ups and creatives now find a space that deliberately avoids rigid structures and instead embraces adaptability.

Originally raw and provisional, the containers were developed into flexible spatial modules that can be recombined again and again. The result is a vibrant campus that demonstrates what transformation can mean: rethinking existing resources and translating them, with courage, into a future full of possibilities.

HIVE is therefore more than just a building – it is a statement. A place that began deliberately imperfect and, precisely because of this, shows that innovation does not emerge from endless planning phases, but from initiative, responsibility and the willingness to experiment.

Challenge: Making Adaptability Visible

From the very beginning, HIVE was not conceived as a conventional construction project, but as a bold commitment to speed, courage and change. Using reused containers and an existing structure, a place was to be created within a very short timeframe that would inspire – and at the same time be able to continually reinvent itself.

The central challenge was to make flexibility not only functional, but spatially tangible. Spaces that serve as a workshop today and become a stage tomorrow. Structures that can grow or retract. Architecture that is not fixed, but allows for development.

This attitude also placed clear demands on the lighting. What was required was a lighting solution that integrates seamlessly into the raw, reduced setting while remaining responsive as use, space and atmosphere evolve.

Planning Insight from the Project

HIVE exemplifies how lighting design can respond to adaptable architecture. Rather than assigning spaces to a fixed use, the lighting was conceived as a variable system – enabling future adjustments without the need for fundamental redesign.

For architects and planners, this makes one thing clear: lighting is not a final layer of equipment, but an integral part of an open-use concept. Those who aim to enable flexibility must also consider it in the lighting design.

Light as an Active Part of the Transformation

To support the openness of HIVE’s architecture, the lighting concept was consistently designed around adaptability and flexibility. Several systems from our manufactory were implemented:

PALADIO series
As magnetically suspended linear luminaires, PALADIO fixtures can be repositioned at any time. They respond directly to changing spatial layouts and uses – without technical compromises or visual disruption.

SOFT DELTA
As a gently swinging light installation, SOFT DELTA introduces a deliberate atmospheric accent. The movement of the luminaire playfully reinforces the openness and creative spirit of the space, giving the interiors a distinct identity.

Both luminaire families are united by a clear formal language and the ambition to think of light as a dynamic element rather than a static one. At HIVE, lighting becomes an integral part of the design – adaptable, inspiring and ready for what lies ahead.

An Atmosphere That Allows for Change

Today, HIVE is far more than a building. It stands as a symbol of what can emerge when courage, speed and collaboration come together. In less than a year, a former container structure was transformed into an innovation hub that connects start-ups, research, businesses and the wider urban community.

The distinctive atmosphere results from the interplay of architecture, materiality and light: open, adaptable and inspiring. Here, light does more than support the use of space – it reinforces the idea that the future is not planned down to the last detail, but actively shaped.

For us as a manufactory based in Göppingen, HIVE is a true project of the heart. Precisely crafted luminaires from our region contribute to creating a place that makes innovation visible and positions the Filstal far beyond its borders as a creative hub.

Opening

In September 2025, HIVE was officially opened with a large celebration, bringing together founding members, partners, supporters and guests from business, politics and society. The sense of momentum and energy surrounding the project was clearly palpable.

For us, it was a special moment that Ulrich and Tim Sattler were also present to experience the opening. As a family-owned manufactory based in Göppingen, we are proud to be part of this project and to contribute through our work to the visible transformation of the region.

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