'We're looking for a developer again...' - these are phrases we hear from our clients when discussing office redesign. While there are many reasons why people leave, we have noticed an interesting pattern: some offices seem to 'burn out', while others have teams that have been working for years. After running dozens of projects, we know first-hand that it's not just about pay or management. Often the root of the problem lies in the space itself.
Open Space. Design by ZIKZAK Architects
Square metres of personal space
Remember the offices of the noughties? They seemed to be based on the principle that 'the more cramped you make them, the more efficient they will be'. It's clear now that this doesn't work. When we redesigned these spaces, we often heard from employees: 'I can't breathe in here', 'I feel like I'm in a chicken coop', 'I'm constantly distracted by other people's conversations'.
Saving square footage like this has the opposite effect. People start to feel uncomfortable, get sick more often and look for a new job. Personal space is a necessity. When you physically feel the elbow of a colleague at the next table, when other employees are constantly in your line of sight, it creates constant stress. Minor at first, it builds up and eventually leads to a desire to change jobs. We recommend a minimum of 6 m2 per person, excluding corridors and ancillary areas.
Open Space. Design by ZIKZAK Architects
Acoustic comfort
Here is an illustrative case of our client, a product IT company. After moving to a new office, six developers quit within three months. When we came to audit the space, the reason was obvious: the team was located in a high-traffic area next to the sales department, where they were constantly on the phone. The noise, the constant traffic and the inability to concentrate created a toxic environment for people who need maximum peace and quiet to work.
The problem of noise in open spaces is so acute that it deserves special attention. The phrase 'let them learn to work in any environment' is an unfortunate archaism, a relic of the past. It is categorically unacceptable to force the brain to constantly filter out unnecessary stimuli. It's like forcing a runner to train with a stone in his shoe. In a recent project, we created a system of 'acoustic capsules' - small rooms for 4-6 people, enclosed by soundproof partitions. The result was immediate: staff commented that they could finally think about complex tasks in peace.
Open Space. Design by ZIKZAK Architects
Flexibility - the ability to choose
There are no universal solutions - this is an axiom derived from our practice. What works perfectly for the marketing department may be anathema to the finance department. That's why a modern office has to be flexible.
We design spaces that are transformable, where teams can adapt the environment to suit their needs. This is done through mobile partitions, modular furniture and different types of workstations. The key is to give people a choice.
Recommendations for different teams
Our experience shows that different departments need different environments.
Development: more privacy; high levels of soundproofing; the ability to work standing up.
Marketing/PR: brainstorming rooms; teamwork areas; flexible workspaces.
Sales: phone booths for calls; open space for an energetic atmosphere; rooms for quick meetings; islands for short-term work.
Open Space. Design by ZIKZAK Architects
The importance of natural light
It is important to highlight and emphasise natural light. It is often neglected when designing an office, and space near windows is given to the offices of top managers. However, access to daylight has a significant impact on the well-being of employees. In one of our projects, we did a complete redesign and created a system of 'light corridors'. This provided almost 100 per cent of the workstations with daylight. As a result, employees noticed an improvement in their mood and a reduction in fatigue at the end of the day.
Open Space. Design by ZIKZAK Architects
What to do?
If you notice a high turnover rate in your company, take a closer look at your office space. Maybe it's there? Here are some steps to take.
- Conduct an anonymous employee survey about the comfort of your workplace. People often don't talk about 'little things' like noise or poor lighting, but these can be the real causes of discomfort.
- Analyse how the space is being used. Maybe a quiet meeting room isn't being used and people are congregating in the cafeteria because it's the only place they can have a quiet conversation.
- Invite experts to audit the space. A professional outside perspective can help you identify problems that have become blind spots for the team.
Open Space. Design by ZIKZAK Architects
Investing in the future
Quality office space is not an expense, but an investment in team stability. The key to success is understanding how teams work and creating an environment that supports and enhances their productivity. As the war for talent becomes increasingly fierce, a comfortable working environment will be your strongest competitive advantage.
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