The Design Gesture

Tag: Office interior design

Re-Imagining The Office Spaces with an Innovative Perspective
Introduction
The etymology of the word office is derived from Opus- work and Facere- do, which is officium, a performance of a task. Hence office is used in Middle English.
Throughout history, office spaces existed in some manner, whether it may be in the form of physical form or Human form. The primary role of the office was to conduct some administration work. It is said that Rome is known as the primary place where the offices first emerged. But it was in the 18th century when the actual formation of architectural office building typology was developed. It was organizations such as the Royal Navy and East India Company were established to further Britain’s interest overseas and a central base of operation was needed, thus the establishment of the offices was done.
In the past period, the term office and its nature were seen strictly as a formal, strict, mass production work type. Where the employer was treated as a laborer to some extent. But different periods such as industrialization, and the development of new materials and construction systems gave us some landmarks and iconic office buildings that were made from concrete, steel, and glass.
Eventually with the realization to care for the employers and the well-being of the employees is as important, many office plans were designed and executed from strict rigid plans to open floor plans to flexible plans and ultimately questioning the nature of office topology because of COVID-19 and sudden rise in the climate change made architects and designers think about the application of sustainability, technology and wellbeing in the office typology.
Evolution Of Office Design
1900: Taylorist Office
The office plan included fitting up more desks so that more workers could be accommodated and management of the office is done. Frank Llyod Wright is credited for this office development. In this building, the air conditioning system was placed. The Larkin Administrative building in this office was much like the factory production system which had the assembly-like nature which produced the products related Industrial revolution.
Photo by Insideinside from Larkin Administration Building
1910-1930: The Pre-War Social Democratic Office
After the office building like the taylorist the emergence of the concrete offices started. Architect Mies Van Der Rohe started designing these concrete offices and also developed the window design where the natural light could penetrate in. One of the notable examples could be Friedrichstrasse, where the idea was to separate the exterior skeleton from the internal planning, where the concept was of skin and bones. This was a visionary project where it boldly used glass and steel as a new architectural language.
The 1930s: Streamlined Office
This period was when more space-efficient designs were thought of. It was based on efficiency and speed rather than organization and manufacture. These streamlined offices were of European-style structure and were modern and rich, warm spaces for workers.
One example could be Frank Lloyd Wright’s Johnson Wax Building, which finished in 1939. The most notable element was a mushroom column which acted as the stormwater drains. These concrete pads which act as mushroom column are joined together by Pyrex glass tubing, which allows ample natural indirect light giving a creative environment.
The 1950s: Open-Plan Offices
In this period, the usage of glass, steel, and further advancements in construction was adapted, along with the usage of air -conditioning and fluorescent lighting was used. This typology led to a decrease in the natural light and more corporate culture started developing.
The 1950s: Burolandshaft
The word transfers into the meaning “ Office Landscape”. This was the period where the strict, rigid structure was eradicated and introduced to the office landscape, which consisted of free and open plans of furniture scattered in large, loosely,unstrucally divided spaces. And with this more flexible in nature, offices started to develop. This followed the structuralist office and the cubicle farm in 1980. Then came the virtual office topology. A notable example of this typology is the British Telecom Office in Stockley Park.
The 2000s: The Casual Office
The concept of casual office was first seen in the implementation in the creative industries to make the production more creative and innovative. Offices like Apple, Microsoft, Tesla, Google, and Yahoo with more were seen applying casual office styles in which the spaces were more personalized and designed for individual departments, giving the employer freedom for more creative and critical thinking. While this type of planning was encouraged in 2010, activity-based working came into play, whereas the earlier typology was criticized for stating that an open plan created more distractions.
And with these, the pandemic hit globally where the definition of the office got shattered, and we were forced to rethink the office environmet.In this, social distancing and work from home methodology, many studies had shown that employers were able to generate more efficient work.
With these, Workplace 3.0 was introduced, where the focus was on wellbeing, sustainability, and technology.
