Spaces for work

The workplace project

Spaces intended for work activities require careful planning since they are environments in which users live for a large part of the day. With the aim of ensuring the psychophysical well-being of the worker, the design process must comply with current legislation and follow ergonomic, acoustic and lighting technical dictates. Each activity must be carried out in complete safety and freedom by all users of the company premises. Depending on the type of task and work carried out within the environments, during the design phase it is a good idea to choose the most appropriate spatial organization and distribution typology. Finally, the choice of design and furnishings makes the spaces aesthetically pleasing and comfortable, in order to ensure optimal performance of work. It is therefore clear that the project regarding these spaces is very complex since it must satisfy different needs, accommodate a varied user base and ensure safety and accessibility. For this reason, it is a good idea to divide the design process into actual phases that follow one another and upon completion of which it is possible to achieve the set objective:

1. Choose the type of office according to the activities that need to be carried out there
2. Study the expected user flow in the environments
3. Organize spaces according to specific needs
4. Designing a “basic” work cell in the case of multi-cell offices
5. Choosing furniture to ensure comfort and functionality
6. Plan for accessory paths and spaces

First of all, it is good to define the place according to the activities that will take place there, since the needs change and consequently also the spatial organization and the necessary furniture. For example, a professional technical office will require a subdivision between the customer reception area and the reception rooms, while a company office will be more complex given the larger size and the greater number of workers it will accommodate. In fact, it is really important to consider the flow of people who go to the work space in order to ensure functionality and comfort.

Furthermore, depending on the activities that are carried out, the organization of the spaces is determined: single units for tasks that require concentration, open spaces for the continuous exchange of information between colleagues. The furniture must also meet the needs of the target in order to guarantee functionality and flexibility. All the steps that concern the design must be based on the regulations in force regarding the safety and health of the worker. In this regard, some rules are established to be followed faithfully: these are technical precepts that establish the quality standards for ventilation, microclimate, lighting and acoustics of the environments.

The specific regulations are:

Legislative Decree 81/2008 Annex IV – Workplace requirements

It protects the stability of buildings that house offices and work spaces, their solidity, the maximum expected loads and their correct maintenance. Furthermore, the minimum dimensions that each room must respect are listed, the openings necessary for correct lighting and ventilation and all the devices provided for the safety of users. Finally, the correct design of the connecting elements (stairs, elevators) and those that make up the rooms (walls, floors and attics).

Legislative Decree 242/96 on the protection of workers' health and safety in the workplace

The types of office

Each organizational typology is able to satisfy the requirements necessary for a specific work activity so that it is carried out at its best. One of the first criteria used to determine the spatial organization of an office is represented by the type of work that is carried out within the environments.

If the activity requires attention and is carried out individually, a cellular layout is preferable. This is composed of individual units that are separate from each other and often overlook a common corridor; the rooms are intended for a single person and sometimes for small groups of workers who work closely together. In this case, a design module can be established that serves as a matrix and can be multiplied for projects of varying sizes.

This scheme can be considered as a “typical aggregation” consisting of a support surface (desk), a seat, a light source and a shelf useful for arranging documents and folders. Furthermore, depending on the company policy, a fixed computer can be provided (not always because some companies provide employees with laptops in order to facilitate smart working) usually placed on the table. If the separation between individual cells does not include dividing walls but a single distribution within a large environment, it will be necessary to insert flexible and screening elements, in order to ensure greater privacy.

The second most common type of office is characterized by open space environments: open rooms, without functional subdivisions, which contain numerous workstations. This organization is perfect for all those activities that require close collaboration between different people and sometimes between groups of workers who carry out their tasks in teams.

Naturally, the absence of physical screens between one area and another presupposes that the office activity in question does not require too much concentration and autonomy. A different situation is that which concerns offices divided into zones and with a floor plan divided according to functional areas. The work carried out there is not independent but presupposes the continuous exchange of information between one department and another. The design of these spaces is created with the aim of encouraging teamwork and includes rooms where, in addition to the workstations, there are common equipment essential to everyone (printers, plotters, technological equipment).

