It was the 1960s when open plan offices began to spread in earnest, and it’s fair to say they’ve divided opinion ever since.
Some love how they break down the barriers, both physically and psychologically, removing hierarchy, facilitating collaboration and encouraging the easy exchange of ideas.
In a design sense, open plan spaces benefit from their unobstructed light, ease of interaction and freedom of movement.
But the flip side of true open plan is that, for many people, the reality is not as rosy, with complaints ranging from unchecked noise to issues with concentration; increased stress levels to higher staff turnover.
“In an ultimate irony for a configuration that was supposed to foster communication, the open-plan layout is accused of reducing performance and productivity.”
A Brief History of the Open Plan Layout - GA Smart Building Blog
But, of course, great design can come to the rescue!
It is absolutely possible to transform these large, unconstrained spaces into beautiful, productive work environments using the design principle called zoning - but how?
Here’s how we do it the DesignTonic way.
How do we zone a workspace?
Whether we’re talking home or commercial interior design, the practice of zoning sees us divide a complete space into distinct sections - or zones - each with its own purpose or function.
How? We use a variety of design elements to zone a space - from physical dividers like partitions, shelving and furniture to different types and colours of lighting, or even flooring.
As a perfect example of using flooring to delineate a space, see how effectively a change of materials helps to mark out the breakout from the wider office space at TH Daniels (above).
And why?
Because this optimises how people use the space, allows us to cater for the diverse needs of your workforce and creates a more efficient and productive work environment.
What types of zones might you create?
Every business is different, and the zones you create should reflect what your employees need to do their best work every day.
Check out our expert blog “How to design an employee-centric office that helps everyone do their best work, every day”
But, to help fire your imagination, here are some of the ways we zone workspaces here at DesignTonic:
Collaborative Zones
Designed to encourage teamwork, brainstorming and group discussion, your collaborative zones might feature comfy coffee shop seating for informal work, cosy banquettes for more intimate productivity and screened informal meeting rooms, perhaps with conferencing facilities to connect internal and external teams and clients.
Focus Zones
One of the main grievances people have against fully open plan spaces is that the noise and movement all around is distracting, and therefore stressful and unproductive for focus tasks like writing, analysis and coding.
For times when staff need to concentrate undisturbed, quiet spots where they can hunker down and concentrate are key. And remember, your staff might need these quiet zones for both individual and small group work.
One of our favourite focus zone solutions is the “phone booth” pod - a retreat from the hustle of the wider office that is ergonomically and acoustically comfortable.
Shown here in the stunning workspace we designed for Shift Commerce, these pods can be configured to suit your needs - easily seating between 1-4 people in peace and privacy.
Formal Meeting Rooms and Boardrooms
Designed for formal discussions, presentations and face-to-face meetings, formal meeting rooms should be well equipped with all the tech they need, and - of course - dressed to impress visitors.
Your boardroom especially should represent your business and your brand impeccably. Like your reception area, this is a client-facing space, and needs to blend comfort, function and inspiration in equal measure.
Check out our 3 Boardroom Design Tips for the best meetings in town
DesignTonic X Mackenzie Stuart
Breakout Spaces
It’s no secret that the DesignTonic team love a good breakout - we all need rest and play in our working day, after all!
These wellness-focused zones give employees an ideal space to take a break, catch up and recharge, and can transform even a small area into something special that brightens in-office days and brings more balance to the work/life juggle.
Our favourite DesignTonic breakouts? We can’t choose!
We love a company bar, like the incredible breakout bar we created for Mackenzie Stuart (above).
Recreational areas are always popular and we’ve got a treasure trove of choice in the projects section of our site…
(Love a little direction? We particularly recommend you head here to ogle Mackenzie Stuart’s golf simulator and yoga room, before clicking here to explore the second floor of Charlton Morris, now home to a central bar, zen room and more!)
And it’s hard to beat a coffee shop space.
The brilliant breakout at the heart of Search Labs’ workspace includes loads of different multifunctional zones, all combining to enable relaxation, positivity and calm.
Private Offices
After being written off, private offices are having a bit of a moment.
The modern-day private office is far removed from the “us and them” corner suites of old, now filling the function of another type of focus space that works in harmony with contemporary ideals of inclusion. Because many of us now work between office and home, these spaces can be designed to be shared between the management team, and even opened up to become huddle spaces for the whole workforce when empty.
However you decide to use a private office, there’s no denying they can still be a fantastic enticement to encourage your best managers to spend more time in the workspace - and that’s a good enough reason to consider them on its own.
Read our 2 guiding rules for designing the perfect Private Office space
Reception Zones
First impressions definitely do count.
We make snap mental judgments in seconds, whether we’re deciding how we perceive a person, a place, a company - or all three - so it stands to reason that your office reception, the first space your clients see, needs to be at the top of your list when it comes to designing your perfect workplace.
Our minds make judgments in seconds that shape our perceptions of people, places and businesses alike. So it stands to reason that your office reception, being the initial space your clients see, needs to be high up on your list when you’re planning and designing your zones.
Check out the gorgeous reception space we designed for 21 Queen Street
The final word on zoning…
Zoning is a flexible concept that means you can tailor your workspace to perfectly suit your business’ specific needs and culture.
Effective zoning can enhance employee productivity, collaboration and wellbeing by creating the perfect overall environment to serve a range of tasks and activities.
And it also contributes to a more organised and efficient use of office space, meaning not a penny of that rent or purchase price is going to waste.
