4 Awe Inspiring Office Cubicles From Around The World

 Most of us spend most of our time at work in our cubicles. Contrary to their purpose, these boring, drab and insipid boxes are creative black holes that send innovation into oblivion. These dull, box shaped workstations almost never reflect the personality of the people occupying them, and to a certain extent are responsible for killing the ardor and zeal of young vibrant employees.

This is precisely why today’s offices are moving away from old-school cubicles to newer, more modular office furniture systems. In fact, cubicles today aren’t cube-shaped at all! Cubicles are being designed in a manner that augment productivity, enhance efficiency and get the creative juices flowing.

The impact of creative cubicles that use contemporary modular office furniture extends well beyond the internal employee-productivity benefits it serves; a client visiting the office will get the message that yours is a modern office, one that defies conventional norms. Creative cubicles are like a breath of fresh air in a society beset by mindless conformity, a refreshing change from the humdrum 9-5 corporate workstations.

Here are 5 of the coolest cubicle designs from around the world —

• Google, Zurich HQ — a trendsetter of all that is ‘cool’ and modern, it’s easy to anticipate Google finding a place in this list. Located in Zurich, these bee-hive like ‘cubicles’ are designed in such a way so as to stir the creative “beans” of the employees, and stimulate innovation and collaboration. Google has been a pioneer of sorts when it comes to creative office designs, and the best part is that no two Google offices are the same.

Image source: officesnapshots.com

• The Archipod — this was specifically designed for people who wanted home offices but didn’t have the requisite space inside the house. Meant to be placed in backyards, the Archipod is a unique, eco-friendly prefab garden office made of timber floors and shingle siding. It comes with air conditioning and is insulated with fibre-glass made of recycled glass. Even calling this a cubicle would be a crime!

Image source: inc.com

• Habitable Polyhedron — this shelter-like relaxation space was designed to act as an escape route from the daily mundane routine. Harnessing natural light, this truncated-cubic octahedron shape is used as a workstation. Its symmetrical interior is cleverly designed to stir the employees’ creative beans and maximise productivity.

Image source: inc.com

• Pons and Huot — this other-worldly office was designed by French architect Christian Pottgiesser. The emphasis was laid on creating a workspace that was spacious, airy and intelligently stylish. The glass bubbles on each desk are made of transparent Plexiglas that help dampen the acoustics in the open atrium space. These domes keep out noise without restricting visibility.

Image source: pottgiesser.fr

4 Design And Decor Trends At the Work Place

An ideal workplace needs to be user-friendly and attractive. Research states that organizational design, changing work styles, mobile technology, technological advances, and other demographics affect the productivity of the workplace. Keeping this in mind, an office space needs to be efficient and comfortable to create an exclusive and engaging experience for its employees.

Given below are some of the designs and décor trends that are seen at modern office suites and have taken the world by a storm. These in all likelihood are sure to continue to lead and shape the planning and designing of future offices to come.

1. Comfortable chairs and furniture

From executive office chairs to task chairs, it is the chair that is used more than any other object at the workplace. The idea is to have a chair that has lumbar support and elevating and comforting the back should be a priority. This helps keeping the spine straight without discomfort. As a result there is a surge in ergonomic chairs and even alternate seating options such as gym balls, couches and even a standing desk!

2. Ample space and total mobility

Open plan offices with enough space for movement is a growing trend that doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon. With the advent of technology there is a massive rise in the use of smartphones, tablets and notebooks making it easier for people to be independent of their location. Offices are reconfiguring the office space to facilitate this new breed of employees that are no longer bound to their desks. This gives rise to productive spaces, common rooms and spaces designed to enhance collaboration.

