While collaboration and social collisions have been emphasized in workplace design over the past few years, the pendulum is swinging back toward a place where introverts can shine with plenty of quiet corners, furry friends and do-it-yourself office design.
“We have reached a saturation point,” Gensler head of design Phillipe Pare said. “It is very hard for us to really relax.”
Workplace designers are now highlighting quiet "thinking spaces" where workers can get away from the hustle and bustle of a busy office, with quiet, tech-free areas where laptops, phones and interruptions are not allowed. Designated "relax areas" are also cropping up, Pare said, which might feature a massage chair and aromatherapy.
Some companies have gone one step further with actual nap pods. The idea came from airport nap pods, Pare said. A company in Seoul began using them, and then another company in Slovakia took it further. The company created a silent reading room/library with a secret door. When the door pivots, a private sleeping area is revealed.