Finally, you can find offices with a combined floor plan that stand out for their high flexibility and versatility needed to accommodate different professional figures. In fact, this type of environment is designed for both group and individual work and has its origins in the need to ensure a space that can change during the day depending on the need (alternation of communication between colleagues, comparison, individual work). Each type of distribution corresponds to specific activities and it is possible to report some examples of situations that take place there:

• Cellular plant > consulting, accounting, IT reality
• Open floor plan > large telecommunication, financial and administrative companies
• Plant divided into zones > insurance, communication agencies
• Combined plant > design and planning studios, creative editorial offices

Although the planimetric differentiation remains depending on the catchment area that the spaces are used to accommodate, in recent years there has been a growing interest in ensuring greater adaptability to the needs of the moment. Work activity today involves the mixing of professionals with different training and consequently the collaboration between workers who need different spaces and services. In order to ensure the optimal performance of daily work, it is therefore of fundamental importance to design places that include collective areas, individual spaces and intermediate areas for exchange and communication.

The spatial organization

As previously mentioned, the space dedicated to work activities has undergone numerous changes in recent years, due to changing needs. This is how the clear distinction between single-cell, multi-cell and open space offices is disappearing, in favor of highly flexible places, designed to accommodate activities to be carried out independently and in teams. Furthermore, the workplace often hosts not only offices but also rooms where meetings take place, meetings accessible by external members, warehouses, archives and service spaces.

This functional mix presupposes some design measures in terms of acoustic and lighting comfort. In fact, it is good that the rooms designed to accommodate a large number of people, often equipped with large screens and audiovisual systems, are appropriately acoustically isolated, in order to ensure concentration and privacy in adjacent areas. Similarly, depending on the need, it is necessary to ensure a good level of lighting and, conversely, darkening, in all those spaces intended for projections and presentations. To this end, auxiliary systems must be inserted that are able to calibrate the light depending on the moment. If you are in large spaces where different activities are carried out for heterogeneous users, suitable flexible dividing modules will be essential, which can be placed where necessary to divide the surface in order to make it functional to the variable activity that takes place there.

If you are in offices divided into zones, it is good that each environment respects the minimum dimensions to guarantee safety and comfort to the worker. Sometimes there are rules established by the regional legislation of the territory in which you operate, but in the absence of real regulations it is essential to consider some measures to be respected. The different environments that make up the workplace are classified and regulated according to the specific function they cover.

The rooms where the actual work activity takes place must guarantee comfort and safety. Each individual room must be at least 2,70 m high and measure 9 m3, since each worker must have at least 1 m8. It is necessary that there are always openings designed to guarantee a good level of natural lighting during the daytime; each opening must measure at least 2,40/XNUMX of the floor area of ​​the room in question. In rare circumstances, for example in shops or small offices, it may happen that the surface area useful for work activity is distributed on two levels: this is the case of the mezzanine. For this particular type, the height of the mezzanine room and the one below must never be less than XNUMX m; furthermore, the presence of appropriate parapets that protect against accidental falls is mandatory.

Stairs must be properly designed (easy and non-slip tread and riser) and access regulated by law. Although the core of these places is represented by the offices, there are other rooms that are of fundamental importance for all those activities complementary to the work one. An example of this are the service rooms, designed to support every type of activity: corridors, connecting spaces, archives, toilets. Positioned according to their use, they foresee discontinuous use by those who work at the site in question and those who pass through for appointments, visits, training and maintenance activities. All rooms must have a minimum height of 2,40 m and can be found on the various floors above ground or in the basement.

In the case of warehouses and archives, these are often located in the basement because they are large, they can accommodate large structures that house documents and paper folders but also clothing and large objects in the case of commercial and production companies. The minimum dimensions depend on the use of the room: for toilets there is a minimum of 1-1,2 mXNUMX taking into account that there must always be at least one service for the disabled. This type of environment requires the mandatory inclusion of a hallway that separates them from the work spaces. All rooms must be ventilated directly or indirectly and properly lit. Finally, in the case of medium-large companies, there can be rooms to support work activities such as the canteen, the infirmary and the reception areas. Also for these environments there are minimum dimensions and air-lighting standards to be respected.

