Lack of private space in office interiors is constraining the creativity and productivity of workers, according to data from two new UK workplace surveys (+ slideshow).
Gensler's 2016 UK Workplace Survey found that workers were more likely to be innovative if they had access to a range of spaces supporting different working styles, including private, semi-private and open-plan environments.
At the same time, the What Workers Want survey ? from real estate advisor Savills and the British Council for Offices ? reported that less than two-thirds of employees were satisfied with the amount of "quiet space for focused work" provided in their workplaces.
More than a quarter of employees who responded to the What Workers Want survey felt that the current design of their workplace was making them less productive, and 53 per cent believed their productivity would increase if they could attain their ideal office environment. Earlier this year, the head of research at office furniture company Haworth said that office design needs to keep up with changing working formats
The findings come at a time when designers are creating an increasing array of noise-reducing products and new categories of office furniture to create niches within open-plan spaces.
An example is PearsonLloyd's Zones collection for Teknion, which features furniture to create privacy and encourage collaboration.
Gensler's data ? collected from 1,210 employees across 11 industries in the UK ? indic...