Balance between work and the feeling of home

Het super hippe interieur

When in the media is being spoken about office interiors, mainly the hip offices with open offices, lounge sofas, coffee corners and swings get a lot of attention. The creative office environments dominate the media. Nice for young companies like Google, but it does create a misleading image. The average employee doesn't feel at home in this kind of play garden. 

Flex place or annoyance?

A flex place is not suitable for everyone. The office manager sitting in a different place every time? Or a department with a lot of files and confidential information? Also the somewhat less young employees are not interested in a lot of changes on the work floor. This generation does not want to go 'with a laptop to the Coffee Company'. They feel more at home in a more peaceful environment with their own desk.

Interior evolution, Not revolution

Open workplaces improve interaction and new ideas. But who does not feel at home in the workplace does not function well and does not take care of this environment. That's why I believe in luring people from their comfort zone, not forcing them. I will go one step further, not ten steps. For example, open workspaces with high closets or semi-transparent curtains in between. With spaces where you can have a private discussion. It is all about finding a balance between the wished look, the functional demands and needs of the company and the connection to the employees. How do employees get enthusiastic?

The employer in charge

Feeling at home is something else as behaving like it's your home. After spending a lot of time in Belgium I notice we sometimes overdo it. Employees comfortably put old stuff from home at the office. Also in terms of involvement the balance is sometimes missing. Take thing like rest and daylight into account, but the colour on the walls does not have to be the staff's favourite. The employer must keep the control.

Joke van Kerschaver is architect and interior designer and has her own studio: INSUITE in Breda.