New location "Matte Lab": Republica celebrates opening party

Since the beginning of April, the Bernese creative agency Republica has been at home at Wasserwerkgasse 31, where it co-initiated the innovation space "Matte Lab" with numerous participating co-workers. On Friday, a lavish opening party was celebrated together with around 250 guests.

Editorial - August 17, 2019

In the 20th year of its existence, the Republica agency is setting out for new shores: On April 1, the agency left its longtime home due to a change of ownership and is tackling a groundbreaking new project at Wasserwerkgasse 31. Although the old and new addresses are only a few meters apart, the setup at the new location in Bern's Matte district - apart from the spectacular view of the Aare - is completely different.

The Republica team at the new location (photos: zVg).

Creative innovation and collaboration

Republica CEO Bala Trachsel has founded the innovation space "Matte Lab" together with Karl Zimmermann, CEO of the KMU Nachfolgezentrum, where co-creation and idea-driven work take center stage. "Berner Matte is part of our agency DNA," explains Bala Trachsel. "That's why it was clear to us from the beginning that we didn't want to move far from the old location. It was a trend-setting coincidence that the premises of Karl Zimmermann AG became available right next door." Karl Zimmermann, who managed the metal construction company for 25 years in the third generation and today advises SMEs on succession planning, adds: "Over several months, full of drive, we made plans together and converted the former production and assembly halls into a home for innovators that allows doers with an entrepreneurial spirit to seize opportunities."

Bala-Trachsel-und-Karl-Zimmermann_-Schooepfer-des-MatteLab

Bala Trachsel and Karl Zimmermann, the creators of the Matte Lab.

In addition to Republica and the SME Succession Center, the "Matte Lab" houses the event agency Eventicum (Beatrice Trachsel), Krippendorf Systems (Sabine Krippendorf, systemic organizational development and marketing), Snabbt (Dave Studer, digital transformation), Vonmerz (Fabian Merz, advertising strategy and communications consulting), Buergy (Fabian Bürgy, creative direction) and Luna de Miel (Cornelia Werren, wedding planning). In addition, an innovation project of Bernmobil is rented with the self-driving vehicle.

New ideas and strategies with local roots

Many things are different, but one central point will not change for Republica in the future: its strong local roots. "We have a close connection to Bern as a location and maintain long-standing relationships with a loyal clientele consisting of SMEs and large companies," Bala Trachsel continues. "As an agile agency, we are characterized by the fact that we are constantly reinventing ourselves and creating something new with courage and a willingness to experiment. In doing so, we rely on sound strategies, close collaboration and creative innovation. In the 'Matte Lab', we and our co-workers can mutually benefit from each other and thus appear even more powerful in the market. When others leave Bern, we really get going," says Bala Trachsel.

Bala-und-Beatrice-Trachsel-(Geschäftsführerin-Eventicum)

Bala Trachsel with Beatrice Trachsel (right), managing director of Eventicum.

Networking at summer opening party

The fact that the "Matte Lab" concept is meeting with approval became clear at the opening party: Around 250 customers and partners took advantage of the opening, which was staged as a summer pool party, to network with new colleagues or to cultivate proven partnerships, and celebrated until the early hours of the morning.