The open plan style so popular in modern offices today has been trending in interior design for about seven decades now. This office design layout, which traces its origins to 1950s Germany, has been subject to much debate on productivity and appropriateness for the action-packed work environment.

While there is widespread acceptance that open plan is the inevitable end point in office design evolution, it’s about time that we answer the questions about its suitability.

Yes, the open plan office has its downsides: noise levels and distractions are obvious issues that draw negative attention to the modern office. Finding a solution isn’t about simply eliminating these problems by putting up walls and dividers; it’s about understanding how people use their space, and the amount of time they spend doing different activities. By understanding the activities and user experience, we can begin to define how the office should be set up. The best offices are laid out with people in mind, creating a space conducive to their roles.

Work zones

A recent study has identified the three main types of work activity that take place: focused work (70%), collaboration (23%), and socialising (7%). These different behaviours require different ‘Work Zones’. A focused zone requires a quiet, naturally lit, temperate environment that has minimal distraction; a collaborative zone needs a space conducive to loud talking, discussion, and even some passionate yelling.

Rather than an open plan office where staff have their own desks, they should be working in a free moving system where they can go sit in the right zone for the type of work activity they are about to begin.

To create these zones, visual and acoustic barriers need to identify a definitive line between the zones. Acoustically, the focus zone needs to have high absorption. However, a collaborative zone needs to manage a high noise level while eliminating sound transfer, so staff members can interact loudly without disrupting others. The social zone also requires complete sound absorption so as not to affect other areas.

The solution

Because of these different types of acoustic control, it is important to design offices with acoustics in mind from the beginning. This gives you the ability to create ideal work zones in your office.

Feeling puzzled about open plan offices? Autex Industries are world leaders in interior acoustic design and will work with designers or architects who are looking for specialised knowledge on aesthetically pleasing interior acoustics.

Architecture & Design Team

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Autex Acoustics

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