Decorating the office is not just the arrangement of tables and chairs, but a creative endeavor that will allow employees to feel satisfied.
How to organize office space and how pleasantness and comfort in the workplace affect the productivity of employees is the subject of a text recently published in the Serbian edition global business magazine Forbes.
On that occasion, our interviewee was journalist Hristina Kovačević Sonja Brstinaan architect and interior editor on the Gradnja portal, who is in her career designed a large number of precisely such business premises.
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Much more than just arranging tables and chairs
As Sonja pointed out for Forbesarranging an office is not just about arranging tables and chairs, it is about a creative endeavor in which the employees will be able to feel satisfied, from what to do next higher productivity also resultswhich is actually the goal of investing in the interior of business premises.
“Therefore, it is very important not only how the offices are designed, but also how the common spaces are designed such as canteens and conference rooms, because these are places where employees will be able to exchange experiences and needs. A key factor when designing an office space is comfort and creating a pleasant place to work. It is necessary to create a space in which employees want to spend their time“, Sonja explained.
A key factor when designing an office space is comfort and creating a pleasant place to work.
For this reason, she insists on functional rather than aesthetically beautiful spaces because, as she explained, forced solutions which usually imply emphasizing aesthetics they sacrifice functionality.
“The premises are usually overcrowded.” furniturethere are no defined lines of movement between rooms, air conditioners blow in the wrong places, and most often im it lacks the touch that gives the space its authenticity. A beautiful detail actually results from a careful architectural consideration of the space and the creation of a functional solution in which all options perform smoothly“, she says.
Colors that stimulate creativity among employees
Years of experience have taught her that in practice, when designing an office space, she should avoid a monochromatic scheme.
“It is necessary to introduce color into the interior that will give the space dynamism and playfulness. They are usually used company colors or complementary colors which give the interior a stamp. It is important to know that earthy and pastel colors they stimulate creativity among employees, so I often use them in my projects,” said Brstina.
In the conversation for Forbes Sonja Brstina points out that, unlike the past “open-space” trendemployees today are increasingly looking for more intimate workplaces.
“The open-space concept has been replaced by larger offices of up to a dozen people, where they are grouped by project. Also, shared workplaces are increasingly present, when employees change positions depending on needs. “Clients are looking for the most flexible workplaces, in order to meet the employees as much as possible,” Sonja explained.
Work units made of resistant materials
When it comes to selection of materials in the office space, the architect from Novi Sad states that they should not only make the space pleasant to stay in, but also be easy to maintain.
“Recycled materials such as acoustic panels and floors (itisone) which are obtained from recycled plastic bottles and other waste materials. Natural materials such as veneer contribute to a more pleasant environment. It is important that the work unit, i.e. the work table, be made of resistant materials. That is why they are mostly used compact discs which are durable, resistant and easy to maintain“, said Sonja.
The lights must be well distributed, and therefore the lighting calculation is done, so that each work unit has a sufficient amount of light.
It's not bad either, as she explained, to put them on the walls and ceilings sound absorbing materialsand care should be taken when it comes to lightingespecially if it is about offices with glass partitions. They, she said, are good because they open up space, but on the other hand, they should take care of their placementbecause business premises should not only be beautiful, but also functional.
“Nevertheless, a good working atmosphere is necessary choose the lighting carefullybecause it significantly affects the final impression of the interior. While warm lights are used in residential areas, in commercial areas it is better to use a cooler light of 4000 K which affects higher productivitythe lights must be well distributed, and therefore the lighting calculation is done, so that each work unit has a sufficient amount of light,” she adds.
Conference table with a “peak” head
Sonja most often designs projects herself, not only to make the most of every centimeter, but also to met the demands of clients.
“So on one of the past projects, the client asked for conference tables that will not allow anyone to sit at the head of the table. Namely, part of the culture of a well-known Novi Sad company is that everyone at the table has the right to express their opinion and listen to others. That's why I designed them a table with a head that ends in a triangular shape – at rush hour. They were delighted,” Sonja Brstina told the Serbian edition at the end Forbes.