Examples Illustrating New Office Typology
Pasona Group, Tokyo Headquarters
Photo from Pasona Building, Tokyo Japan Nigel Dickinson
The human resource company office has used its office space to grow over 200 different species of fruits, vegetables, and rice which are then fed to the employee. The office space includes around 1000 square foot rice paddy, an okra field, a tomato guest room, vegetable factory filled with hundreds of hydroponic lettuces. Fruit trees have been used to partition meeting rooms and bean sprouts prop up. The concept is of creating mixed work and farm space as companies. The designer as that “it is built around the philosophy of communicating concepts through function and materiality”.
Trelleborg, Bengaluru
This workplace is the concept of reflection of New Age Office Interiors. The concept was of careful workspace layout and strategic use of design philosophy. The layout is also placed in such a way that private spaces, such as meeting rooms and public spaces, are juxtaposed with workstations and collaborative.
Designing Of Office Building Through Concept Of Sustainability And Feng Shui
Sustainability
Generally, sustainable design has many facets such as waste management, recycling, less energy consumption, indoor environmental quality, transportation, and many more but five fundamental concepts sum up the whole larger concept of sustainability. They are –
Constructivism- An approach that uses cognitive psychology and social psychology that create space to increase interaction, knowledge, and skills with their surroundings.
Circular Design- It is now a widely known and discussed topic in almost every field. It approaches the idea of “cradle to Cradle” which in the new design paradigm is to reduce, recycle, and reuse.
Energy Efficiency- This could be achieved through the site planning and managing of the materials, as well as the amount of artificial light or any other energy which is used, which should be reduced.
Natural and Built environment- The right amount of balance between the natural and built environment brings positivity and boosts creativity and there is a huge impact on the result and working environment of the employee working there.
Global thinking and buying locally As the name suggests global thinking and buying locally helps and promotes not only medium-scale manufacturers but also small-scale manufacturers and if the majority of people started implementing in this manner, the economy of the country would be uplifted.
Feng Shui Concept
It is a Chinese concept that dates back approximately three decades ago. The concept refers to the harmonious and balanced relationship between humans and nature. In this concept, there are five concepts as below-
Unity between Heaven and Human- Harmony between the universe, earth, and human energy, where the energy is identified in both tangible and non-tangible forms.
Five Elements Cycles- The five elements are fire, water, metal, wood, and earth, which have productive and destructive cycles.
Photo from Sustainable Design and Feng Shui: A Case study of an office building in Sydney
Yin and Yang Harmony- In this concept, it is believed that everything has positive and negative in it. Yin is the passive side which represents the darkness and cold, and Yang is the active side which is the balance and harmony within spaces.
Form School Model- This mainly teaches one about the environment in which they are surrounded and how carefully we can use those surroundings which less damage.
The balance between Interior and Exterior Spaces- Here it is mainly seen as the relationship between the outer form and inner form. The outer form is identified as the site location, topography, and shape of the site. An inner form is identified as building elevation, building elements, and landscape. Hence, it is necessary to create and maintain the balance between both of these aspects.
Photo from Sustainable Design and Feng Shui: A Case study of an office building in Sydney
Relation between sustainable design and Feng Shui concept
Both these concepts have similarities and differences in them. For instance, the concepts of constructivism are related to and similar to harmony and balance between the universe, earth, and human in the Feng Shui concept.
Below is the diagram illustrating the same.
Photo from Sustainable Design and Feng Shui: A Case study of an office building in Sydney
Apple Park as a case-
The apple park is the most suitable example which follows the concept of sustainable design and Feng Shui concept.
Located in Cupertino, California, it is spread around 175 acres with a 2.8 million square foot main building and 100% renewable energy. With largest naturally ventilated building ever. With facilities such as 17 MW on-site solar power, 9,000 drought resistance trees, and a 100,000 square foot fitness center. This new campus is carefully crafted with the details such as energy use, landscape, environment, and health for the employers to boost creativity.
Photo from The Verge – Apple Park
Conclusion
The world is more aware than ever and has started taking the necessary steps to improve, reduce and prevent further damage. Office buildings are vital places to create, innovate, bond, improve, and evolve, and hence we as a designer must keep both the environmental and mental health of clients while designing such spaces.
October 29, 2024
Interior Design in Office: 10 Design Ideas Every Interior Design Lover Should Know
People always need different environments to deal with the pressures of work and life. The interior design in office is completely different than in homes. The interior is tricky, but relatively basic. Office furniture should be selected with the utmost planning possible. Many valuable ideas are here. It should be worthwhile for employees to work without effort. The interior design in office must be attractive and interesting so that colleagues can work with enthusiasm.
