Posted inInsights

Workplace as a social landmark is a trend that isn’t going away

Vivek Singh Rathore, design principal, Salient, explains how workspaces today are enabling employees to choose how they work and are adapting designs that go beyond the ‘desk’ to offer greater freedom and flexibility

Workplace as a social landmark is a trend that isn’t going away

The design of a workspace is steered by the notion of creating an encouraging and engaging office eco-system. In order to create a paradigm for a collaborative, the design intent should be an interactive and dynamic workspace which is achieved by emphasizing on creating an adaptive and flexible floor plan to overcome the physically and mentally constrictive barriers that traditional workplaces propagate.

Vivek Singh Rathore, design principal, Salient.

Flexibility in design that is employed through an adaptive floor plate that transforms into congregational spaces, can be used for informal and formal assemblies or merely socializing spots for the employees. Variety of furniture, as well as furniture arrangements can be explored to maximize floor space utilization and facilitate employee interaction and engagement. The collaborative furniture breaks the monotony associated with authoritative workplace ethics and accommodates a relaxed environment promoting unhindered flow of ideas.

By creating transparent barriers and breaking down walls and cubicles, a workspace operates as a hotspot for idea generation and sharing. A balanced workplace through entwining informal and formal spaces and work cultures fosters employee participation and motivation. Employee engagement ensures greater control over experiences at work, giving the liberty to the employees to decide their own level of privacy and comfort. It also positively correlates with workspace satisfaction.

To avoid boxy and closed spaces, ample sunlight inside a workplace and a view to exterior landscape should be incorporated. Some urban plantation can be extended within the office to deploy the advantages of biophilic design. The addition of plants in workspace is the most common way to improve air quality and help with noise reduction. These intricate details can be integrated in the design to upkeep the thermal and visual comfort of the users. From its inception to execution, the design of an office space should account for the overall wellbeing of all its users, thus yielding high level of productivity and motivation amongst them.