Parameters for environmental comfort

The primary objective that the design of environments intended for work activities must set itself is to ensure the well-being and safety of the worker, because only through these conditions can the maximization of the final results be achieved. For this reason, it is necessary to consider some principles of fundamental importance. The purpose of the entire design process is to make the work environments performant and comfortable from a thermal, acoustic and lighting point of view.

– Visual comfort

Starting from the conformation of the environment, the function that takes place in the specific area and the needs of the users, it is good to distinguish the right level of lighting that is needed, also in relation to the natural light intensity present in the environments. Inside a building for work use, the areas intended for the actual tasks (desks, common machines for printing and other tasks) will need more light than, for example, the relaxation corners inserted for the coffee break.

The reception and information area must also be equipped with good lighting, preferably scenic or in any case designed on the coordinated image of the company, because it is the business card of the entire headquarters. The lighting study represents an important aspect in the design of the working environment, since it must ensure adequate visual comfort, essential for the correct performance of the planned activities. To this end, it is necessary to avoid the creation of shaded or over-lit areas, through a correct distribution of light sources and the choice of lights calibrated on the individual function. Only in this way will an atmosphere be obtained that can stimulate work and at the same time not tire the eyes of those who spend most of the day at the video terminal.

The reference values ​​used in the office lighting design are established by the UNI 10380 standard. The devices are chosen considering classes A and B which respectively include light sources with medium-high and high performance. Furthermore, in recent years particular attention has been paid to energy saving especially in workplaces where lights and electronic machinery are used for most of the day, causing huge consumption. For this reason, it is good to optimize investment costs and at the same time contribute to the containment of energy expenditure, through the use of LED lighting devices.

Given the intended use of offices, the optimal choice is represented by neutral-colored lamps, with a color temperature of 4000K and devices positioned strategically to ensure diffused, punctual light and avoid unpleasant reflections on the PC screen. It is therefore clear that each choice is weighed on the functionality and need of each individual area.

Furthermore, thanks to smart technologies, offices today are equipped with systems for customizing light according to the taste and needs of the worker. In fact, it is good to give the possibility of regulating the temperature and color of each device in order not to tire the eyes and thus be able to carry out work activities in a comfortable way. The latest generation products are equipped with sensors that recognize certain areas of the office and therefore provide lighting designed for the specific need, they self-regulate according to the natural light present and are activated only when they intercept the human presence. For this reason, today in the company, each workstation can also be customized in terms of technical lighting.

– Thermal comfort

Maintaining a pleasant microclimate inside offices is a fundamental prerogative in order to ensure optimal performance by users. To guarantee ideal comfort, it is good to establish the thermo-hygrometric characteristics that the environments must possess depending on the location and the period of the year and the internal air changes necessary to guarantee its quality.

To this end, it is essential that there is an adequate number of openings, thanks to which air can flow naturally. In fact, if there are no windows or they are not enough, it will be necessary to install special air conditioning and ventilation systems. It is in fact essential to guarantee healthy, quality air to all office occupants as established by current legislation. For this reason, it is good that there are no toxic substances in the air and that in the presence of air conditioning systems, careful maintenance and cleaning of the relevant filters and vents is carried out. As for the ideal temperature to maintain inside the rooms, it will be shaped by the physical characteristics of the spaces and their components as well as by the time of year. The reference values ​​for obtaining internal comfort are around 22°C in summer and 19°C in winter with a relative humidity rate of around 50%. To avoid an excessive increase in temperature during the summer season, it is good to equip the building's windows with curtains and screening devices. Furthermore, the choice of equipping the systems with thermostats, capable of regulating the temperature according to need, would guarantee significant savings in terms of energy and money.

