Imaginative Workplaces
There’s no excuse for drab office environments any more, argues Anna Richardson. Indeed, imaginative interiors which offer a bit of privacy as well as great teamworking space are essential for bringing out that creative spark in staff
JUST AS a computer is no longer a desk-bound, 13-inch-plus-screened piece of hardware, most workplaces are not what they once were. With growing flexibility and mobility of technology, rows upon rows of desks have given way to more efficient and creative uses of space, encouraging collaboration and inspiration among the workforce.
One of the clients of interior design group HOK would spend 5 per cent of the budget on loose furniture (associated with breakout areas and informal meeting spaces) five years ago, says Andy Warner Lacey, design director of HOK interiors. Now they often spend 40 per cent.
Where once a couple of high-end sofas sufficed, creating breakout space is more complex nowadays. Designing places for work can span extremes, says Phil Hutchinson, joint managing director of BDG Workfutures. ‘One person’s quiet is another person’s noise.’
Providing intimate, private spaces is just as important as furthering collaboration and teamwork. Enrico Caruso, principal of Gensler London, says people use workspace in four work modes – focus, work, heads-down and collaborative – and a successful organisation has to balance these.
Another consideration is providing employees with a sense of identity and, in many cases, integrating different parts of the business.
