50 Years of GLS Bank – A Celebration of Sustainability
In June 2024, GLS Bank—Germany's first social-ecological bank—celebrated its 50th anniversary. The climax of the celebrations took place at the beginning of June under the motto "50 Years of the Future" in the historic Jahrhunderthalle in Bochum –and Vivamo was able to contribute to the planning and design of the event.
The highlight of the event was a sustainability fair with around 150 exhibitors and 14,000 visitors. The goal was to highlight the principles of sustainability and develop visions for the future together with partners, customers, and the public.
Numerous other activities took place around the fair; notable among these were the official anniversary celebration with prominent speakers such as Luisa Neubauer and the cooperative bank's annual general meeting.
There were also numerous workshops, panels, and lectures on the broad topic of sustainable business, as well as concerts by artists such as 2raumwohnung and an organic street food market in the forecourt of the Jahrhunderthalle.
GLS Bank: Pioneer of Sustainability
GLS Bank (Gemeinschaftsbank für Leihen und Schenken) was founded in 1974 as a cooperative, originally to finance the construction of a Waldorf school in Bochum-Langendreer – a project that no other bank wanted to support. The bank is based on anthroposophical principles and has since developed into Germany's first social-ecological bank. Sustainability is at the heart of GLS Bank: It exclusively finances projects, companies, and economic systems that themselves pursue a sustainable approach. Topics such as renewable energy, education, housing, sustainable agriculture, and culture are central to this. Its transparency extends so far that customers can see exactly where their money is going – and yes, there's even a wooden bank card!
Vivamo and GLS
As a Bochum-based company that is also committed to GLS's sustainability goals, Vivamo has always followed the development of the local bank with great sympathy. It was an honor for us when we were first invited to work with GLS in 2017 to implement branch projects. When GLS2023 developed a new corporate design, our collaboration intensified. Since then, Vivamo has been responsible for implementing the fresh design into the physical appearance of the bank's various locations. When the idea of a sustainability fair was conceived for the celebrations of GLS's 50th anniversary, the question quickly arose as to what a stand concept would look like that would meet both GLS's communication and sustainability standards. We were happy to take on this challenge, also out of interest in the content.
Sustainability meets trade fair construction
When planning the exhibition hall, we faced several challenges. Even without the sustainability requirements, planning a trade fair that had never existed before and was initially only intended as a one-off event is very demanding. Added to this was a diverse exhibitor base with very different requirements regarding booth sizes and equipment – which could only be acquired in parallel with the construction planning – and, last but not least, a venue with a great deal of charm, but also with many specific requirements and requirements.
A hall concept with attitude
To meet the communication and design requirements of GLS Bank, Vivamo developed a modular booth and hall concept that emphasized openness, orientation, and individuality. The hall was divided into thematic islands, connected by a clear wayfinding system. At its heart was a central GLS booth, from which the exhibition branched out in all directions. The approximately 150 booths were based on a uniform basic module, color-coded to represent the respective thematic areas – from nutrition and education to social justice. Despite this unifying framework, the actual design was left to each exhibitor – and this freedom was impressively utilized: from pallet furniture and wooden scaffolding to banners, stickers and floor coverings, as well as illuminated light boxes. The question always remained: How can a sustainable trade fair concept be achieved? Vivamo relied on reusable systems such as the modular BeMatrix frame, cardboard wall coverings, and banners made of recycled fabric. Carpets were deliberately omitted, and power connections and storage areas were efficiently integrated. The result was a trade fair that set new standards not only in terms of content, but also in terms of design and ecology.
Sustainability that works – and connects
GLS Bank's 50th anniversary celebration wasn't a typical anniversary event – it was a showcase of sustainability in action and successful collaboration. With a sophisticated trade fair concept, a diverse range of committed exhibitors, and a clear commitment to design, it demonstrated what credible communication in a spatial setting can look like. For Vivamo, it was a project that went far beyond mere implementation. It was a contribution to an idea we share – and an opportunity to put our expertise to work for a cause with a future. The short setup time and the many details that needed to be nailed down made the project challenging – and precisely for that reason, special.
Our thanks go to all partners, helpers, and participants who made this trade fair possible!
