_Deconstructing the office - blurring the lines between work and play

As firms relocate to new offices in London, it is increasingly common to introduce Activity-Based Working (ABW) areas. Rather than the office consisting of rows of desks, a range of work zones suited to the task at hand are provided.

Staff move fluidly between the different zones, creating efficiency savings for the firm. ABW offices improve staff interaction, which increases knowledge sharing and boosts morale. The office is also turned into a home-away-from home, which improves quality of life.

Here are the five key elements of the ABW office.

1.Light and circulation

ABW offices aim to get natural sunlight to as many people as possible via atriums and minimising the use of partitions. Internal staircases and the absence of blocking lines of desks encourage people to go speak to colleagues in person rather than sending emails (a common source of miscommunication).

2. Interaction areas 

Often resembling a branch of Starbucks rather than a traditional office, this area reflects the need to dip in and out of interaction with others and screen time. This fit-out increases the likelihood of chance encounters and conversations overheard, promoting knowledge sharing.

3. Huddle zones

In an office with no fixed desks, a problem can be finding the rest of your team. ABW offices often use decoration or different styles of fit-out to create identifiable locations. A working day may in the future begin with a text from a colleague that says, “We’re all in ‘the garden’, come join us”.

4. Quiet space

These range from one-person booths for those with a report to write, to clusters of desks behind glass partitions for a group project with a tight deadline. Also, short-stay mini-pods are dotted around the floor, so people can take that confidential mobile phone call.

5. Home in the office

 Free buffets, 1980s-style arcade games, yoga areas, and table football. As the boundary between work and home blurs, firms want their staff to think of work as home and thus provide an office people want to spend more time in. Locker rooms also allow staff to jog or cycle to work, or change before going out in the evening.

For help and advice on maximising office space, improving communication and inspiring your teams contact Knight Frank's Occupiers & Workplace Consultancy.