Interior design in office does more than just place some furniture and electronics. That is where you work. Your brain should be working brightly. Therefore, it is very important that the office interior design expresses the individuality and taste of the work. This keeps you productive.
Design Tips for Interior Design in Office
Cabin House in Office Interior Design
Well-worked interior design in office cabins can be incredibly effective. Employees like to be there, which contributes to improving the quality and quantity of work. Functionality comes first, followed by health and safety. To achieve this goal, today’s designers use sophisticated floor plans and furniture plans.
Outdoor Office / Anders Berensson Architects
Photo from Anders Bereson Architects
Anders Berensson Architects designed a building in the Royal National City Park, Norra Djurgården in Stockholm. This building has a creative small office interior design and an outdoor meeting space. The house is a half-timbered building with wooden beams filled with wall panels, and the building extends an existing office building occupied by the Swedish outdoor and shoe company Lundhags.
For buildings in the Royal National Park, they tried to minimize the excavation of the upper part and keep the lower part open in order to create a weatherable outdoor space. The upper part of the house follows the shape of the existing building and slopes slightly towards the existing landscape. At the bottom is a concrete amphitheatre above the existing site. The lower part of the slope faces the road from the north, facing the forest, and the lower part of the slope faces the stage of the outdoor event.
Conference Halls Interior Design in Office
Everyone knows meaningless meetings are the worst part of work. But for upcoming meetings, putting the meeting in a well-designed and well-equipped meeting room can make a difference to the world.
In the modern world, there are increasingly centralized circular floor plans, and the conference room stands as one of the last remaining spaces for a private and effective gathering. Therefore, it is important that the design, layout, and functionality are appropriate. Ultimately, it may suggest the difference between a space that is simply another region and the realm of creativity and collaboration.
When designing a group meeting room, it is important to consider not only the staff and customers but also how the space is used, as well as its motives. Workplaces and groups are different. What you want for a meeting depends on who you are assembling with, what you are roughly assembling, and what you want for the meeting.
Other themes for maintaining the peak of thought range from environment and sound to audio-visual generation and even hue. Finally, if some of these factors are mixed, some of them can be important to the staff, and perhaps it’s really worth it.
To ensure a flexible environment, German fashion designer Stefan Diez has created a state-of-the-art work device called the “D2” that services the open white space of the design lab. Based on the product package with aluminium profile, connectors and honeycomb panels, the elements can be plugged together and assembled without screws.
The matte black D2 panel not only forms a huge shelf to showcase the fashion of Wagner living chairs, including the D1 family, but is also used and split on a 9-meter-long table comprising embedded channels for cable management. Used as a partition for the area from relaxation to the living room location.
Office Phone Booths – Framery O Video Conferencing
Framery O is perfect for busy office calls and videoconferences. At the anechoic booth, you can discuss privacy without disturbing your colleagues, and the use of high-quality materials from sustainable sources ensures acoustic properties. Framery O provides a comfortable working environment, is quick to install and ready to use on the day of delivery.
Framery O Video Conference Ready features a rotating screen mount that allows you to mount different screens on the wall of your device. The display or all-in-one can be mounted on a screen mount. LED lighting around the screen provides optimal lighting for video conferences. Lighting and airflow can be adjusted from the control panel.
Meeting rooms in Office Interior Design
Small informal meetings to quickly solving formal client appointment problems, video calls with remote colleagues, or space design and furniture choices set the tone and help productive meeting planning.
A meeting room is a place for information exchange, whether presented by a group of speakers or colleagues discussing a particular topic. Depending on the company profile, it can be more casual or traditional. One way to express this difference is by the shape of the table or the type of chair. Lower and more comfortable chairs give the environment and perhaps conversation a more relaxed tone. A rectangular table with chairs on the edges shows the hierarchies that can be important in certain situations. Roundtables improve the visibility of everyone in attendance. This may be desirable for joint decisions and discussions.
Meeting Pod – Framery 2Q – Huddle
Framery 2Q is a module designed for 46 people to collaborate, brainstorm, and conference. The frame’s soundproofing system ensures that the meeting does not interfere with the operation of the office and that the noise of the office does not interfere with the meeting. Low doorstopper for wheelchair users. You can fully customize the appearance of the Framery 2Q module and test it with the Framery Configurator.
