Today, this need for advanced furniture systems to enhance productivity is being recognised and the first steps towards such installations are being taken with some furniture manufacturers offering designs poised to revolutionise workstations. An office where every component within is designed to incorporate the elements of sophistication, flexibility and efficiency. To create an environment that's perfectly in tune with all your needs. And the focus is on speed and efficiency.
Shifting from Nariman Point to Parel? No problem. Simply pack and move. How? The Moderna division of Blow Plast Ltd offers quick and easy solutions with Element—the office furniture system of the future. Element's chief feature is its 'building block construction'. Here, an aluminium frame forms the structure of the system. The body consists of modules made of steel and wood. And as per the needs of the customer, the finishes can be of either wood, laminates, glass or fabric. The modules can be connected both vertically and horizontally, then disconnected or realigned in moments or interchanged to form new layouts whenever you need them. The block concept allows the complete and creative use of vertical spaces, right up to the ceiling. So you don't just fit in the boss, but his secretary and her computer, as well. Together with panels that are designed to carry innumerable wires and cables. Hollow panels that make up the walls or partitions allow innumerable cables to run through the wall cavity utilising every square inch of space within. Partitions have the cabling capacity of as much as 20 cu ft per workstation. They are also flush-mounted with convenient access points for power, data and telecom. All this ensures that any future wiring needs, either due to electrical breakdowns or technology upgradation, can be done without moving any furniture, disturbing the wiring or disrupting work. Element offices can be installed in as little time as over a weekend. No sledge hammers, no falling plaster, and on Monday you walk into a brand new office that hadn't been there two days ago.
The main thrust of contemporary office design is the belief that offices should be designed on the basis of a scientific study of communications and other flow between members and should aid in more productive working within organisations. Purely rank and status related issues should not be the criteria for seating people.A host of POE (Post Occupancy Evaluations) confirmed that well-designed offices actually resulted in significant improvements in worker productivity. Later studies have also concluded that neither completely open (as in the original landscape movement) nor completely closed and partitioned offices (conventional offices) are the ideal for all situations. The optimum office design should be based on a study of the specific requirements of the office in question and in most cases, a combination of open and closed offices would be the most suitable.
In close competition with the Element range is the Godrej Open Plan Office Systems (OPOS). Its Aura and Avenir range offer modular furniture which are tailored for the specific activities of the office staff. According to Godrej, it is used as the right tool to encourage higher productivity by allowing communication, is ergonomic in use, makes working comfortable and creates an ambience that is in line with the company's image. Godrej OPOS allow great flexibility in space planning.
Regarding workstations, the Godrej range offers a wide selection. The furniture is normally categorised as Seating, Free Standing Individual Products, Desking and Modular Furniture screen or panel hung systems. Besides these there are a number of storage products available. The workstations are L- or U-shaped and have space for documents, materials and equipments. The storage space underneath does not interfere with leg movement.
Blow Plast's Network Open Plan office is also an ideal solution for your workplace. It does not let you hide behind walls but encourages you to look outward. Forming humane workstations which foster team spirit. Designed on the principle of 'open communication', Network is the creation of Canadian designer Chris Sykes. The information age places an absolute premium on knowledge. Sharing news, views, ideas and concepts and sharing them fast. Do walls fit into this democratic scenario? Network is made up of lightweight aluminium beams and legs within which various table combinations are available with choice of media—fabric covered MDF, accessory rail for paper organisers and pinnable boards as privacy panels. Apart from being truly desk-based, the wide variety of shapes of free form tables offer opportunity for innumerable permutations and combinations. Ergonomically it provides effective body support. Its wire management system ensures that data link and power can be supplied to every working position and upgradations made without disruption in wiring and work.
The Flexiplan Partition System launched by well-known chair makers Featherlite satisfies both image and comfort needs while offering an attractive price-quality ratio. The concept behind the design of Flexiplan is the total coordination of its possible combos—partition work tops, storages, open shelves, magnetic pin-up boards, marker boards, paper manager, mobile pedestals, storages, keyboard pullout trays, pencil trays, etc—offering additional flexibility and complete work efficiency within a work station. Asimple hand tool easily and quickly disconnects panels and reconnects them to new configurations. The panels are available in a variety of finishes and colours to add elegance to the environment. It offers an option for managing both power and data cables. The partition panels are designed to conveniently handle high volume of cable at two different levels and each panel is provided with vertical conduits for the cabling to be taken to plug points. Wire managers are provided at worktops to conveniently handle the wires leading into the computers, CPU, UPS, printers, keyboards, mouse, etc.
Rubbermaid, one of the premier brands in the US marketplace which has recently opened shop in India, calls its products 'intelligent designs for the workplace' stressing on function, durability, value and flexibility for new work methods such as telecommunicating, home offices and virtual offices. On offer:
Rubbermaid's Aspira Modular Desk Line comes in rich matte finish inlays on reversible surfaces and steel reinforced Resinite. The desking system is structured to accommodate multiple environments. Ingeniously designed wire and cable management systems keep work surfaces uncluttered but are engineered for accessibility. It comes in neutral colours, ergonomically designed for comfort.
Another special feature of Rubbermaid products is its Ergonomic Computer Accessories range which is a total system designed to reduce the risk of repetitive motion injuries and improve user performance and comfort. The accessories address the eyes, neck, wrist and back like glare screens, monitor support, copy holders, keying support, ergonomically-designed back and foot rests. One design also provides for a contoured foot rest which massages 21 pressure points to help circulation in tired feet.
But everything else takes a backseat when it comes to THE CHAIR. And on information highways and corporate freeways the concept of office furniture now shifts gear from function to body engineering. And you need a chair with a spine. Most executives who spend long hours at their desks or at the computer terminal are prone to back problems like spondylitis of the cervical or lumbar region. Today there are a whole new range of chairs to choose from specially contoured for comfortable seating, scientifically designed for reduction in fatigue by offering optimal seat depth to allow free leg movement and by an even distribution of body weight. Adjustable tilting mechanisms are responsive to body movement and locking facilities provide needed support for more concentrated work by locking the tilting mechanism. Godrej offers a wide range of customised chairs from their Regency, Diva and Rally selections. Blowplast offers its Moderna Klober and Cresta ranges. Special features include synchrotilt, waterfall seat, pendulum action, a backrest height regulator, control panels and pressure-activated castors. And at the top end from Chesters of Bangalore comes the Chesterfield range ideal for the CEO's office and blue-chip companies. Designed first in the 18th century, Chesterfields have stood the test of time—comfort, elbow room and good posture being the key elements. Upholstered in classic leather, Chester's prices range from Rs 25,000-Rs 35,000 per seat.
