OFFICE VS. PEOPLE
"What is a human's relationship to an office space? What does it mean to them? What are the common problems shared by people who work about their office space? Why are offices like google office more desired? Give examples."
In my point of view, offices are one of the most hated places for most of the working people…even for non-working individuals like me. As a student, the amount of times we are required to enter offices are quite high, and we hate offices too. It’s not fully because of the design of the office space whether it look dull or lifeless, I think it’s because of the vibe and aura that given out by the people working in it. Once you enter the office it’s like you’ve entered a hole of despair with keyboards typing sound and mouse clicking sound, office people tend to just concentrate on their part and work their ass off without really enjoying what they’re doing. Worst come to worst, once you’ve enter some office, especially governmental offices (no offence), no one raise up their head and greet you. That’s the worst. It’s like people nowadays are just working blindly and aimlessly, totally forgetting how to interact and enjoy life.
So what does offices really mean to working people? Is it 100% work work work work work?
To some of the people, office is like their second home. They are so used to stay back late or even overnight just to finish their work on time. In this case, people start to personalise their working space with photos of their family or loved ones, posters of favourite superheroes and things like that. It’s like decorating your own personal space in on small part of the office, which will definitely make you feel like home. BUT. In my opinion, it’s all an illusion created by our own mind to motivate us to focus and continue working even when we feel lost and stressed. I didn’t say that it’s a bad thing to do, but it’s definitely not healthy if one individual spend too much time working in their “fake” home sacrificing their loved ones back at their real home. These kind of relationship with offices are toxic and it will eventually create more stress when workload increases.
The problem that so many office workers shared is that, when they had to stay overnight working in office, more stress will come as the urge of going back home is rising as time pass, unless one is a true workaholic. When people work about their office space, the stressful office vibe where everybody is busy working together will undoubtedly affect one’s emotion and then it will surely affects the efficiency and productivity rate. Domino effect. But mind this, all these problem only happens in typical office workspace.
That’s why famous companies around the world are working extra-hand to make their offices into an interesting one such as Google, who claims the top spot of best offices in the world. Architects have long suspected that office environments affect employee productivity. For instance, working in a badly lit basement lab in Pittsburgh in the 1950s, biologist Jonas Salk found that he was unable to successfully develop a cure for polio. Then inspiration struck when he spent some time contemplating the issue in the beautiful surrounds of a medieval monastery in Assisi, Italy – and Salk went on to develop a polio vaccine.
More recently, neuroscientists have found links between mental performance and factors like the height of the ceiling, the view of the outside world, and the amount of natural light available. Design definitely matters.
What’s more, modern office designers have taken notice, and powerful companies like Google are ensuring that their office spaces are filled with fun elements and inspiring designs that actively encourage creativity and co-operation. As Google AdWords coordinator Lindsay Stradley says, “The way the office is set up, it’s almost impossible not to work as a team.” And what could make the once dreary work environment more fun than a giant slide? That’s why the most iconic thing in Google offices is the slides they include beside stairs or even replaced the stairs, so employees got to slide down and have fun! Imagine you as an adult sliding down a spiral slide, that excitement will trigger your inner kid and therefore summoning out your creative side. This is where the magic works. The more you have fun, the more creative ideas you produced.
Other than focusing on the fun elements, Google also provide special and better offers for their employees. For instance, Google provide free food and even chef cooked organic food. Free haircuts, free health and dental benefits, free dry cleaning, subsidized massages, gyms and swimming pools, video games and ping pong. Countless perks working in Google. Nap pods is one of my favourite feature in Google offices. They are high tech sleep pods for employees to nap and recharge themselves after putting in long hours. So does Google make you feel like “Hell yeah I’m gonna work for you”? Now that’s why Google offices is voted one of the most desirable working space.
Now let’s talk about other offices that is similar to Google's.
Autodesk office in San Francisco, Calif provide treadmill desk for employees so that they can workout while doing their work. It’s an interesting design as it can keep the employees’ mind clear and awake when they feel sleepy, at the same time keeping their employees fit as a fiddle. Gameroom is provided for employees to have fun. That’s what making the company one of the best design software developers.
Next on, GoDaddy company HQ in Sunnyvale, Calif provide go karts for employees to go around in the office. It sure lit up the atmosphere of the office and create a more lively workspace. It’s now the world’s largest technology provider dedicated to small businesses.
Speaking of slides, Redbull HQ in London UK decked out the office and designed the slide to run alongside a floating staircase which makes going up or down just as much fun. This is intended to remind people of the marks and skids left by race cars, skateboards, bikes and stunt planes. And naturally this reflects Red Bull’s focus on extreme sports as an essential part of its business. Director of Jump Studios Simon Jordan calls the design an “open, efficient, dynamic and connected workspace. According to an official Jump Studios write-up, the office design was intended to generate “adrenalin and a sense of dynamic excitement, emotions associated with the Red Bull brand and its various activities.”
Now after seeing all these offices of powerful companies, I finally come to a conclusion that in order to success and being the world’s top companies, it’s crucial that the workforce or employees are well treated. It all starts with setting up a comfortable office which employees are proud and happy to be in. It’s not only a space created solely for robots to work all day, it’s a place where humans work and interact with each other generating innovative ideas. We as architects should design an office space full of interactions that emplyees are comfortable enough to call it their second home.
:D
Nap pods in Google office.
This is Selgas Cano Office, which was designed by Iwan Baan and is situated in a forest, near Madrid, in Spain. This office for architects is light and airy, with clean lines and colorful details, making it a great place to work from. It’s less about awesome fun slides, great food and gaming areas, and more about a relaxed environment, away from harsh lighting and big empty rooms.
Google office introduce themed relaxing workspace where employees can work in such creative and wonderful environment.