A lot of office spaces have a vast open-plan arid, monotonous pattern, where steel, wooden partitions, glass, poor lighting, dull furnishings are the ubiquitous materials defining an anonymous work environment.Scores of staff members perform their duties in identical, undifferentiated little cubicles, with rigid, non-flexible settings, where the locus is all about work and efficiency.
The contemporary office space is designed to reinforce the individuality of the employee, on the understanding that productivity, efficiency and creativity are catalysed by a working environment which drives motivation, and self-realisation. The modern office has become a vehicle of lifestyle, where the boundary between work and relaxation has become blurred and where meeting, team-building and sharing of ideas are the basis of innovation and consequently, success in a competitive world.
A corporate space interior design should mediate between the image of the company that is expected by the clients, and the users' needs and comfort. Adjoining spaces are allocated to related and interdependent functions, the interphase with the public is accomodated in areas close to the public domain, and quiet spaces created in the more secluded parts of the floor where individual work can be carried out undisturbed, integration of quiet and private spaces for meetings and collaborative work in general, and for the staff to withdraw to when working on tasks requiring focus and concentration.
Also, is the growing trend in the importance attached to the space dedicated to relaxation. These spaces of social contact encourage the staff to spend more time at work and provide an environment where pressure and leisure are balanced and conducive to a healthier and more creative lifestyle. Since employees spend long hours at their workplace, many consider the office to be their second home. Employers have come to realise that the office environment impacts employee satisfaction, creativity and productivity. Tech companies like 'Google' started a trend for building remarkable workspaces equipped with cafes, restaurants, libraries, bars, and gyms where employees can relax and brainstorm. This helps these large companies attract the brightest individuals and inspire their creativity to give the best results. Small getaway spaces like casual meeting rooms or lounging areas provide a crucial place away from the desk. They also take down communication barriers and encourage spontaneity. These communal areas can also be vital for employees to build work relations based on shared values and beliefs from which the company is sure to benefit.
The choice of materials and finishes, texture and colours is dependent on the preference and psychological requirements of the company's 8style, business sense and staff. Transparency is often the mainstay of office design, with glass as the dominant material in the contemporary office. There is no limit to how colour and texture can be manipulated to achieve the desired effect, whether to produce a sensation of calm and collection, to generate a vibrant atmosphere that stimulates creativity or to produce an impression of professionalism, prestige and pomp. Colour and texture surround us, inform our moods and determine our sensations and the impressions of the world around us, office design as well does not escape the dictates of colour and texture.
The way an office is set up has a direct impact on the business, both from the employees' and clients' view point. A pleasant, aesthetic, appealing work environment provides the best backdrop to a productive and happy office. Dingy and stuffy places drain creativity and leave a negative impression on potential clients, but a well-designed office represents a company's image and brand to potential clients. For a business to be successful, employees have to feel the need to contribute to the company. A top notch office design which is comfortable, inspiring, fun to work in and gives the employees a feeling of liberation, ascertains to individuals that their output is a major contribution towards the company's success and is valued as such.
The pertinence of a corporate office space design and its impact on staff performance, productivity and consequent result on company profitability can not be over-emphasized, and can not be stated any better by top corporate professionals and CEOs in a Harvard Business Review-(view link and take note of the position that workplace design is given in the operating strategy/service delivery system and internal service quality chain).
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| Images from Google offices and work spaces globally. |
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| more images from Google offices and workspaces globally. Google offices have the 'Wow' & 'Omg' factor because certainly those are the only expressions you will have after a visit. |
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| Picture from Chevron office interiors |
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| Adidas office interiors |
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| Skype office interior |
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| Picture from Nokia office interior |
These office interiors are simply amazing, there is not a chance that an employee would not be enlivened and excel in these ambience, as is clearly indicated by the success stories of these companies which have become global brands.
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