The 2Q Huddle option is ideal for meetings with people who attend directly and remotely. The table is designed for four people, has connections for laptops, and the spacious cabin has space for two additional chairs. By mounting the screen mount and whiteboard on the opposite wall, everyone, physically or virtually present, can collaborate and access the same information.
Coworking Spaces in Office Interior Design
Coworking is a phenomenon where people from different companies share a workplace and can save money by using rare space infrastructure such as equipment, utilities, receptions, security services and, sometimes, light meals and delivery services, and realize convenience.
Haihui Co-working Space / 11architecture
This is an indoor layout mission in a small co-running area comprising 7 work rooms, 12 fixed desks, a separate running area with 8 seats and some common areas, a drink bar and a lounge. The terrain is a 300m2 square in a normal workplace tower, but a special feature is a pillar in the center of the floor.
The purpose of the layout was developed to treat the first three devices as extensions of the ground and create spatial settings through terrain features. The location was well above the actual ground, but it seemed to be stable and fixed in place. And the spatial setting creates a pronounced growl during people’s actions, including sitting and leaning.
Pantry/ Cafeteria in Office Interior Design
Most of us are planning a pantry as a last resort and think little about it. But it’s only after living together that we really understand how much we should think about. The food we bring to the office defines and reflects what we like and who we really are. It’s a unique delicacy where employees eat lunch and each employee package and bring it to the Tiffin Box, a place that brings to life the unique cultural background of each individual.
Get creative with the door
The door looks like a very small and insignificant component. This is something to ignore when designing a pantry. However, it can make a big difference in the overall feel of the place. Please note that the doors sway frequently and occupy a lot of space. Choosing a trendy barn-style sliding door can save space and create a hip atmosphere.
Part of the kitchen cabinetry
In some offices, the walk-in pantry may not have the required space. In this situation, you can add a closet pantry. The pantry certainly takes up less space and provides more centralized storage space. It’s also relatively very cheap because you only have to build another shelf in the multipurpose pantry. If you want to keep the stylish look of the place, you can also choose some fun colors to add a splash of life to the otherwise boring pantry.
Common Areas
Leading companies are investing more in interior design of office spaces that are common to employees. These spaces act as an energy center for your organization. Shared areas help keep employees engaged by providing them with a place to connect with their teammates and work in a more comfortable and informal environment. In addition, common rooms can shape the entire corporate culture of a company.
Embassy TechVillage, Bengaluru, India
Modern industrial ceilings and living artwork show that you are in a creative working environment. Bench-style seats encourage dining together, and sofas provide the perfect place for casual meetings.
Yeouido Station, Seoul, South Korea
The main lounge has a cozy, curved sofa for socializing. A small and colourful booth for collaboration. A long table where employees can work while eating light meals. The decoration is attractive with natural light and hanging greenery.
Today’s generation no longer sees it functioning the same as previous generations. New business models and employment opportunities have changed the space in which people develop their professional activities. Working remotely from home, coworking space, or anywhere in the world is already a fairly common reality. However, many companies have not yet used or created a space where employees can collaborate in the same environment.
In addition to the common culture that businesses seek to create, office design can facilitate communication and interaction while considering the needs and details of each type of work and providing a place of concentration is important. As generations and cultures change, it’s natural for office spaces to move away from traditionally laid out cubicles, desks, and meeting rooms.
October 29, 2024
Interior Design Project by D’arc Studio: The Workstudio
Design Firm
D’arc studio
Completion Year
June 2022
Gross Built Area
1040 sq ft
Project Location
Surat, Gujarat
Building Function
Interior Design
Lead Architects
Ar. Aakruti Johari
Photography Credits
Prachi Khasgiwala
An office catering for two businesses, sublimed on a singular floor plate — is crafted by Ar. Aakruti Johari, Principal Architect at D’arc Studio. This 1040 sq ft office space is located on the prime stretch of Surat, Gujarat. The space serves as a seamless merger of formal and informal office layouts, bordered by the vistas of the city skyline. The office design is an ode to functionality, meticulous craftsmanship, and attention to detail. The apex of the articulated project finely displays how a mono-toned colour palette can be pacified with minimal accents within the design incorporation.
