If you fancy austere design and open spaces that promote creative team work, you are going to like this arrangement. Welcome to an industrial design office.
Agnieszka Niedzielska, Workplace Planning Manager
Industrial design was originated by New York’s artistic bohemia of the 1950s. At that time, the United States were in recession and a huge number of factories became deserted. Over time, artists would convert the empty buildings into studios. Real-estate developers soon discovered the potential of post-industrial buildings too, turning them into apartments and offices. The fashion for old industrial spaces has spread to other countries and is now one of the major trends.
Exposed structural elements and installations and walls partially or fully covered with brick are the characteristic features of an industrial interior. The main benefit of post-industrial buildings is the open space that offers unlimited conversion potential, ideal for creative tasks, team work and activities requiring cooperation and communication. This is because loft offices stimulate imagination. If, however, you want silence and concentration, you should section off separate zones for focused work, eg. separate rooms.
It is a good idea to let as much light as possible into a loft-style office, as light stimulates and spurs people to work. Industrial lamps in steel fittings which match the style of this type of interior can complement natural lighting. Furniture should also have an air of ‘austerity’ to it, emphasized eg. by black-painted metal legs or openwork elements between desks. As far as colours of the interior are concerned, shades of white and gray will be the best solution, softened with accessories in strong colours such as turquoise, green or blue.
Poufs, balls and light sofas covered with natural fabrics will be perfect to warm up the interior. Mobile solutions are particularly suitable for quick meetings and consultations between teams. For creative work, there must also be a space for inspirational literature and a whiteboard for people to present their ideas.