DESIGN & INTERIORS


A NEW BLEND


In the last ten years, the office environment has seemingly altered along with expectations and attitudes, taking us to a level beyond what used to qualify as


‘standard open plan’. Spaces that accommodate a full cross-section of workers are becoming increasingly popular argues Saracen Interiors’ Michael Page.


Offices are no longer utilitarian spaces where employees from a company come together to work, side by side. Today’s offices cater for everyone – blended workforces, with multiple needs and requirements, of all ages – and they’ve usually been consulted as to what their ideal space would be well ahead of any fit out activity getting underway.


All individuals work in different ways and today’s offices try to acknowledge that, with quiet zones, and private pods, sitting alongside areas that are specifically designed for collaborative working. There are usually numerous docking stations peppered about too so that people can infiltrate new spaces and not be locked in to a certain desk and space. Ultimately, it’s important to provide people with a mix of options.


This style also allows for the better accommodation of clients and visitors. The traditional model of the office used to favour a reception desk at the front, with a holding area for clients and visitors away from the general melee. Now, we’re far more transparent in our relationships with clients and suppliers and most offices allow you access as soon as you step through the door, with many cutting loose the formal reception area and opting for a more inclusive style.


The changes aren’t just apparent in the free flowing office space either. A more fluid approach to working is currently being championed and promoted across a growing number of industries. Overall, we’ve altered the way in which we work, the hours that we put in, and when we put them in, as well as where we choose to work, with many of us opting to work from home for part of the week to complement commitments outside of the workplace and to combat time wasted on a long commute.


Most office jobs now come with a degree of flexibility as par the course and, in fact, we are just as good and able to work in coffee shops and hotel lobbies, and our homes,


54 | TOMORROW’S FM


as we are in formal office environments - and many of us prefer a mix of these locations, given the choice.


A lot of these changes are down to technology which has enabled us on many levels, including how and where we physically go about our business. It has also created a general blurring of the lines between what’s work and what’s social and this also bears some influence on the office environment.


“A more fluid approach to working is currently being


championed and promoted across a growing number of industries.”


If our hours are more flexible and work is bleeding into the social then the flow, to an extent, also works the other way. Our office environment has generally become a lot more relaxed and we all expect a lot more from the design and facilities as a result. We want multi-purpose spaces that provide comfort and stand out.


As the office is a company asset and a physical manifestation of the brand, besides a place to accommodate us and to enhance our well being, one key question remains: Can the space tick all the usual boxes and have the wow factor, while encouraging productivity and providing a versatile environment?


The answer to this question is ‘yes’ – with a lot of careful planning and close collaboration so that the client isn’t boxed into a corner and budget isn’t risked. Creating these ‘super spaces’ can be expensive. It’s often easy to get carried away and to ignore the bigger picture. The end game is a working environment that works for all and that’s why every blend has to be different.


www.saraceninteriors.com twitter.com/TomorrowsFM


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