An industrial and corporate material palate translates the designation into the design. Based on the Science of Vaastu, the design justifies the planning and execution. This river-facing office space comprises a main cabin with an ad joint informal meeting alcove, a conference cabin, and staff seating of thirteen.
The office showcases a subdued color palette, playing primarily with the greys. A visual expanse is generated at the very entrance. This is achieved through a mixture of transparent and translucent fluted glass which fulfills the functionality of segregation and the lucidity running through the interiors of the office.
A niche of the waiting area defines the commencement of the office layout. The space sprawls organically along with the staff seating, an adjacent conference room, and the main cabin linear to the entrance. The entire floor plate is homogeneously blanketed with wood tile flooring.
Natural light
Clean lines and an abundance of natural light define this working space that’s marginal and welcoming. Undoubtedly, glass windows on its rear side offer unobstructed views of the rivers. Modular set up of the staff arrangement allows easy circulation within the premises. The design incorporation unabashedly celebrates work and leisure together. Tailored with mono-tone velvet fabric and tropical cushions, the designer follows her signature integration of informal recesses in a corporate setting.
The flushed graphite palette is mollified with the hints of green on the exposed services flowing smoothly. The addition of indoor plants complements the service chromes. The conference room for six displays a very thematic modern approach through an alphabetic bulb light fixture. A fine polished and tailored wooden table with a matte grey backdrop completes the design of the room.
Cabin- D’arc Studio
The Scandinavian style, infused with corporate functionality, is the main cabin with a large façade overviewing nature. The marble finished table is manufactured before a painted powder blue wall with soft wooden accents and neutral hues that echo the river and the soil in the backdrop.
Stretched into an informal setup, a vivid fabricated couch and hanging swing paired with a television unit allows one to coherent a relaxed discussion with family and friends over the evenings. A continuous soft padded peripheral bench with patterned fabric until the high table depicts a soft blend of formal and informal spaces.
The commissioned wall artwork by Noman Art in the staff area displays an exquisite time zone of the countries in the business association. The details of the space are reflected by the light design, suspended LED profiles and company imprinted indoor planter boxes. The signature industrial pendant rope lights accentuate the theme of the office.
The subtle mix of commissioned elements with personalised artifacts outlines the definition of the project. The bare minimum implementation of colours and resourceful material selection allows the designer to etch each corner and weave the layout in a chronicle of how to enjoy a workspace.
October 29, 2024
Importance of Good Office Design: Workplace Architecture in a Post-Pandemic World
What comes to mind when we think of offices? Workplace, creative field, professional building, or maybe Monday blues. You think what you were made to feel at your respective 9 to 5 location. Our workplace is where we spend the most time awake and hustling so it must become much more than four walls with a desk and chair and that’s what the world was trying to do, come out with innovative and ergonomically equipped spaces that represent the work done in that space. Office Architecture was evolving rapidly until it wasn’t.
The world stopped one day and so did the innovation of new emerging Office Architecture. The pandemic forced people to work remotely from a familiarly unfamiliar environment as working from home was baffling and uncomfortable for many.
It’s been more than a year since the lockdown was imposed and the current situation is definitely better where people are getting ready to move their work back into offices but what does a workplace look like in a world with a new normal?
Photo by Archdaily
Human Element in Workplace Design
It is important to understand that an office might be owned by a single person but functions only when a group of people come together and make things happen. An office design looks more appealing when it prioritizes the needs of its users ultimately resulting in better performance. Today most leaders ask their architects to make their office layout more interactive despite the hierarchy and also maintain the much-needed privacy of their employees.
Along with major spaces many offices incorporate interactive pods and booths in their office interior design and many recreational spaces for convenience and leisure. Office Architecture has been constantly evolving to make people want to go to the office in the morning instead of dreading Mondays.
Architecture and Design of an Ideal Workplace
A typical office design with closed cubicles and desks where employees have a safe and comfortable environment might not necessarily inspire or motivate them to come in and work five days a week. Architect Charles First in his book “A place to be happy: linking Architecture and Positive Psychology” proposes that an ideal workplace must be designed to address what the company needs and stands for, but also remember to empower its employees and cater to their needs.
