The contemporary workplace is in a continual state of flux and workspaces today are expected to reinforce the company culture through their planning and design vocabulary, instill a sense of belonging and well-being and spark innovation and exchange of ideas so, functionally, the 21st-century office can be purpose-built to suit the specific requirements of an organization. It must also encourage social interaction—through spill-outs, common areas and breakout zones—to create and foster a sense of community and belonging among the workforce.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Rachna Agarwal, Founder and Design Ideator at Studio IAAD, revealed, “The cookie-cutter similarity of lobby designs has dominated the interior schemes of workspaces for decades. However, polished surfaces shining under unflattering lighting and a long reception desk can be boring and rather uninviting. To create an impressive lobby/reception area, one must anticipate the lobby as a space for social interaction that caters to community interaction but in a less pretentious way.”
According to her, here are some ways to do so:
- Set up a more personable experience where guests can enjoy a cocktail while mingling with other guests. Add a television to transform this area into a social hotspot to connect.
- Break up spaces creatively into open and enclosed areas with plugin options for various devices.
- Keep the colour scheme warm and welcoming instead of using stark colours.
She advised, “Remember that the reception or the lobby area isn't a selling point for your commercial space yet it creates a bespoke welcoming experience. Reimagine this area with a smooth traffic flow to set up dynamic spaces where your employees and guests would love to hang out.”
{{/usCountry}}She advised, “Remember that the reception or the lobby area isn't a selling point for your commercial space yet it creates a bespoke welcoming experience. Reimagine this area with a smooth traffic flow to set up dynamic spaces where your employees and guests would love to hang out.”
{{/usCountry}}Asha Sairam, Principal at Studio Lotus, highlighted how an office structured and operated can have a direct consequence on organizational culture and said, “It is crucial for designers to interpret a company’s structure, ethos, and culture it seeks to nurture in order that the workplace is representative of those values. The reception area presents a great opportunity to create a memorable first impression on visitors and clients, besides offering a seamless transition from the entrance to the workstations.”