Karibuni to our 1 st newsletter - Collaborative Spaces

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Shanon Houston
8 years ago
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1 Newsletter Aug 14! Karibuni to our 1 st newsletter - Collaborative Spaces Since we have established in Dar es Salaam, our setup and approach to commercial interiors has brought with it very positive and encouraging feedback from clients, architects, quantity surveyors, contractors, developers and other related industry professionals. It is encouraging to see that there are many firms in Tanzania who do have corporate standards which they follow when it comes to their interiors. However, those who are not at that stage just yet, are keen to learn and explore new ways of working in order to create a better working environment for their staff and support business functions. Therefore we see the newsletters as a great opportunity to share knowledge on current workplace trends, as well as other commercial spaces such as retail, public, hospitality etc. The type of topics which will be covered in upcoming newsletters are: Open-plan versus closed offices Multifunctional and flexible use of spaces Sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR) Branding through design and specification Acoustic issues and considerations Effective space planning and its effect on CRE costs Ergonomics How to build a good quality finished space on a budget We represents three major international interior brands in Tanzania: Teknion a Canadian furniture manufacturer; Interface an American carpet tile brand and JEB International a Hong Kong based manufacturer of demountable partition systems. Our newsletters will aim to explain how various challenges and trends can be addressed through careful and intelligent planning, specification and installation. After all, our motto is workplace freedom ; giving you the freedom and flexibility to easily change and adapt your working environment through careful specification and planning of individual interior elements. All our brands offer this flexibility. So enough with the introductions for the first newsletter, let s move on to the topic of this edition Collaborative Spaces! It has come up many times in our meetings with clients and is a trending topic globally. The below will hopefully give you some insight as to how collaboration spaces can be effectively planned, used and how the use of interior products such as furniture, carpets and partitions can create the desired environment. Enjoy reading and your feedback is more than welcome, positive or otherwise!

2 Quiet KIOSKs within a noisy collaborative space In today s workplace design trends, we are seeing companies engage designers to provide them with environments rather than a Environments that promote collaboration and team working. typical office space. The booths are designed to utilise today s technology; all we need to communicate with the outside world is a phone line or Wi-Fi. With free available software such as Skype, you can have a video conference anywhere, anytime. JEB KIOSK booths allow a user to walk in with an ipad, laptop or cell phone, sit down, engage in and complete their tasks in a private and focused environment and then leave. JEB have designed them ergonomically and to be capable of holding up to three people and to be installed below the ceiling height of an office. Having said that, open plan space and collaboration zones have created another evil; noise! With the elimination of individual offices and people moving from space to space whilst working within groups, we have a common problem with the loss of privacy. In everyday business, one thing that will never be eliminated is communication and more importantly, communication that requires privacy. This is where JEB came up with the concept to create small, adaptable and private KIOSKs to be used as a touchdown space for private phone calls, video conferences, or just a space for a single person to zone out, (or zone in for that matter) and carry out individual tasks in privacy. promote collaborative design trends by balancing the real requirements of the oﬃce space. The KIOSK booths are here to

3 Modular soft seating for any environment More than ever, companies are making the shift from individual work areas to shared workspaces that encourage interaction. Consequently, companies are designing space and selecting furniture to reflect today s team-based corporate culture. Collaboration is one of the best intellectual tools we have for solving problems or creating something new. Teknion dna TM is a collection of modular lounge seating and tables designed to expand the functional repertoire of lounge seating. In contrast to a traditional office lounge/reception, in the contemporary office, the lounge often functions as a space for collaborative work and requires furniture that provides greater flexibility and easy access to power and communications. dna is designed to support collaborative work wherever it occurs throughout the office. Modularity dna maximizes planning options with minimal inventory. Its unique modular design allows units to be aligned to each other on all sides. dna can be arranged in multiple directions, connections and configurations U n i t s a r e e a s i l y r e c o n fi g u r e d t o accommodate large or small groups and changing activities Integrated and freestanding tables provide support for work and laptop use Integrated tables provide access to power/ data All components (except the side table) function as standalone furniture Modular design allows units to align on all sides Versatile components can be reconfigured by users without tools as needs change Ideal for multi-use applications in a mixed plan, including open spaces and enclosed rooms Versatility Simple in concept, dna offers extensive versatility that enables tailoring a space for required functions and desired aesthetics. dna also supports technology requirements with optional power/data access.

4 Mixed planning! dna re-imagines the form and function of traditional lounge seating to address the emergence of new collaborative work styles. Today, meetings happen anywhere and dna supports this trend by providing the convenience of being able to have a spontaneous meeting/working group, without the formality of having to book a meeting room or having to walk across the office floor to its location. Collaboration occurs spontaneously, requiring fluid spaces that allow people to meet and share information easily. dna is ideal for mixed plans that include open, informal collaborative settings and multi-use lounges among a variety of spaces designed to foster interaction and collective creativity. Interface can create a space more pleasant and convenient to use in many ways. Interface products can increase comfort underfoot, minimise noise and vibration, help improve air quality and reduce draughts. They can also maximise visual and textural appeal, and offer the flexibility to support a variety of oﬃce layouts. What we need is the chance to share different activities between different types of space. The answer is a variety of compartments or zones within the office, each with its distinct purpose and identity. It is critical that the work environment provides the right backdrop to inspire creativity and collaboration Defining collaborative areas through floor zoning G o o d o f fi c e d e s i g n s h o u l d e n a b l e concentration and cooperation but also provide inspiration and recreation. Inspiration is important in today s knowledge society where knowledge is a company s most valuable asset. Studies show that 80 per cent of all innovation comes from faceto-face discussion, so areas where employees can communicate and collaborate are much more important than in the past.

5 The aim is to divide and define space, and modular flooring has a vital role to play. Companies want more creative spaces, more collaborative meeting areas. They are looking for unique pieces of furniture and carpets that create a social workplace. In an interview with David Oakey, product designer at Inter face, he says that Collaboration itself has become a business strategy that is changing the way offices are designed. Offices that once were traditionally designed with individual cubicles called I-Space are now being designed with sharing spaces called We- Space." When asked how Interface carpet tiles can change the world, he replied It is all in how you put it together. Modular can do anything you want. We did find out that people were already using our modular carpet to create zoning areas. They were creating area rugs, to hold a space together with the floor.. In other words, modular carpet tiles when strategically installed, can support various areas within an office. Specifically within a collaborative space, the design and layout of the carpet can affect the flow and movement of the staff, as well as distinguish separate zones for various types of collaborative work. We hope you enjoyed the first newsletter and found the topics useful. Please feel free to share your feedback or get in touch with us if you have any queries. Furthermore, a well planned collaborative space means that There are huge dynamics of cost savings in IT, real estate, all of those things.... info@officespacetz.com Your OfficeSpace Team

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