3. Color Layout and Designs

Work today involves creativity and emphasizes ideas and individuality. Conventional designs are long forgotten and people have embraced new designs and color schemes. Bright and cheerful spaces have paved the way forward in place of the sterile and bland office décor of the past. Office spaces are now designed to inspire and instigate and pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

4. Eco-friendly

With growing times it is important to meet social obligations to keep not only the environment, but also the workplace eco-friendly. Thus, a lot of offices are making use of glass and other materials to design their executive office suites and furniture. The shift to ecofriendly furniture reflects the global acceptance of environmental concerns and their importance. There is also a growing breed of furniture designers who offer premium office furniture that is made of eco-friendly and recyclable material.

No matter what the trend reads at the workplace, make sure you have fun at work! After all, what is life if it is all about work and no play? ;)

6 Colors to Help Improve Workplace Efficiency

Lackluster offices are productivity’s biggest enemy. Studies have shown that office walls and furniture that are dull and bland induce, to a certain extent, a feeling synonymous to sadness and depression. 

Hence, choosing the right colors in your offices can have a profound impact on productivity. An office that comprises a medley of vibrant hues increases output and instills creativity in the people working there.

The impact of colors though, isn’t limited to the internal aspect; it sends a strong message to people coming to your office for a meeting or conference. For example, the use of bright, vibrant colors on walls and furniture indicates that you’re a fun, young and quirky place to work with. It’s not a question of form-over-function, but more of narrowing down to a combination that incorporates the best of both worlds.

Here are a few tips on the right colors for your office – 

1. White, minimalist furniture 

Offices that claim to be modern and futuristic have embraced the use of white furniture. The color white, when used on executive office furniture, exemplifies futuristic design and innovative thinking. Tech companies that lay emphasis on their R&D and innovation can incorporate minimalist, white furniture to accentuate these aspects.

Image source: s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com 

2. Bright, vibrant colors

Studies have shown that bright hues help in alleviating stress and increasing productivity. The use of vibrant colors in decorating offices depicts openness, forward thinking and a sense of collaboration. When people come to your office for a meeting, the first thing that comes to mind is that your office is a fun and quirky place. 

Image source: cdn.designrulz.com

3. Red 

The color red, according to experts, stimulates you physically, and invokes a sense of urgency; so if there’s something that you want your employees to attend to urgently, red is your color. Red works best when there’s a physical job at hand; if yours is a workshop that repairs vehicles (a physical task), then blue isn’t the best color to motivate employees. Red provides the required physical stimulation. 

Image source: happilyeverbefore.net

4. Yellow

This color is viewed by psychologists as the color of optimism, energy, and freshness. It is perfect for an office that has designers, writers and other creative professionals, as it spurs their creative minds. 

Image source: upload.wikimedia.org

5. Blue and Green

These colors on the other hand, are known to improve efficiency and focus. They help employees stay calm and happy, thus indirectly increasing efficiency and focus. 

Often said to be the most productive color, blue works best if you’re an accountant. 

But don’t make the mistake of using only solid blue; add a splash of orange to introduce balance, and a bit of emotion. 

Image source: upload.wikimedia.org

6. Black

If yours is a luxury business or high fashion company, then black is your color. A lot of high-end fashion brands use black in their logo, so using black furniture for your office will reiterate the same —luxury. Black is a color that can make anything look elegant, and gives things a distinct, exclusive look; the same also applies to your modern executive office furniture. 

Image source: office-turn.com

Different colors thus will help create different kinds of environments at your workplace. Depending on the type of business, you can use these colors and their shades to inculcate a certain mood.

And these days, furniture of all kinds is available at the click of a button. So if you think renovating or decorating your office is a daunting and laborious task, fret not, you can find a large variety of office furniture online. 

Workspaces of Famous People

There’s always this one place that inspires you and makes you feel most comfortable—that gets your creative juices flowing. This place often becomes a favorite spot and you always come back here when you want to do something out of the box. It can be as simple as a bench in the park or your personal desk. Before your mind starts drifting to that spot let me take you to the workspaces of famous people in history. Because just like you they had their favorite spots too where they made plans to change the world.

