Over the past decade, there has been a major shift in Australian office design with the rise of the open plan office. Open plan designs favor removing physical barriers like walls and cubicles in favor of creating more collaborative spaces. This has led many Australian businesses both large and small to reconfigure their office layout. According to reports, over 75% of offices now implement some form of open plan design compared to just 30% a decade ago.
Choosing The Right Furniture
When transitioning to an open plan office, choosing the right furniture is crucial. Office furniture must balance functionality with aesthetics to create a productive yet comfortable workspace. Key furniture considerations for an open plan office include:
Desks
For open plan desks, modular workstations are a popular choice as they allow for flexibility and easy reconfiguration. Materials like laminate and metal are durable options suited for high-traffic areas. Consider dual-monitor arms and CPU holders integrated under the worksurface. Height-adjustable desks also allow workers more flexibility.
Seating
Ergonomic office chairs on casters are ideal for open plan seating as they provide mobility and adjustability. Consider leatherette or mesh materials that are easy to clean. For casual seating areas, modular sofa systems and ottomans provide places for collaboration and impromptu meetings.
Storage
With limited privacy in open plans, overhead cabinets and bookshelves provide discreet storage solutions. Mobile pedestals deliver front-access overhead storage that rolls out of the way. Wall-mounted storage panels offer dividers while maintaining an open feeling. Lockers provide secure storage for personal items.
Panels And Screens
Acoustic panels and height-adjustable desktop screens improve privacy when needed within open desks. Mobile glassboard systems allow for collaboration while providing visual privacy from the rest of the office when closed. Screens double as functional whiteboards.
Lighting Considerations
Proper lighting is essential in an open plan to minimize eye strain and create distinct work zones. Pendant fixtures and task lights provide ample illumination for desktops. Sconces and accent lights introduce ambient lighting. LED lighting provides energy efficiency. Occupancy sensors help reduce power consumption.
Creating An Open Yet Focused Workspace
With the right furniture choices, open plan offices can be productive yet still offer privacy and focus zones when needed. Australia Office Furniture manufacturer Teknion offers a wide range of solutions suited for companies transitioning to open concept designs.
For Desks And Workstations:
Teknion's Helix and NORM systems consist of modular desks, returns, and overhead storage units that integrate cable management. Screens allow for privacy while seated. Their Vertex system provides mobile, height-adjustable desks on casters that encourage movement throughout the office space while still providing storage.
For Seating:
Teknion's Focus chair adjusts in multiple ergonomic positions with breathable mesh seating. The Nest collection provides lounge seating around work "neighborhoods" for impromptu meetings. Visitors can be accommodated with mobile scoop chairs.
Additional Storage Solutions:
Their Orbit vertical storage system provides secure overhead lockable locker storage on wheels. The Arc wall storage system mounts above workstations and screens to break up the openness into neighborhoods. Mobile pedestals on wheels fit snugly beneath desks.
Acoustic Dividers:
Teknion's Solus glass board system offers fully writable glass walls on tracks that glide closed for quiet focus time or open up for collaboration. Their acoustic felt Move wall system is easily reconfigured to create soft dividers or lounge areas.
Lighting Options:
Their Ergo task lighting integrates neatly onto desks to minimize glare. Suspended Sky pendant lights provide brightness from above. A mix of lighting types can be programmed through DLM controls to adjust brightness according to occupancy or schedules.
By choosing Australia Office Furniture options suited to open plan workflows from brands like Teknion, Australian businesses can create focused yet collaborative workspaces. The right furniture allows them to maximize employee comfort, productivity, and the real estate footprint of their offices. With these solutions, transitioning to an open plan need not come at the expense of privacy or concentration.
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Ravina Pandya, Content Writer, has a strong foothold in the market research industry. She specializes in writing well-researched articles from different industries, including food and beverages, information and technology, healthcare, chemical and materials, etc. (https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravina-pandya-1a3984191)
*Note:
1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it