When designing an office, the architect must take into consideration that this building shall represent the company believes and its work, must include spaces for leisure of their employees, interactive booths and meeting booths for the employees and clients as well but above all these the spaces provided for each individual must make them feel respected. An office building should be designed to maintain hierarchical spaces but designed to feel inclusive at that.
Importance of Good Architecture and Design in a Workplace
A good office design is not just about looks and aesthetics but it ensures ergonomics and creating an environment for the employees to ensure the highest productivity rate with utmost client satisfaction. The second most important thing about office architecture is aesthetics. With social media ruling the world it has naturally become normal to post pictures about office interior design and office layout in order to attract talent who needs a good-looking and highly functional building. There are many other reasons as to why an office must have a good design, let’s take a look at them below.
Office workers spend a considerable time of their day in the workplace
People spend the majority of their time at their respective offices. Hence the design of these buildings must fulfill their requirements and provide services that the employees themselves can’t think of for their well-being and enhanced performance. A good office design not only motivates people but also makes them feel comfortable to sit and work for a prolonged period.
There are reports that state people working in dingy and noisy spaces lead a more stressful life than those working in innovative and modern-day offices. The staff works extra hard and round-the-clock, and so they deserve a place with meaningful designs. A well-designed office layout is not just about aesthetics instead the design must incorporate elements that enhance the working experience and workplace environment such as natural light, quality acoustics, purified air, and a connection with nature. In conclusion, offices should be both pleasant and healthy to be in.
Workplace Design is the representation of the organisation’s values
The appearance, location, and every piece of furniture speak volumes about an organization’s values, brand, belief system, and business culture. An office design can be contemporary or industrial but should support a hassle-free environment for employees to work. In order to create a lasting impression on their clients as well as staff, Office Architecture is of utmost importance in today’s world.
Purpose driven element in office design
There is a purpose behind every decision an architect makes when planning an office layout. Even a free-standing wall is there for a reason. There are companies with similar services or branding but all have their individual approach leading to no two companies having a similar office interior design.
An office design generally follows the concept of form follows function. A business that handles sensitive and confidential data will most likely be seen with several office partition walls, whereas one that requires teamwork and collaboration will provide employees with more gathering spaces. Office designs are driven by the nature of work a business does. Naturally, business owners focus on their requirements first and aesthetics later.
Promising to fulfil client demands
The primary responsibility of any organization is to meet client expectations and in order to effectively and efficiently perform the given tasks and finish the duties on time, an employee needs an inspiring and healthy work environment with a good office design.
Many organizations today opt for an open plan office design which helps clients feel at ease and see the vision of a particular business and how they work. Open plan office also allows more community and interactive spaces that feel inclusive.
Returning to the office in a post-pandemic world
After a long fight against the deadly pandemic, people are slowly preparing to transition back into offices but we have to step into a new normal this time with a copious amount of rules and precautionary measures. These recent events have introduced many opportunities for designers and architects as organizations need a change in space and new office interior design before resuming office work.
Home is not an Office
The pandemic made a great shift in the functioning of offices as working from home was more of a necessity than a privilege. People had to go through some uncomfortable changes and a whirlwind of experiments as working from home came with more cons than pros.
Even though waking up five minutes before logging into work gave people more time to relax, it also made them juggle between house chores and office presentations. With demands from family members never coming to an end, entertaining clients felt like a nightmare. And let’s not even get into the acoustics at home where we were told to work.
Some had the privilege of home office rooms but most people suffered to get a decent network connection for their zoom meetings. Sooner or later people realized the importance of having a space to work and a different one to relax.
Social Distancing at Workplace
Photo by Yanko Design
The term social distancing has taken over our lives and how! Considering safety as the most important factor for every task is everyone’s priority and no one knows how long we have to do this for. With people returning back to offices, organizations and architects have to keep certain things in mind while redesigning office layouts.
Workplaces will have to become more safety conscious and plan contactless alternatives for every minute thing that might risk the health and safety of their employees. Some changes to bring in the architecture and design of the space are as follows
- Swapping doors for automatic ones so no one has to touch the handle in order to enter a room or get out of one
- Reducing the use of communal spaces like coffee machine rooms by either employing a barista for in house service or arranging for delivery.
