THIS ARTICLE IS PART OF A SERIES OFFERING SPECIFICATION IDEAS THAT HELP ARCHITECTS AND INTERIOR DESIGNERS CREATE BRILLIANT BUILDINGS AND SPACES. HUNGRY FOR MORE? HEAD THIS WAY FOR INFORMATION ON SOURCE — ARCHITIZER’S PREMIER MARKETPLACE FOR BUILDING PRODUCTS AND FURNISHINGS.
Over the last few years, the media has been weighing in on workplace design trends with articles like “The Open-Office Concept Is Dead” (Fortune magazine) and op-eds like “Google got it wrong. The open-office trend is destroying the workplace” (Washington Post). Unless you’ve been living under a rock, then you know these authors who may not be as embedded in our industry aren’t necessarily wrong: Research conducted and presented by office furniture manufacturers and major design firms like Gensler has suggested that open plans can actually impede productivity and employee well-being but they also point to possible solutions such as hybrid offices, where there’s compromise between open-office plans, casual lounge areas and privacy zones.
Herman Miller
So if you’re designing an office, consider discussing with your client the implementation of breakout lounges and semiprivate areas that can help reinvigorate the workforce by giving them variety and choice, comfy nooks to escape to, a place to commune and spontaneously discuss matters with their colleagues and somewhere they can have quiet conversation, whether live, on the phone or over Skype. And if you’re looking for some ideas to furnish such spaces, check out Architizer Source. Here’s a taste of products that you can find through the Source platform.
BuzziSpace
Allsteel: Harvest
Available in two heights and a range of lengths, Harvest seamlessly transitions from impromptu meeting to lunching or coffee break table with its sleek and informal design. Its central beam under the tabletop supplies power/data to outlets at the ends of the table, though an optional split top can also provide access. Choose from a variety of wood veneer or laminate finishes.
Allsteel
Arper: Parentesit Freestanding
A client may want to offer employees breakout and semiprivate nooks but needs flexibility in case company size or programming changes. That’s when a freestanding screen or partition system like Parentesit Freestanding comes in handy. These reconfigurable dividers carve out space in style with a minimalist, Japanese interiors–inspired design by Lievore Altherr Molina. Its black metal frame accommodates two round, one square or combination round and square panels in an array of fabrics and colors.
Arper
BuzziSpace: BuzziBlinds
Affording both acoustical and visual privacy in open-plan spaces, this freestanding system takes cues from exterior sunshades and fins in modern architecture, particularly the works of Oscar Niemeyer in Brasilia. The individual blinds can be pivoted on the powder-coated metal baseplate to change the overall design or level of openness. Four different shapes — Straight, Wedge, Beach and Arch — are available, each constructed with an aluminum core with a BuzziFelt cover.
BuzziSpace
Davis Furniture: Q5
A soft chevron or boomerang shape enables Q5 modules to face any direction, nest back to back or connect side to side to create numerous seating configurations. Pair the upholstered units with table inserts that align with the seats or freestanding stools that double as side or coffee tables.
Davis Furniture
Herman Miller: Swoop Lounge Seating
The story goes that industrial designer Brian Kane had observed how students interacted with furniture in public spaces on the campus of the California College of Art, where he taught. The students’ tendencies to sprawl out inspired the fluid forms of the Swoop line, which includes plywood lounge chairs with exposed wood shells and upholstered seat and back, fully upholstered club chairs and modular seating and upholstered ottomans and footstools.
Herman Miller
Stylex: Share
This modular seating system (also shown at top) can be configured in a gazillion different ways to carve out or divide space within a larger open plan. Think clusters, rows, booths, sinuous borders and so forth. The line includes both lounge- and task-height curvilinear or rectilinear seating. In addition to chairs, benches and corner units, the collection comprises cubes, knee walls, privacy screens and tables to complete your vision.
Stylex
Uhuru Design: Stoolen
Is it an occasional table or a sitting stool? It’s built sturdy enough to serve as either. These wood pieces add welcoming warmth to any space and are available in a range of finishes and custom sizes, in round, square or oval shapes. What’s more, Stoolen is an upcycled product that’s been constructed with hardwood scraps collected from local workshops. Each piece is made to order, signed and numbered by a maker in Uhuru’s Brooklyn studio.
Uhuru
Wilkhahn: Leaning aid Stitz2
Balance balls in the office are a thing of the past. Instead, office workers enjoy stools that have a balance ball–like base that, on the one hand, allows users to get into more relaxed postures and, on the other hand, forces users to activate muscles without straining them, thereby improving metabolism. One such example is this counter-height stool that puts users in a half-standing, half-sitting position.
Wilkhahn