personal storage
31
employees and customers want to be. Workers need to feel connected to the space, so while they may no longer have their own allocated desk they do have somewhere to ‘store their stuff ’, alongside workspaces which are appropriate to the task in hand. The tools required for work today have had a marked effect
on the type of storage provided. While not likely to be wholly nomadic, many individuals work in constantly evolving teams, often from more than one office location, and therefore must travel with many communication devices along with chargers, spare batteries etc. When touching down in a new location they need storage provision that enables them to be up and running as quickly as possible. Here, overall standardisation with the option to personalise
is the key to success. Personal lockers equipped with part-portable locks empower staff with the self-selection of available space, as close to their workstation as possible. Card-holders enable them to identify these for their period of tenure. Mail can then be delivered by colleagues or other staff via posting slots provided and interiors can be personalised by moving internal fittings and using magnetic pins to attach pictures.
A quiet revolution
Elsewhere more conventional storage is undergoing a quiet revolution. The perception of storage as a static piece of utility furniture is being challenged with storage becoming the pivotal and dynamic element of the office landscape. Since the dawn of the open-plan office, storage has been used
as a visual and traffic barrier between groups and departments, however this is now being exploited in ever more enhanced and sophisticated ways. The tops of counter-height storage blocks are now equipped with power-managed tops, so that they can be used as touch-down meeting areas. At a more frivolous level, storage is even being used to support leisure activities such as table football. Driven by advances in technology, lifestyle changes and a
shifting demographic in the workplace (including an ageing workforce), the requirements for office furniture and how we expect it to perform have progressed immeasurably over the last 20 years and we want it work harder for us. We are increasingly seeing powered furniture solutions – bringing a plethora of applications and opportunity to support a modern working environment. This is an exciting and critical development, addressing many
of the workplace issues that face architects, designers and end users. As wonderful as mobile devices are, they often bring with them a regular search for power and if the furniture is electrified then workers can charge at any desk. Power also means the furniture can be lit, with ability to adjust light levels to individ- ual users, to suit their personal preference at any given moment. Enlightened organisations have understood for a long
time that to get the best from their employees, they need to provide an environment that supports the new workplace agenda and creates an environment that is based on comfort, activity, and variety.
www.architectsdatafile.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36