– Acoustic comfort

If proper lighting of the workstations and a balanced microclimate ensure the well-being of the worker, the absence of unpleasant noises is also of fundamental importance. From a design point of view, in fact, there are important acoustic requirements that, if observed, contribute to the most correct performance of work activities.

Currently, the spread of open space environments that bring together a large number of employees presents the problem of overlapping sounds and noises. For example, the acoustic reverberation caused by chatter between colleagues is very annoying to the point of negatively affecting the worker's performance. By decreasing concentration and increasing stress and tiredness, even psychophysical well-being is put to the test. However, to overcome this type of problem, it is possible to find a solution by identifying the cause of the disturbance and using sound-absorbing solutions that act as an obstacle to the propagation of sound waves. This type of product, often represented by flexible panels that are easily adaptable thanks to the color and material variations, guarantees a considerable increase in acoustic comfort, without the need to intervene on the structure of the building.

Although the example of the free-plan office is perhaps the most complex in terms of noise disturbance, even offices divided into individual workstations can present the same difficulties. In this case, it is very important to include acoustic masking systems thanks to which a sound similar to a fan is reproduced and then spread evenly throughout the room. Furthermore, the false ceiling must ensure high sound-absorbing performance and guarantee acoustic insulation. The limit values ​​established by the legislation are around 50 dBA and if exceeded, physical disorders such as tiredness and fatigue may occur. There are numerous furnishings on the market to assist with acoustic protection: seats equipped with risers designed to act as an obstacle to the propagation of sounds and sofas with high edges positioned to enclose and envelop the user who desires privacy.

The choice of furniture

In environments intended for work activities, the choice of furniture is of fundamental importance for the correct performance of daily tasks. The first aspect to consider concerns the dimensions and the type of floor plan of the environments: open space offices, single cells and mixed compartments will require different furniture. In fact, depending on the type of activity to be carried out there, the occupants of the building will have particular needs.

The fundamental prerogative is that each individual component ensures comfort and functionality even before the aesthetic result. Inside complex corporate headquarters, the areas intended for reception and welcome must be equipped with various seats and counters sized so as not to hinder communication between the public and employees. It is necessary that this area is always clean, adequately lit and that it respects the corporate image since it is the first accessible space for those arriving from the outside. In this regard, there must be a complete absence of architectural barriers and elements that could hinder free circulation.

Even the areas intended for breaks must be cared for and designed to ensure comfort and relaxation, thanks to the inclusion of lounges and food and drink dispensers. As for the layout of the actual offices, it is necessary to establish a "basic" module to which complements can be added according to need. This matrix is ​​usually made up of a desk, a seat, a table lamp and sometimes a shelving unit.

The support surface is perhaps the most important element, since most work activities are carried out on the desk; the minimum calculated dimensions coincide with 60 cm of depth by 1 m of length and the height must allow the easy insertion of the chair so that the user is comfortable even when sitting (75 cm). The shape is usually rectangular, while the materials can vary but must be chosen with a view to facilitating maintenance and cleaning. The optimal choice involves placing the table with its back to the wall and never in front of openings that would cause unpleasant reflections on PC monitors. An innovative solution concerns the height-adjustable desk, perfect in open spaces where the workstations are used in rotation between colleagues with very different physical needs.

The chair, on the other hand, must be designed on ergonomics and must ensure comfort and safety for the worker who spends a lot of time sitting on it. In fact, if it does not respect the minimum dimensions, it would cause discomfort and tiredness with a consequent poor performance by the user. The seat must be swivel and the backrest flexible so that the height and inclination can be adjusted according to the need.

In terms of materials, breathable and perforated fibers are preferable, which guarantee well-being even during the hot seasons, to the detriment of old leather swivel chairs with synthetic padding. To facilitate the performance of work tasks, it is a good idea to equip each individual workstation with a table lamp that emits diffused light and can be adjusted as needed. Warm tones and low-energy light bulbs are preferable, so as to avoid eye strain and contribute to environmental protection.

