The "Adaptable" Workplace
Right now there is a huge push in office design, specifically within
the scope of interior work, to design for a more adaptable work environment.
People don’t want to just sit at office desks in their cubicle all day. They
want informal meetings spaces. They want coffee bars. They want collaborative
rooms. They want private focus areas.
Adaptability and innovation seem to be themes in emerging design
ideas, but many office spaces are still very specific and over programmed. The
finished design “for flexibility” is completed before the users even begin inhabiting
and using the space. Maybe the current employees end up only using one collaborative
meeting space instead of the three that I have put in place.
What would it look like to allow the construction of the interior to
be more flexible and to happen as the employees began to work and decide how
the space should function for themselves? In Habraken’s writing he states, “Creativity
cannot define a profession [architecture]. Creative people are found in all
walks of life. They shape medicine, law, science, and engineering.” Are we
willing as architects to let go of some of the creative control that we feel we
must hold onto so tightly? What could possibly happen if we would?
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This is a great point. I can think of many examples of companies who are trying to create a more flexible and fun work environment, but if the actual people who will be working in the space aren't the ones who are making suggestions and decisions, the spaces will still most likely not be used to their fullest potential. I feel like in some ways though, people don't necessarily know what they want until they get a taste of what they could have. For this new wave of flexible and fun office spaces, it seems necessary to design a very flexible shell...fill it with options....allow the users to inhabit the space for a while...assess the use levels and discuss with the clients again... then redesign to create changes where needed. These clients may need a "trial version" to figure out what they actually want!
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me about "temporary urban design" when some spatial solutions for a city are tested by using temporary removable materials and objects. In an urban environment, this is a very popular instrument, and this is understandable - a city is used by so many that any solution should not be permanent. There were cases when after testing the projects were completely remade because users did not like them or used them in some unexpected ways. I am wondering if this method really could be applied to architecture more often?
DeleteI would love to see that! I know that in urban setting the cost of doing so is usually not too high so I wonder how much would it be in architecture. It seems a little more complicated to me but I do wonder if it could be done.
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ReplyDeletelove that you reference Habraken's quote, "Creativity cannot define a profession [architecture]. Creative people are found in all walks of life." I personally found this quote to be convicting. I think architecture is communicated by us and perceived by others as a "creative profession," but Habraken is right when he says it cannot be defined by that. I think architects have to give up some creative control in order to share it with others that are integral in making the built environment a reality. Because if we are honest, we have to admit that it wouldn't be possible without all of those other people: engineers, consultants, contractors, builders, clients, and users all play an important role in the creative process that is architecture and design.
ReplyDeleteAt some point all of the flexibility jargon become buzz words, don't you think? I think that it is important to talk about it and 'speak values into existence' in the sense that the more it is discussed the more solutions are conceived, but I am not certain that a lot of companies actually go to the full extent to implementing the flexibility that they wish to advertise to clients and potential employers. Some do and it is clear in their output.
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