- Lifts can be operated by a person dedicated to that task to avoid touching the buttons
- Changing up the common working space by increasing the distance between two desks or simply raising the partitions and making isolating working space
Future of Office Design
With people moving on with their lives in a world that is changing at a rapid speed it is only normal for the architecture around the world to change and keep up with the speed. We can’t go back into the business and pick up where we left off in March 2020, it’s time for a fresh new start and reimagines the future of office architecture.
Emerging trends in Workplace Architecture
When facing the future of work and considering how you want to reimagine your office design post-Covid, consider the following trends in order to increase engagement through a positive workplace experience.
- Sustainable Design
Along with the pandemic, humankind saw the worst of natural disasters in the past year clearly indicating us to shift into a sustainable and climate-friendly lifestyle.
Sustainability in office design is seen through the significant use of natural materials and incorporating green spaces in the office. Including eco-friendly furnishings and implementing renewable energy are some things that can make sustainable workplaces. The trend of sustainability goes beyond the realm of architecture and design.
- Open Plan Office Concept with Flexible Spaces
Agile working spaces or as we know flexible workspaces have been existing for quite some time but have gained relevance in this post-pandemic era. Agile working allows employees to work from a space or zone that has a specific function like quiet zones or brainstorming zones which have proven to increase productivity and efficiency in tasks.
Office Snapshot
In 2021 having an open plan office concept is no more an option but a choice designers are incorporating in office design. This open-plan office provides employees to work from different spaces based on the requirements of the task which gives more control over the work experience and having worked remotely for almost a year now, this concept will help the staff to adjust and work in a comfortable environment.
Secondly, in a post-pandemic world, it is advised to have a lesser staff working together as a safety measure so having task-focused workspaces and modular furniture will accommodate the fluctuating headcount.
One might think having assigned seating will help keep office spaces sanitary and reduce the risk of spreading the virus but when desk space is used by a single employee they tend to not clean it every day and reports suggest that assigned seats have desks proven to be dirtier than toilets. Whereas not assigning desks to individuals and having an open plan office and assigning them to task zones will help maintain cleanliness at the end of every working day.
- Creating a home like atmosphere in the Office
Workplace changed from working at offices to working from home abruptly one night since this was the only feasible solution the world deemed fit to keep businesses running without compromising the health of their employees. Efficiency was seen lacking and communication was difficult but employees definitely felt relaxed and at ease working from home as it was a more comfortable environment.
Businesses are getting back to offices but this time choosing to work from a home-like environment instead of the traditional office layout. This will help employees to accommodate into the workplace while being comfortable at home. 2020 made us take our offices into our homes but 2021 surely is going to be the opposite as we will be experiencing a home-like environment at our workplace.
- Technically Equipped Smart Offices
Source
The biggest trend in 2021 in-office architecture will include hands-free technology to limit surface touching and reducing the chance of spreading the virus. Office design will see the inclusion of efficient voice activation tools, digital check-in solutions, and many more smart changes. Using technology to bring your employees together while they work apart is the main focus.
- Human Centric Design
Organizations have to prioritize human well-being if they want efficiency in work from their employees. This pandemic definitely taught business owners the importance of their staff who work irrespective of time and the work environment in order to make ends meet and now it’s time for employers to provide an office design to their staff where they can work comfortably.
Employees want more from their work environments, and rightly so. 2021 will see wellbeing-focused office design elements such as biophilia, cleaner air ventilation, and greater areas of natural light. 2021 will be the year we introduce the benefits and comforts of home in our workplace.
- Connectivity and Community spaces for leisure
Photo by my décor trends
Providing lounge space for fun, games, and leisure is not a new trend and was seen in offices like Google and Facebook since a long time ago. But in 2021 it is advised to incorporate recreational spaces in office architecture for employees to improve their mental and physical condition staying at offices. It is well known to us that humans were never made to sit in front of laptops for hours yet they adapted and evolved to do so in order to survive but at the cost of their health. In order to change that organizations must include spaces for the betterment of their staff.
Providing leisure zones in office design will not only improve communication among staff but this has been one of the most eye-catching trends that attract the most views on social media where people post about their office lives and workplaces.
October 29, 2024