Last week we reviewed office spaces for any type of work activity: multi-stations, offices, multi-areas, meeting rooms and meeting rooms. This week it is the turn of other spaces, which are not always taken into consideration, but which are extremely important for good work performance: auditoriums, training rooms, concentration booths, libraries and creative rooms. They are the ones we will discuss in this post.

Auditoriums

The auditoriums and conference rooms They are increasingly frequent and necessary spaces in the performance of work functions. Teamwork, the need to share ideas and the concept of "creative community" have been installed in the new work formulas. Hence these rooms are essential as communicative and interactive spaces, of learning and training. In some cases it can be used as training rooms, but its typology is not the most appropriate due to its large dimensions. As is to be expected, the technical needs of these spaces are important: soundproofing and acoustics suitable, light system that darkens and illuminates the room, audiovisual equipment with automatic control and projection systems, pool heating, etc.

Tables NIX, 80 x 200 cm, by Limobel Inwo, in an office in Barcelona. 

Training Classrooms

Many companies require classrooms to train their employees, be it instruction, languages, development tools, or any other type of training vital to the performance of their duties. It is convenient that these spaces have a good acoustics, air conditioning and natural lighting, with the possibility of darkening the room. The audiovisual elements They are also of vital importance in these classrooms, which should not be excessive in size, since they will accommodate small groups of about 20-30 people. Being training spaces, it is important that the furniture is flexible and mobile: tables with wheels that can be joined or separated according to the activity, stackable chairs and light, and some auxiliary furniture for the storage of didactic material.

Concentration rooms and booths

Another ultra-modern, useful and novel concept is the cabins or concentration rooms. Originally, they are designed to hold telephone conversations without disturbing colleagues or to have greater privacy, hence they are sealed spaces made with materials sound absorbing. They are also used as one-person rooms for those workers who need extreme concentration to carry out their tasks, or that they like to work with background music. One of the advantages of these cubicles is that they can be installed within any other space, even within busy social areas. And in addition, you can place as many rooms as you need: one, two, three... depending on the type of work that is carried out in the company. This is one of the most methodologies that have entered the modern office design.

creative areas

Companies that develop creative activities, such as communication agencies, marketing, technology, design, architecture or advertising, usually leave spaces for the exchange of ideas or “brainstorming”. They are not meeting rooms, which force you to adopt a more static position. On the contrary, they are free and informal spaces, where they can write on blackboards, sit, lie down or stand without prejudice. It has been found that bodily freedom favors this type of creativity and that human beings need to move while thinking about ideas. Hence these spaces are so creative and carefree as its users.

Libraries

Not all workplaces require a library, but in many companies they are essential, despite the digital advance that is supplanting paper. For example, in law firms and offices, in large publishing houses, in architecture and design studios, in administrative offices or museums they are common, since they are disciplines that tend to do numerous bibliographic inquiries. The location depends on the space available, but they must be in quiet areas and away from the daily bustle of an office. Of course, a table or surface is essential to place the specimens while consulting, accompanied by chairs.

Next week we will talk about social and recreational spaces, as important as work spaces: restaurant/bar, kitchen with dining room, leisure and recreational areas, gyms and fitness, and rest and relaxation areas.

Photos: Limoel Inwo and OfficeSnapShots