Often, this “model” is completed by shelves specifically sized to collect materials and documents useful for daily work. If the floor plan includes multiple workstations, they can be divided by sound-absorbing panels that guarantee privacy and adequate acoustic insulation. In open spaces, it is essential that the furnishings are flexible and can be moved depending on the needs of the moment, always ensuring freedom of movement and accessibility for everyone. Furthermore, in some cases it is possible to opt for real modular solutions where tables and chairs are assembled depending on the expected number of users. It is therefore clear that the choice of furniture for work spaces must favor the functional aspect, practicality and comfort, in order to increase the well-being and productivity of workers.

If once the traditional project of a company included large offices and conference rooms, suitable for hosting a large number of people, today it is preferable to resize these spaces and study them according to real need. In fact, it is often more useful to use smaller areas but in greater number, rather than a few large oversized spaces. This is because in many companies there is a need to have small and specialized environments where each team (made up of a few people) can meet to discuss and carry out the specific activities that are their responsibility.

By organizing the floor plan according to this perspective, it is easier to optimize the use of space by avoiding the inclusion of rooms that are too large and only partially used. Furthermore, as already mentioned, if work today is mostly based on the cooperation of several people, it is clear that the concept of an office with single workstations is now obsolete. This is why, when workers are smart working, outside the company headquarters, several desks often remain unused.

Faced with such situations, many companies opt for sharing spaces occupied on a rotational basis by colleagues present in the office. However, if open environments maximize the use of space and encourage exchange and communication between colleagues, on the other hand they sacrifice privacy and concentration. In order not to compromise productivity and guarantee the confidentiality of each worker, it is necessary that there are also some more intimate areas where one can independently carry out one's work and develop projects that are shared only at a later time.

Another innovative aspect concerns the social exploitation of areas that were once marginal and neglected. An example of this are the paths that connect the various offices or the different functional islands of the building: once these spaces served a single function and were not really lived and exploited, today instead they take on different tasks. With the progressive dematerialization of the individual offices and the fusion into common areas, the paths are incorporated into the work spaces or become connection areas where meetings and exchanges of information take place.

A second case is represented by relaxation and recreational areas, previously used for consuming meals or a snack, today reinterpreted as precious social containers where colleagues can interact, thanks also to the aesthetic and comfortable care of seats and interactive spaces. But it is not only the spatial organization of offices that is changing but also their typology, increasingly attentive to contemporary needs that are radically different from those of the past. With the evolution of the concept of work and its organization, offices are increasingly flexible, increasingly adaptable and differentiated. It is in this scenario that coworking, home workstations and temporary offices are spreading: each characterized by specific characteristics and designed for very different needs.

The first ones are characterized by the possibility of sharing spaces, thanks to which you can obtain a significant economic saving. The double advantage is that of working on projects independently, even with professionals belonging to sectors other than your own, but in contact with other people. It is thus possible to weave new acquaintances, exchange contacts and save, sacrificing however the confidentiality and privilege of having your own studio where you can also receive clients and collaborators. The second typology is perfect for the self-employed worker or for those who work in smart working some days of the week.

What matters is having a home environment or carving out an area for work where it is essential to feel comfortable in order to concentrate adequately. The negative aspect concerns the social sphere since the risk is that of isolating oneself and losing direct contact with colleagues. Finally, temporary workstations represent a mix of the two aforementioned typologies, as they are characterized by a personal work area within an apartment shared by several professionals. In this way it is possible to divide the expenses and at the same time benefit from offices that are already organized and usable even for short periods.

Offices and new functional spaces as added value

Over time, the idea of ​​the office as a set of workstations consisting of a desk, chair and desktop computer has been widely accepted. In fact, the idea that large international companies choose to include in their headquarters environments intended for a use other than strictly work is increasingly widespread. This strategy has the dual purpose of providing greater well-being to the employee and increasing their productivity.

