Maximizing Creativity: Tips for Setting Up Your Architecture Office Layout
Top Architects in Ahmedabad have begun to show off their creativity and there’s nothing more edifying than infusing it into architecture. Architecture truly speaking stands for centuries. So what’s this buzzword about creativity in the office that’s doing the rounds? The fact is that in the post-pandemic world, more and more emphasis is being put on human conditions that are influenced by their work. Top architects in Ahmedabad have realised that being the commercial capital of Gujarat comes at the price of direct influence of work and life balance and hence maximizing creativity in the workspace helps a lot in the long-term goals of commerce and economy.
While the year 2024 takes into consideration the office layout in terms of building the company culture, the needs of the employees and the kind of work that the company does – factoring these into the creative aspects of architecture is the way
Remember, the best office layout considers the company culture, employee needs, and the type of work being done. By incorporating these creative architectural elements, you can design an inspiring and functional workspace that fosters productivity and well-being.
Here are some creative ways to set up an office layout architecturally:
Zone Based Design:
Activity Based Work (ABW):
Human factors at work now influence how the employee’s seating arrangement shall be created. Different zones for different work activities are now created with separate designated zones for brainstorming sessions, collaborations, relaxation areas and focused work rooms. The whole get-up of these zones in terms of the furniture, light conditions and acoustics is thought out carefully.
Within held Microenvironments:
Within the major office, microenvironments are now cropping up. Focussed work zones are now having ‘think pods’. Collaborations are having open lounge design and reading rooms have a different vibe too. Some companies are also creating sleep pods for quick energizing of employees.
Green / Biophilic Design:
Green spots and living walls:
Natural greenery is slowly becoming part of office get-up. Vertical gardens are now a new way for buildings to positively impact the environment. Within the offices, green plants are strategically placed for air purification and a green look. Stress is reduced and creativity heightened with such a design.
A natural flow of light and ventilation:
Incorporating natural light into the office space reduces the burden on artificial lighting and also incorporates better ambience. Skylights, open floor plans and large windows are some of the ways this is possible.
Movement & Flexibility Elements:
Multi-functional spaces:
With the different rooms set up for different uses the movable elements when installed don’t make them a permanent fixture. This helps in creating a sense of ease of usage too.
Modular Furniture:
Modular furniture is not a rage because it is lightweight, though that is one of the reasons for having them. The most advantageous part is the ease of mobility around it. Partitions that can be removed or installed, screens that can be moved around and furniture that can be shifted without hassle are the greatest advantages of office setup.
Unique Design Features:
Themed Workspaces:
Different thematic elements are now incorporated into the design of the spaces. In fact how different locations are allocated for different usage. This helps boost employee morale.
Integrated Technology:
Technology is increasingly being incorporated by architects into the design of the office spaces. Ambient light systems, state of art hidden charging stations, interactive whiteboards and multimedia setups are now part of the creation of office spaces.
While these trends and features can be a great way to create great office spaces, an optimal way of creating office layout can be possible only when architects understand the following:
Workflow:
Every company has their way of doing business and conducting their work. Hence, the working styles differ greatly. An architect who takes into consideration how the teams collaborate, how the departments connect and how the information system flows can be at a better level to understand how these company offices need to be built. The designation of work areas and other zones thus becomes easier to build, design and create.
Employee Needs Analysis:
Understanding the needs of the employees to work in optimal work settings of light, ventilation and ergonomics puts on the radar of the architects the ways to create ergonomic workstations, ventilation and airflow as well as light arrangements. In some cases, even the temperature control and systems might have to be incorporated into the setup. Employee wellbeing is also factored in along with productive physical working conditions.
Safety and Ease of Access:
The office layout must be such that everyone can access the facilities and zones without fuss. This especially takes into consideration the inclusion of persons with varying disabilities so that the company is truly holistic as an equal opportunities employer. Ramps, pathways and accessible ways to reach the restrooms and other areas of the office are important. Women’s safety and hygiene too must be factored in. The overall safety of the employees and assets in terms of safety measures, fire codes, emergency exits and alarm systems are a priority and must be marked too.
Scalability and Adaptability:
While businesses evolve over some time, one can’t expect changes in the office setup every couple of years. Thus, keeping the future goals of the organization in mind, a well-designed office not only can be adaptable to changes but also must accommodate the future. Therefore, flexible modular furniture and walls help redesign the workstations and other rooms accordingly.
Tech Integration:
All modern offices have to heavily invest in technology. Thus it becomes imperative to ensure that concealed wiring and outlets are designed in a way that doesn’t pose as an inconvenience later. Data ports and wifi access have to be thought of keeping all space areas in mind. Thus design layout of the office has to be seamless with the technology integration within it.
Privacy settings and security enablers:
Security of important data and documents as well as the privacy of decision makers have to be kept in mind. While an open office encourages collaboration, certain areas could be ‘security’ or ‘limited access’ zones in the office. The placement of these strong rooms needs to be done in a way that doesn’t affect the accessibility of the other rooms or parts of the office. Such rooms could be for private meetings or could be soundproofed pods for conducting confidential phone calls or access to other people too. Nowadays, there are options to make these spaces too trendy too but have extreme security settings and privacy enablers via technology systems.
The total of the architect’s efforts in creating an optimal and holistic office layout goes beyond furniture and aesthetics. Human factors engineering, ergonomics, human and technology interaction as well as integration, positive work environment, productive work flow and seamless integrations within the building design itself have to also be thought of.