Office and Co-Working Space

Planning a modern workplace

Vitra's Headline by Mario & Claudio Bellini not only supports the back and lumbar regions, but also ergonomically supports the head and neck

For those seeking to set up a contemporary office there are a number of things to keep in mind to ensure employee satisfaction and continuing good health. While modern offices are characterized by ergonomic office chairs that are comfortable even after long periods of sitting, and protect the back of the employee in the long term, height-adjustable desks are increasingly taking their place in contemporary offices. With such it is important that they can be adjusted quickly and are user-friendly; such desks are useful when several employees share a workplace - for example in open-plan offices or co-working spaces, and also because they allow for switching between working standing up or sitting down, which is particularly valuable for health from an ergonomic point of view. In addition come questions of how much natural daylight an office space receives while plants help increase humidity and well-being - all relevant points that all too often are neglected.

Antonio Citterio's ID Mesh is part of Vitra's ID chairs collection, its 3D mesh lining ensures ventilation and comfortable seating

In addition to lighting design and ergonomic office swivel chairs and tables, the topic of acoustics in the workplace is becoming an increasingly relevant topic, especially in times, where office cells are a thing of the past and the trend towards open-plan offices and new forms of work such as same as co-working spaces. It is important to acoustically shield areas where there is a lot of telephone calls or communicating amongst colleagues, from areas where highly concentrated work is required. Acoustic panels such as the USM Privacy Panels, but also cleverly oriented furniture can help. In addition, it is important to have enough meeting and conference rooms and alternative locations for making phone calls, and thereby to ensure productive and relaxed work for all employees.