Social and recreational areas: boosting productivity in modern offices
At Modern offices design it is essential to have a social and recreational areas for workers and customers. These spaces are vital in the new concept of work environment, which promotes recreational and social spaces for dispersion and disconnection in a timely manner, which helps workers to disconnect to reconnect again for the sake of an improvement of the creativity. These social spaces are multifunctional and can be encompassed in multiple ways. They not only have lounge areas for relaxed meetings, but also a cafeteria and bar, play spaces and even gyms and yoga rooms.
Creative and recreational spaces
Depending on the type of work that is carried out, companies tend to emphasize some areas or others: if the work is highly stressful, they opt for recreational spaces; If the activity requires the presence of clients in the branches, the social spaces.
Today we present some of the formulas that are being imposed in the Modern offices design for social areas. Before projecting them, it is necessary to survey the needs of the company and its workers, since it is useless to create areas that are going to be underused. On the other hand, the space dimensions They are important, but they should not be determinative. No matter how tight the available meters are, it is always possible to create a social space.
social meeting areas
If we start with the most necessary spaces as opposed to the least, it is essential to have social gathering areas. These spaces do not replace the meeting rooms, which have other functions and are focused on being spaces for group work. The activities that take place in these social meeting areas are more relaxed and can be used both by workers as well as customers. A first meeting always has to take place in a pleasant and cordial space to start relationships on the right foot. Although these are not work spaces per se, relationships can be strengthened and themes can be established work more fluently.
The choice of furniture
El furniture design mark the functionality of each space. For example, a space with high tables and stools already implies that it is not an area for working, but rather social or recreational. Some of the table models Limobel Inwo They have their tall version, precisely for these spaces, as in the case of the ECO high table. In this way, visual uniformity is maintained using the same model of the work table, but higher and in another function.
The LEO stools are one of the most versatile pieces in the catalog of Limobel Inwo, since it is an auxiliary seat that adapts to different functions. The structure is available in pepper salad (red, black and white) and the seat can be chosen in any range of colors from our upholstery. The base of the stool is tilting and non-slip, and it can be adjusted in height up to 22 cm, by means of a rotating gas piston with a double handle that is located under the seat. This mechanism provides a ergonomic movement with a slight horizontal swing that maintains the user's active posture and facilitates blood flow.
Bar and cafeteria areas
If space permits, have a bar and/or cafeteria area annex to the living area is very adequate. In this way, workers and customers will be able to consume without having to move to other rooms, which saves time and handling food or drinks through the office. The closer, the better. Generally, in these areas it is preferred to have a bar that also serves as a table or place of consumption.
contract furniture
Many companies also have canteens for your workers. This implies having an area with tables and chairs suitable for this function, as if it were a restaurant. It is essential that the furniture not only have a good design, but also be of certified quality, because it is an area of daily use that accuses a lot of wear.
En Limobel Inwo We have specific furniture for social use, such as the table Lara Contract, a versatile design, square or round, with a base of steel plate 10 mm and a central column of laminated tube. The tapa It is manufactured in different materials (melamine, phenolic or laminated glass). This lightweight and compact design is perfect for contract projects, since it allows diners to be seated comfortably without tripping over the legs of the tables.
The aurora chairs they fit perfectly with the Lara tables, because his arms are adjusted under the envelope. It has various finishes and can even go padded and upholstered in any of the fabrics in our catalogue.
compartmentalized areas
Another mode in the design of social areas in modern offices is to create compartmentalized areas for different uses. They can be for small meetings, to carry out tasks individually or to meet and share with colleagues or clients in a relaxed way. In these cubicles the most important thing is isolation between them, with insulating and sound-absorbing materials to ensure maximum privacy, even when open. Likewise, the lighting It is of vital importance, because there must be direct and ambient light to create an optimal environment for both working and meeting.
Recreational areas
The social zones allow to have a recreational area to place a board game. The most common are billiards, foosball and ping pong tables, although there may also be dart boards, basketball hoops and pinball machines. There are also usually large screens and armchairs for video games. In the case of recreational areas, it is not recommended that there be work cubicles nearby, since it is presumed that it will be a noisy and busy area.
Work and exercise at the same time, yes you can
Although the rooms yoga and mini gyms are increasingly frequent in large companies, we stop at the modality shown in the image above: small cabins with walking or pedaling machines to which a table is fitted to place the computer. It is perfectly compatible to do both activities at the same time, since the exercise that is carried out is mechanical and does not interfere with the concentration of work. On the contrary, there will be many workers who need be on the move while doing concentration work or answering emails. We love this mixed idea, as it encourages activity during working hours and fights the work sedentary lifestyle
Photos: Limobel Inwo y OfficeSnapShots
