Radical Office Design
by / September 17, 2006

First there was The Inspired Workspace, now there is Radical Office Design for when inspiration just isn't enough. The official book description says "Traditional office work, characterized by repetitive clerical tasks, is rapidly giving way to 'knowledge work,' characterized by the creative application and exchange of information. In response, architects around the world are leaving aside the old cubicle grid to design imaginative, high-tech offices that foster knowledge work and, at the same time, help workers balance the competing demands of colleagues, customers, and family.". That's a long, lofty list of design goals. I'm not convinced that the designs in this book can achieve all of those goals at once, but I have no doubt they are sufficiently different to merit being called radical. And radical, I believe, is something that is overdue when it comes to organizing people and work. The web is already reorganizing the methods/ processes, why not dramatically rethink the working environment? The book features a number of case studies, including what I understand is the BMW plant designed by Zaha Hadid where "the factory production line runs through and above the administrative offices, unifying the corporate community." (I may be wrong, I haven't seen the book yet). Of particular note, the case studies support trends that the authors have identified and an interesting classification for the different types of workplaces. Hardcover, 192 pages, 200 color images, 50 B&W, $40.95 at Amazon.

+ Radical Office Design at Amazon



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How cool! Now that's the kind of office I wouldn't mind showing up to every day!

www.modern-house.blogspot.com

Aaron Seelman / September 18, 2006 at 3:10 AM / Flag

Looks outright wierd and silly to me from this age. Look at that dude downstairs, how long can you sit in that cramped up place?

Got more images from different angles?

SNAZ / January 3, 2008 at 6:35 AM / Flag

No matter how interesting it may look, those caves would be so uncomfortable. You'd be dying to get up and out of them. It would be impossible to concentrate and actually get any work done. Just consider size, angles, seats (no padding), noise, distractions from outside, color, light, etc. I'd die if I had to spend even one day in one of those!

rrm / May 19, 2008 at 1:49 PM / Flag

Wow

How cool it is

if i work in an office like that, i would love to work over 12 hrs a day

toner

toner wang / October 7, 2008 at 2:04 AM / Flag

The form is not WOW but the idea in benefiting from the vertical space is OK, this form needs further of improvements when it comes to : ergonomics, movement, flexibility...

jamal / February 11, 2009 at 4:44 AM / Flag

This is definitely a great book as it shows off some really unique and interesting looking offices, however while some of them might inspire a certain amount of creativity I'm not so sure how much aid goes towards productivity :(

Office Designer / April 23, 2009 at 2:15 PM / Flag

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