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Jun 22, 2022
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You’ve probably heard about the term modern office. But first, what is the modern office? And why is it taking the world by storm?
Recently, there has been a rapid increase in the popularity of the modern office. Have you heard your friends talk about this concept and you’ve just felt lost? Today, let’s dive in and understand what exactly does the modern office mean.
According to Mills & Standingford, “The office is the administrative center of a business. The purpose of an office has been defined as the providing of a service of communication and record.”
In the past, we had traditional offices with closed-plan layouts and private, assigned cubicles. They lack innovative office furniture and fail to create an inspiring work environment.
According to Teknion, “The modern office represents office cultures that are fluid and flexible, with an emphasis on openness and communication.” Modern offices are all about encouraging collaboration and creativity, with fewer divisions and physical barriers.
A modern office is defined not only by the people but also by the aesthetics and the work culture as well. It takes a modernistic approach with light décor, large open spaces, and comfortable furniture.
Modern offices usually have a combination of the following characteristics:
Modern offices are equipped with high-end office furniture such as ergonomic desk chairs and glass boardroom tables. Premium office furniture helps boost employee morale and leads to improved productivity.
Being comfortable at the workplace is very essential as it prevents tiredness and minimizes workplace related injuries like neck aches, back aches, joint pain, etc. Having ergonomic office furniture helps in this area as it works in favour of the employees. All-day comfort means improved concentration and efficiency.
Modern offices are promoting the importance of mental and physical health. This is why modern offices have standing desks as part of their ergonomic furniture, which have been proven to improve physical health. According to the Gazette, 52% of workers who used standing desks felt more engaged at work after a year due to a significant improvement in their mood and energy.
When it comes to designing your modern office, don’t just focus on providing an office space, but also on how to create the best possible environment to ensure employee safety, well-being, and maximize productivity.
Crownspace has listed three key components that you should keep in mind when designing your modern office. Let’s take a look at them.
Your workplace should be an environment that your employees actually want to be in. Research by Forbes states that the quality of air within an office can have a significant impact on your employees’ health and, in turn, productivity.
So, when you start designing your office space, ensure that you make employee wellness a priority. But, just including gaming areas with ping pong tables and other recreational activities isn’t enough; you need to take a more holistic approach to the modern office in order to reflect the positive benefits of focusing on employee wellness.
Although flexible working has always been around, it has gained even more prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic. Post lockdown, there are three different styles of work models that businesses have opted for:
Technology and innovation are what drive and support businesses today. This includes everything that your workplace will need — WiFi, automated systems, heating, lighting, air conditioning, safety measures, improved infrastructure, smart sensors, biometrics, digital visitor management systems, and more.
Technology and innovation help your modern office be smarter and more efficient. It will also provide a better environment for employers, employees, and visitors.
Over the years, the concept of an office has transformed from closed-off and endless cubicles to a workspace that inspires creativity and improves productivity. Inkbot Design has listed out the top 10 tips to keep in mind while designing your modern office. Let’s take a look at these tips to help you design the perfect modern office.
One of the main features of a modern office is an open layout design. Whether you have a small or a large office area, try to open up the space as much as possible. Get rid of the traditional office partitions and keep the space cubicle-free.
An open-plan office will help the office space look more spacious and give room to breathe. Open spaces also lead to effective communication and better collaboration between the employees and team members.
Since the open layout does not require cubicles or partitions, you are also saving expenditure on those that can be used in some other areas of business.
The main advantage of an open office is the increase in collaboration between team members. They can solve complex work problems and come up with creative solutions together as one unit. This is largely due to the removal of cubicles and partitions.
Everyone can hear everything in an open office, which means there’s a lot less space for secretiveness. This brings a sense of equity and unity, which leads to more comfort and trust between employees and their employers, as everyone works together in the same space in an open office.
These days, modern offices have expanded their workplace to include several areas for employees to work at. Businesses are offering breakout spaces for employees to socialize, collaborate, or even rest to reset their minds to allow their creativity to thrive.
To make the breakout space aesthetically pleasing and comfortable, implement the right interior aspects and utilize industrial elements correctly.
The benefits of breakout spaces are as follows:
A noisy workplace can significantly affect your employees’ productivity and morale. It is essential to reduce workplace noise levels to promote efficiency.
You can minimize noise by following these simple tips:
It is a known fact that sitting at the desk for extended periods leads to a faster burn out rate of employees. Not only burn out, but it can also increase stress levels and lead to various mental and physical health issues. So, bid adieu to the old stationary desk and chairs.
Modern offices implement the use of active furniture like saddle chairs, adjustable-height desks, and ergonomic chairs. Along with active furniture, encourage your employees to stand up and stretch their legs. This will help you prevent the physical stress of sitting for hours on end.