At its core, the restyling of old offices involves an aesthetic and functional improvement, aimed at increasing the safety and comfort of the user, while new projects are shaped by the rapid changes of the moment. In fact, a society in constant movement and with ever-changing needs requires flexible and multifunctional spaces. The worker's day is thus marked by diversified activities and the concept of "social" increasingly dominates. The functional mix is ​​increasingly in demand: meeting rooms are located near open-plan offices that are interspersed with relaxation areas and spaces intended for employee recreation. An example of the latter are game rooms equipped with table football or ping pong, suitable for releasing tension and spending a few minutes in company.
Even the lunch break becomes an excuse to socialize and take a break from the frenetic pace of work: in some cases, companies decide to recreate a family environment, reproducing kitchens similar to those found in private residences. Having the possibility of using appliances like at home, to heat food, prepare a coffee or tea, helps the employee's good mood.

If you want to make spaces healthier and more vital, it is a great idea to introduce plants and green inserts that will give breath to the entire environment. Sports activities are also important for the health of the worker: this is why company offices are increasingly equipped with areas for yoga, for collective fitness activities and even basketball and tennis courts. It can therefore be deduced that the idea of ​​a multifunctional space is developing more and more, which embraces the life of the worker at 360° and stimulates him, in order to make the day spent in the company pleasant and improve performance at work.

Contemporary executive offices

As anticipated, over time the concept of office has changed a lot and its design today must adapt to contingent needs. In step with the times, with innovative ideas, with an increasingly smart and shared way of working, large multinationals conceive their corporate headquarters in a markedly different way compared to that of the past. This is why we are witnessing a progressive dematerialization and a greater fluidity and continuity of spaces.

Furthermore, it is increasingly common to include functional areas that are very different from work activities, designed to stimulate the worker and involve him in extra-work activities. Sometimes, a floor of the building or an area is set aside, depending on the size of the specific company, for the consumption of meals (canteen, bar, food islands) and the remaining part of the lunch break, with entertainment areas (table football, lounges) and sports areas (equipped gyms). This type of attention is considered normal in terms of the well-being of the employee, a true capital for the company; however, sometimes it is a double-edged sword that the worker should be aware of.
We can now list some examples of established companies, in today's scenario, that adopt these principles for the design of their corporate headquarters.

Vodafone Village – Milan Lorenteggio, Studio PRP, 2012

Conceived as part of the redevelopment project for the Lorenteggio neighborhood, it occupies the space of an abandoned factory. The purpose of the project was to return to the traditional concept of a meeting place and attraction center, where workers could feel at ease. Called Borgo Lorenteggio, the complex is made up of a number of buildings in white concrete and glass, arranged in a circular manner in order to embrace a central, internal square. With a distribution of 9, 11 and 14 floors above ground, the first three buildings house the offices intended for 3000 workers

The interior design project was conducted with a dual objective: to ensure functionality and at the same time respect the aesthetics of the corporate image. The floor plan combines spaces designed to host meetings and refresher courses, large open spaces ideal for team working and individual offices where it is possible to concentrate and work in privacy.

The paths and connecting elements are often enriched with seats and armchairs where colleagues can exchange information, while the break areas are equipped with vending machines and support surfaces with seats, where you can consume a quick meal. The predominant color of the furniture and finishes is red, selected to directly recall the company identity. Each choice was made with the intent of encouraging sharing and collaboration between colleagues and favoring the well-being of the worker. To this end, two other buildings were included: the first houses a gym, a nursery and some commercial establishments.

The second one, instead, is intended to accommodate a large company canteen and various rooms for conferences and training activities. Furthermore, the elevated central square was conceived as a social incubator, a place designed to increase the exchange between workers during lunch breaks and internal movements. All the buildings with different functional uses are designed as belonging to a single large system of which the worker must feel an integral part. Finally, the design process was conducted with particular attention to energy saving and respect for the environment. In fact, eco-friendly materials were used, such as photocatalytic concrete panels designed to reduce pollutants in the air and systems for cost containment.

