When it comes to office interior design, we can let our fantasies run wild and implement the most unusual and bizarre concepts thanks to the huge range of finishing materials, furniture and accessories currently on offer. Mischievous creativity is refreshing, and it’s a great pity only a few companies can go down this route. For the majority, the interior design of the office is neutral and based on the sober embodiment of a company’s corporate ideals tradition copying tradition.
The most universally adopted architectural style remains classical, which can include elements of Empire, Baroque and Rococo. Classicism has its roots in antiquity in the architecture of the Palaces of Ancient Rome and Greece, with their clearly defined proportions, laconic decorations and strict column proportions. According to Anna Spektor, a designer at the Milan Furniture Salon, a classical office is unlikely to shock or surprise: “This style is conservative and has no room for experimental design or avantgarde technological innovation. This does not, however, mean that classical furniture isn’t comfortable or convenient. A classical English table can include a pullout keyboard rest and pedestals can come complete with space for a computer and printer.” Not only furniture is key – the accessories that match the interior elements must be expensive and in accordance with the status of the company.
Today a classical office demonstrates solidity, reliability and prosperity – this last element being particularly important. In the manufacture of this type of furniture, only costly natural woods are used, including cherry, hazelnut, mahogany and oak. This style is suitable for presidents of banks and the senior management of large financial, legal and insurance organizations.
“In our country, classical interiors was in demand even in Soviet times, when it typified a command management style,” says Natalia Trofimchuk, key account manager at Kinnarps. “Large director desks at the end of meeting tables were intended to demonstrate senior management’s dominance over their subordinates. Today, a classical style is not just in demand because it ‘expresses authority,’ but also because it enables clients to show the history and traditions of their companies,” adds Ms. Trofimchuk.
Democratic classicism
A more democratic style that is less formal but still follows tradition is they way specialists characterize neoclassicism. “Here you won’t find the weightiness and monumentality of classical office furniture; one isn’t struck by expensive inlays, elegant finishings and grandiosity. You could say that neoclassical office furniture is more modest. However, this doesn’t mean that it is necessarily cheaper. A neoclassical office can sometimes cost even more than a classical one,” says Spektor.
For designers, neoclassical furniture is, of course, easier to work with. Neoclassical furniture blends in more easily in a modern office interior and can be combined with fashionable accessories. This style of furniture is made from traditional natural woods – particularly fashionable at the moment are wenge and bleached oak. However, veneers and other modern materials, like plastic, metal and glass, can also be used. Thanks to its flexibility, a neoclassical interior can be found in the offices of young senior managers of Western and Russian companies of various profiles.
Minimalism
Simple geometric shapes, sparseness, an absence of bright colors and combinations of simple materials (glass, metal wood) are the main features of minimalism. This style first appeared in the 1960s and was at the time associated with impeccably even surfaces, empty racks and suspended shelves. Today, minimalism has adapted itself to the needs of the modern office, making empty shelves no longer a feature. However, specialists from Kinnarps comment that modern minimalism does not include offices cluttered by filing cabinets. “Minimalism is suitable for the offices of IT companies, where the main volumes of information are stored electronically,” said Ms. Trofimchuk. The first thing you notice in a minimalist office is spaciousness, brightness and clean lines. You won’t find any snazzy accessories, challenging design features of expensive finishings. Everything is simple and kept to a minimum. Minimalist furniture is unlikely to be to the taste of devotees of exquisite interiors crammed with extra detail, as minimalist interiors are incredibly functional. The racks and shelving possess a very valuable feature in that they are extremely versatile. Their apparent simplicity conceals the fact that they are crammed with the latest innovations in technology and ergonomics. Cable channels, roll out shelves and desk top compartments are just a few of the many wellconceived features of minimalist furniture. Today this style is in vogue amongst young senior and midlevel managers. It can also be found in the offices of large Western companies with investment, insurance and consulting profiles and, of course, hightech companies.
The style of progress
Hightech could be called the classicism of the 21st century, symbolizing the age of high technology. It first developed in the 1970s and now represents a dominating style in the design of office interiors. For designers themselves, it provides opportunities for the creation of new and daring office interiors. Hightech office furniture is very diverse and individualistic, sometimes taking bizarre shapes and using unusual colors breaking away from the uniformity of office grey and brick red. However, it can’t be described as domineering or aggressive, as it can easily blend into any office interior. Additionally, it is ergonomic and highly functional.
“The use of glass, plastic and metal can ease the look of an office desk and is extremely unlikely to spoil the look of an office. Tables with metal legs and curved edges don’t clutter up even the tiniest of offices. Often hightech furniture is complimented by office partitions made from glass, plastic and wood,” says Spektor. Thanks to its flexibility and functionality, users of hightech furniture can vary, ranging from general managers of raw materials companies to editors of fashion magazines. The buyers are usually energetic people who are open to new trends.
Industrial roots
The currently popular industrial style could be described as a retro factory style and it is often used in companies whose businesses requires the use of a lot of technological equipment, thus allowing it to match the general look of the interior. Designers can offer clients an entire office designed in an industrial style with external wiring along exterior walls and a simulated red brick interior and hanging lighting. This style is often characterized by the use of metal and glass.
Recently, it has become fashionable to design ceilings using semitransparent screens made from metal gauze through which you can see all the cabling. Another trend is the use of typical industrial elements. For example, if an office located in an old factory building still retains the original beams, pipes and cabling, these features are not covered up but rather given prominence of place by being painted bright colors, for example. This is not only visually engaging but also economical, as it cuts back on renovation costs.
Free from preservatives
The ecological style represents an antidote to its industrial counterpart and is today also very popular. This is perhaps linked to a heightened interest in a healthier lifestyle, as is spurred on by the development of the fitness industry and the appearance of new diet regimes. It also may be linked to the problems of globalization. Ecostyle is known as Scandinavian style in reference to the fact that the Scandinavians are famous for the naturallooking wooden furniture. Unlike other furniture manufacturers the Scandinavians don’t use laminates, melamine or leather substitutes.
“Scandinavian style is aimed naturalness and being closer to nature,” explained Ms. Trofimchuk. “As a result you won’t find a lot of glass and metal. Wood in natural shades is the standard and philosophy of Swedish office furniture.” Ecostyle is generally accompanied by a simple and sparse interior design akin to wooden minimalism. The devotees of this style represent a wide range of companies, from large audit and consulting firms to advertising agencies. Thanks to its stylistic universality and low cost, this style of furniture is used not just in management offices but throughout working areas.
Down with the system!
The popart style is something of an exception to the rule when it comes to office interiors. As the “bad boy” of design, it encompasses those walls covered with string shopping bags filled with potatoes and “flowering” ceilings. Specialists define it as “combining the incompatable.” The orginal use of bizarre accessories and bright unusual furniture, combined with unique wall and ceiling designs and use of plastic, metal, glass and wood all in the same interior, are some of the characteristics which define the iconoclastic popart style. Popart interiors can incorporate incompatible styles like Chinese and Japanese minimalism, fusion, Egyptian murals, etc., and calm color schemes can be set off by saturated tones. Naturally, this kind of radical interior is not for everyone. Humorous popart interiors can be found in companies with a nonstandard mentality, like design studios, beauty salons and advertising agencies, as well as production companies.
Style vs. functionality
While on the one hand you can impress your colleagues and business partners with the originality of your office design, it is clearly more important that the office area constitutes a successful balance between style and convenience. Only then can its visitors and inhabitants not only revel in the originality of the architectural design, but also work.