How do we create privacy in an open space?
More and more companies and self-employed people are opting for coworking areas and open workspaces. In this sense, office design has evolved towards a trend where workers can communicate more easily in a more relaxed environment.
Gone are the closed offices and airtight cubicles to make way for open offices and spaces that let air and light through to improve the working conditions of workers. This leads to a much more productive state in which there is room for communication and exchange without having to sacrifice creativity.
However, privacy in the office can become a necessity depending on the areas of work or the preferences and culture of each company. In this sense, the design must be adapted to the office so that it responds functionally to these needs.
Collaboration areas
Collaboration spaces, such as meeting rooms and other specific spaces for workers from different areas, are essential to separate the space from where you work. Collaboration and exchange need a place to be without the need to alter other spaces.
On the other hand, privacy is key from reducing distractions, protecting information, and separating jobs from management, for example. Also, not all tasks require the same level of concentration and an open space may be counterproductive.
It is necessary for workers to be able to perform their work without constant interruptions. Imagine a space where three phone calls coincide, a work group brainstorming right next to you, a colleague laughing, and another coughing.
Solutions to distractions
Acoustics is something to keep in mind to prevent certain activities from overlapping. Design elements such as mobile screens or furniture that absorb noise are becoming more common.
We’ve talked about light in open spaces before. Excess of light can create a feeling of visual distraction. For this reason, there are elements that can delimit the visual horizon, such as modular and flexible furniture, adapting it to desks, as well as biophilic elements, such as plants, plant screens and other objects that act as dividers and, in addition, improve air quality.
