office trends Private space must-have: Bene has launched what is essentially a room within a room called the NOOXS Think Tank. NOOXS has high sound absorption, integrated ventilation and lighting, complete technical infrastructure and a high degree of comfort – all of which creates effective temporary private areas in open spaces. Glass elements provide visual lightness, and curtains and blinds offer screening when needed. Buzzispace have a range of acoustic solutions, such as the Buzzitwist, which is a sound absorbing curved screen which serves as a free standing room divider. Private spaces within open-plan offices Whilst the new breed of open-plan workspace is evolving and sees open plan areas shared, in all working environments there is still the need for private break-away zones and quiet rooms.
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“Acoustics play a role here as noise within open spaces can become a problem,” advises Galloway-Gaul. “Orgatec reiterated this with much focus being placed on acoustic design and the use of modern noise-dulling materials.”
WEALTH must-haves: The Float, QuickStand and QuickStand Lite Sit/Stand desks from Humanscale, as well as a Humanscale Monitor Arm, not only creates a clutter-free workspace but also promotes a healthier, more ergonomic working posture.
Designed for employee WEALTH “The office of 2017 will continue to focus on the well-being and health (WEALTH) of employees, and items such as sit-stand desks, monitor arms and a quality chair remain ergonomic necessities,” says Galloway-Gaul.
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Green office must-have: Buzzispace have produced design elements of the outdoors to be used in offices – such as the BuzziJungle with its soothing tropical palm-frond backdrop that allows employees to take some time out and to interact socially.
Outdoors are in Galloway-Gaul says that bringing the outdoors inside is an office trend that she believes is here to stay. “With many people spending more than eight hours a day in the office, and with it forming a nucleus in most people’s lives, there are clear benefits to bringing more natural elements into the workplace. “The greening of our offices plays an increasingly huge role in our physical and psychological well-being. Plants can be especially important in open plan offices because they can be used to help define space and create zones of calm – helping everybody to be more productive at work.”
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