The only sound is children laughing in the yard – although there’s a factory next door. Living and working in the city of the future could resemble the situation at Wittenstein AG’s Fellbach site. Thanks to soundproofing, the drive system manufacturer’s new plant is so quiet that it is perfectly compatible with the surrounding residential area. As a result, employees can live so close to their workplace that they don’t have to drive. That means a higher quality of life for the staff and fewer emissions, benefitting the environment and the climate. The company also profits from the company’s “urban production” – due to its proximity to urban-based research organisations and cooperation partners, for example.