An example of this are the numerous panels that make up the so-called “photovoltaic garden”, capable of producing a lot of electricity, or the system designed to recover and exploit rainwater. Even from a thermal point of view, the technological choices include the exploitation of renewable energy and the maintenance of environmental comfort, thanks to the use of triple glazing with mobile screens, controllable through dedicated software. In this way, it is possible to modify the inclination of the slats on the facade and obtain the ideal light intensity by exploiting natural light and regulating it as needed. For all these reasons, the Vodafone Village in Milan has earned the LEED silver Certification, becoming the largest eco-sustainable and at the same time technological Italian complex.

Facebook Italy – Piazza Missori Milan, Studio RE|value, 2013-2014

The project for the Italian headquarters of Facebook is responsive to the corporate values ​​of the social network giant, for which social interaction represents its very raison d'être. From a spatial point of view, these principles translate into environments without diaphragms where continuity and fluidity reign supreme. In fact, interaction between colleagues is as essential as transparency and communication; the environments follow one another between areas equipped with open workstations, rooms for meetings and gatherings and those intended for breaks. The floor plan is free, characterized by 650 square meters of open space that accommodate worktops and seats and that allow all colleagues to work and interact freely. From an aesthetic point of view, it was decided to merge Italian tradition with the identity of the American company.

The choice fell on a pop style with bright colors, recreating familiar, welcoming and socially stimulating environments. Craftsmanship and quality blend harmoniously with typical furnishings of the US scenario, but there is also room for the recovery of a vintage taste inside the kitchen that reproduces a dairy, a symbol and meeting place of the Milanese tradition. What matters is recreating a friendly, familiar place, where the worker can feel at home and can be free to express their ideas without hesitation, just like on the social network. For this reason, the environments seem designed to give the impression of not being completely finished but of being the object of constant change and growth, just like the company they represent.

Dropbox Headquarters – San Francisco, Rapt Studio – Avroko, 2016

The Dropbox headquarters in San Francisco is a classic example of a contemporary office project aimed at satisfying the well-being of the worker. With approximately 30 square meters, it houses 1500 employees and offers them a wide variety of functional interior environments. In fact, the goal of the entire design process was to recreate livable, bright and relaxing environments where the user would feel at home, with a view to a well-being directly proportional to professional performance.

Starting from what had been the deficits of the old office project, it was immediately clear how to intervene and solve these problems. Faced with narrow, cramped and uninspiring environments, the aim was to equip the headquarters of the American giant with multifunctional environments that would guarantee optimal communication between colleagues and the free performance of differentiated work activities. For this reason, the design concept focused on the organization of spaces that were bright, welcoming and functional with respect to the needs of each worker.

The differentiation also concerns the material and formal choices of the furnishings and finishes of each individual room: the predominant idea is that of a complex that is in continuous growth and evolution and that merges elements belonging to different traditions. Bright colors and original graphics prevail, capable of making the rooms pleasant and informal. From a planimetric point of view, small offices intended for individual work (which requires particular concentration) alternate with large rooms designed to accommodate a large number of people who gather for company events.

Light is an important element and the use of natural light is maximized to make the environments more vibrant and healthy. This measure guarantees cooperation, favors the performance of activities and the continuous exchange of information and material between colleagues. However, a good level of privacy is also ensured thanks to the inclusion of acoustic and insulating solutions, designed to make collaboration pleasant by avoiding the propagation of disturbing sounds and noises.

The common thread that accompanied the design of the entire complex is the desire to refer to the urban scenario, full of public and private places, each with different functions. Similarly, the interior spaces are used for both collective and individual work, but also for meetings and relaxation (library and blue relaxation room). Everything is designed on a human scale, in order to be perceived directly, with the freedom to move and shift as needed, in spaces where flexibility and adaptability reign supreme. And there is no shortage of references to international cultures: traditional Danish ceramics, water walls and Japanese minimalism, karaoke and gardens with American plants. Finally, greenery together with light contributes to making the environment more vital and to making it live with a positive and productive spirit, all values ​​on which the Dropbox corporate reality is based.

More or less permeable offices: open offices and private spaces for a few people – Dropbox S.Francisco