Image source: gizmodo.com

The mathematic equations on the black board is enough to recognize this work space as one belonging to someone with a scientific bent of mind. If you still didn’t get the hint then its Albert Einstein’s office. Captured by Ralph Morse hours after Einstein’s death.

Image source: spd.org

You might have come across this picture a number of times before, and if you didn’t then the large Apple desktop on the table says it all. Yes, you got it right it’s none other than Steve Jobs busy working at his home office. I know you were expecting some lavish executive office furniture and an organized office but this is how Jobs preferred to work.

Image source: architecture.about.com

Wondering what a billiards room doing in this list? That’s not a just a billiard room but famous author Mark Twain’s workspace. This is where he wrote his famous works including ‘The Prince and the Pauper’ and ‘Life on the Mississippi’. Take inspiration, break the rules and get creative with modern executive office furniture.

Image source: commons.wikimedia.org

While we are talking about famous people how can we miss out on the man who gave us ‘Anna Karenina?’ Leo Tolstoy’s small workspace is an inspiration to all the struggling writers and reinforces the idea that creativity can be found at the smallest of places.

Image source: vi.sualize.us

While some will be mesmerized by the beauty of the mid-century furniture others might find it boring. For those who think this place looks boring, let me tell you it’s the place where ‘The Jungle Book’ was born. Rudyard Kipling’s organized workspace cum library is the perfect place for getting creative.

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Offices In The World

An eco-friendly office bears testimony to the values and beliefs an organisation holds, one that brings out its sensitivity and respect towards the environment. Ecological awareness is the need of the hour, and this factor has permeated core decision making at several large MNCs with companies striving to bring their work spaces closer to the ecological harmony. 

An environment-friendly office comprises of a setup where the office furniture, the location, the interior and exterior design are in harmony with ecological sustainability. 

Here are 5 offices that are famous for being eco-friendly, in no particular order:  

1. Nike European Headquarters

Located in Hilversum, Netherlands, this office encompasses a host of eco-friendly innovations,       such as—a differently shaped roof that collects rainwater to irrigate gardens and flush the toilets, saving the company 4 million litres of clean water every year.

This office also has basketball and tennis courts made from recycled training shoes. In a process called 'Nike Grind', Nike used around 4,000 pairs of shoes to make each court.

 

Image source: metropolismag.com

2. Google, Inc. 

Google, arguably one of the most successful software corporations of this century believes in eco-friendly and sustainable development. With its commitment to grow sustainably, Google has eliminated a large number of toxic materials found in buildings, along with using natural light and natural resources intelligently.

But, building design is just one aspect of their concern for ecological sustainability; even getting to Google is ‘green’, with Google encouraging programs for walking or biking to work, initiating a car-sharing system with electric vehicles, etc. 

Image source: i.dailymail.co.uk

3. Bullitt Centre, Seattle

Touted as one of the greenest commercial buildings in the world, this building has set a new benchmark for environmentally friendly design and construction. This building is energy-neutral – that means, it produces as much electricity as it uses, which also makes it carbon-neutral. 

The building even supplies and treats all of its own water by using an underground cistern to capture rainwater. 

Bullitt Centre is on track to pass the ‘self-sufficiency’ test, and once it does, it will be known as a ‘living building’.

Image source: themodernape.com

4. Fusionopolis Green Skyscraper, Singapore 

A green skyscraper, something that was the unthinkable, has just been designed by a UK-based architect Ken Yeang. The building is virtually covered in plants and trees that run across the ‘spine’ of the building. In fact, each floor has its own landscaped garden terraces that are fed by natural sunlight directed to them via prisms. This ‘spine’ of vegetation serves as an insulation during winter, and provides passive cooling during summer. 

Image source: s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com

5. Daiken-Met Architects Office, Gifu, Japan

Perhaps the most innovative of them all is the Daiken-Met Architects Office in Gifu. The firm had been facing trouble finding office spaces to lease, so, being architects, they created their own office from reused shipping containers. 

