Flexibility

There was this fantastic video on You Tube that showed a fabulously flexible living space in Hong Kong. This space was designed by an architect who used his design sense to create the ultimate living space in a small room that can transform quickly to support whichever space you need.

While many of us won’t do this in our homes or offices, there are other ways that we can plan for flexibility and using real estate to its fullest potential.

Offices often have large conference rooms that are used only a portion of the day. By designing conference rooms to transform at a moments notice, these spaces can be used throughout the day. This can include a combination of lounge furniture as well as tables and chairs and allow the space to be broken into smaller work zones for guests and small collaborative groups.

Workstation quantities can be reduced for offices that house nomadic workers. If people are not in an office full-time, then it doesn’t make sense to dedicate a large workstation to them for normal working hours. Having hoteling stations and areas where employees can share workspace when needed keeps costs down.

Furniture that multitasks keeps the necessities to a minimum. A screen that can divide space as well as be a markerboard or tackboard serves several purposes, assists in getting work done and is flexible.

Verticle space should be used to maximize storage and highlight items that are important to the organization. Going up keeps the client from expanding out and keeps real estate needs lower.

There are always ways to increase flexibility within a space. It’s how it’s used and making sure that the layout allows for creativity and multiple uses throughout the day that counts.

Advertisement