By Richard Paris
When Herman Miller introduced the "Action Office" in the mid '60's, no one could have imagined how open floor plans would manifest into the boondoggle we see today. With the influx of tech startups vying for limited real estate in urban areas, as well as, the advent of the 'collaborative workspace' model pioneered by WeWork, professional privacy seems to be a fading luxury.
Courtesy: Herman Miller
Now Framery, an innovative furniture company based in Finland, is looking to build the office of the future with soundproof private spaces.
The founders were constantly distracted by colleagues talking loudly on their phones, making it extremely hard to focus on demanding tasks. "Happiness at workplaces is not about people smiling 24/7" says Samu Hällfors, Founder & CEO of Framery. "It's about people feeling fulfilled by being able to do the job that they love, in the most efficient and effortless way – without annoying distractions."
Manufactured with a layered combination of sheet metal, birch plywood, recycled acoustic foam and acoustic felt, the sonic attributes are reminiscent of voice-over booths found at professional recording studios. The inside flooring features anti-static, stain resistant low loop pile carpet floors which should hold up well over time.
So will you feel claustrophobic? Actually, no... It turns out these pods have an integrated electric air circulation system to accommodate extended occupancy (aka: long conference calls with the legal department.) Our team tested a demo model for about five hours and they are remarkably enjoyable. The two-sided, floor-to-ceiling window frames provide exspansive spatial characteristics and allow uninhibited ambient light to flood the enclosure —just be sure to install in a large room or adjacent to a window!
Judging from the endless configurations available, it's easy to see how this solution can completely change your overall office vibe and operational workflow.
Stay tuned for more updates.