An act like this speaks volumes about the architects’ creativity and their commitment towards building a sustainable future. While using modern executive office furniture that is made of eco-friendly materials, this space is also designed to be moved if necessary, and even has an apartment on the top floor. 

Image source: m2.behance.net

10 Single Office Seating Options At NEOCON That We Love

NEOCON 2015 was bigger and better than last year and defined some trends that encapsulate brilliance. Minimalism and sustainability shone through most of the pieces this year. Bold colors and an eye for detail were reflected in the artwork, seating arrangements and textiles. The growing popularity of height adjustable desks was discussed and debated throughout.

What we <3 was the range of seating arrangements. Here’s a list of 10 that captured our attention and can easily be used as part of Executive office furniture design in NYC.

 Image Source : stage.neocon.com

 The harmonious balance of striking colors combined with simplistic efficiency makes these chairs a favorite.

 Image Source : stage.neocon.com

A classic material like wood in an ergonomic design makes this a perfect modern office furniture in NYC.

 Image Source : stage.neocon.com

Bar stools in pop colors for that casual work environment that we all love. Set them up anywhere for an impromptu meeting.

 Image Source : stage.neocon.com

Sustainability meets durability in these chairs that can be used indoors or outdoors.

 Image Source : stage.neocon.com

There is always space for a pretty ottoman in your office. Place it anywhere and add beauty to the place.

 Image Source : stage.neocon.com

 Get enveloped in comfort with these chairs that almost remind you of calla lilies.

 Image Source : stage.neocon.com

 An amalgamation of materials is used to create this piece that will make head turns every time.

 Image Source : stage.neocon.com

 This modern office furniture design in NYC is made for all those lazy moments or power nap sessions.

 Image Source : stage.neocon.com

 Designed to rest your derriere in style, we’re calling dibs on these lounge chairs.

 Image Source : stage.neocon.com

 Geometrical designs will never go out of style. Make a bold statement with this seating arrangement.

Office Furniture Styles For A Brand New Perspective

1.  Eco-friendly furniture

Deforestation has led to climatic changes and the effects of pollutants in the air have caused irreversible environmental damage. While there is much that we cannot do, small steps taken by organizations can have far reaching consequences. Go green to do your part to keep the planet healthy and choose furniture that is Eco-friendly. Fewer resources and pollution have brought about a massive change.

Quite a few places offer office furniture online that is made of recycled or re purposed materials. You could also use Eco friendly wood such as bamboo for flooring and furniture. Organizations can also choose recyclable furniture, which can be disposed in an environmentally sustainable way when it reaches the end of its life span.

2. Minimalist furniture

The work space has shrunk. People are building home offices. It is time to bid goodbye to large and heavy furniture pieces that occupy space. Less ornate furniture gives organizations the flexibility to try a more contemporary style. Swap cluttered spaces for airy, breezy rooms and heavy chairs for fun and portable stools. Lean, simple and elegant furniture that takes up little space are perfect for the modern work place and reflect the changing perspectives of organizations today.

Whether it is sleek chrome and glass modern designer furniture or neon colors and funky plastics, contemporary furniture and the minimalist aesthetic go hand in hand. No matter which look reflects your organization’s aesthetics, switch to minimalistic furniture to stay on trend!

3. Multi functional furniture

Smaller spaces cannot accommodate a lot of furniture and need to make sure the space is used optimally. Multi functional furniture is ideal for spaces like these. For example, modern furniture NYC makes space for additional storage or can even transform from a table into a chair depending on the situation. Another great example of this kind of furniture is stack able furniture, which is always a great space saver in a modern office, especially a start-up.

This type of furniture is great for conference rooms, meeting rooms, all-purpose rooms and offices that use hot desks. It is extremely effective in task based rooms as well. While it cannot be the mainstay of an organization’s office furniture, it is definitely worth having at the work place.