The benefits of active furniture are:
As you are aware that modern offices are focused on boosting the overall satisfaction of the employees, you need to ensure that your office is a place where they want to spend their time. They shouldn’t feel caged in.
To achieve this, modern offices are using biophilic designs, adding features and decorations to elevate their employees’ experiences, such as art, warm and fresh scents, and natural elements like plants.
You can also incorporate wood, stone, and running water that mimics a fountain or a waterfall into your design. Water is known to enhance the mood and boost creativity.
When designing your modern office, make sure you incorporate and make use of your outdoor spaces. Whether it’s a balcony, terrace, patio, or any open-air area, add tables and chairs to utilize this space.
We often spend the majority of our time working at the office than we do at home. So, it is essential for the workplace to have a homely atmosphere and essentially feel like home.
When your employees feel comfortable in their environment, they are motivated to perform and give their best to their tasks, thus improving the overall productivity. You can do this by investing in comfortable and ergonomic furniture. You can also add recreational equipment and activities such as a pool table or a ping-pong table.
Furthermore, you can improve company culture by including fun activities in the workplace.
Modern offices thrive on the fact that they are technology-connected workplaces. The main advantage of a connected workplace is that it integrates various technology tools so everyone can communicate and collaborate effectively.
This will ensure that your employees will be able to work wherever they are in the office, which means they should have strong internet access anywhere and anytime in the office.
Other than reliable and strong Wi-Fi, make sure that almost everything in the workplace is wireless. You can do this by installing wireless charging stations for your employees’ devices and cordless phones. Also, don’t forget to check that the technology you incorporate is compatible with all of your employees’ devices.
A modern office is not just about the aesthetic and the biophilic designs. It is just as essential to ensure that your workplace is clean, organized, and overall well-maintained.
You can achieve this by removing any clutter that can distract your employees from getting their work done. One way to do this is by ensuring that any useless cords and cables are hidden in the walls; not only are they an eye-sore, but they are also a serious safety hazard.
Studies have shown that a bright and well-lit modern office can make your employees more productive and motivated.
When planning your modern office design, make sure the plan has as many windows as you can to utilize natural sunlight. If you have to use artificial lighting, invest in eco-friendly lights such as LEDs (light-emitting diodes), as they are energy-efficient and have a longer lifespan.
Hope you found these tips helpful! Now that you know all about modern offices, their advantages, key components, and how you can design your own, why don’t you go ahead and plan your modern office?
Turning your office into a modern workspace doesn’t need to be complicated. Remember to be creative when designing, do not hesitate to go beyond the norm and take the risk!
How is Contemporary Office Furniture Different?
Contemporary furniture began emerging in the 1950s. The movement became popular enough that the Museum of Modern Art in New York decided to address the trend of publishing a book titled “What Is Modern Design?” with Edgar Kaufmann Jr. as the author. The book established precepts to dictate what is considered (what was later called) “contemporary furniture.” To simplify those precepts, we can divide them into three major categories:
Design | Contemporary Office Furniture
The overall theme of the design is considered. It could be something the future owner of the office furniture is trying to accomplish. Per Kaufmann, the form, colors, and texture of the item should come directly from the materials used. The design should also combine the natural beauty of the elements with an object’s utility to present a visually satisfying item. The design should be simple with no redundant materials and having an apparent structure.
Materials | Contemporary Office Furniture
One of Kaufmann’s precepts dictates that furniture makers should use cutting-edge materials and take full advantage of new techniques when making furniture. This precept helped start a trend of using solid color fabrics and materials that allowed for a flat, functional surface. Standard and tubular metal materials of various chromatic colors or even a combination of them were frequently used to create the structures of contemporary office furniture. These materials allowed the creation of smooth textures with pronounced edges and crisp lines.
Philosophy | Contemporary Office Furniture
Designers employ a specific philosophy when creating contemporary office furniture. Furniture should answer modern life’s practical needs while expressing the spirit of the current period, according to Kaufmann. He also stated that furniture design should help advance the fine arts. The design should convey an object’s purpose, the beauty of the material, and methods used when creating the furniture. It shouldn’t try to appear to be something it isn’t. For example, mass-produced furniture shouldn’t try to appear handcrafted. Possibly the most essential part of Kauffmann’s philosophical precept was that an item should be able to serve as many individuals as possible, and cost should be maintained at a level that is attainable and affordable to the broader market.
These precepts were also influenced by contemporary European design even before the trend migrated to the United States. Trends began to shift toward function and the broad availability of furniture in Europe, replacing overly elaborate designs. Designers around the globe noticed this and helped spread the style.