Not all collaboration requires a meeting. Colleagues can check a detail, present a draft or catch up in a matter of minutes. If the only option is a large meeting room, everyday conversations end up in a disproportionately formal setting. If, on the other hand, the conversation takes place amongst workstations, it may disturb others.<\/p>\n
The purpose of a meeting space is to provide a suitable intermediate setting. It may include seating for two or more people, a desk for a laptop and space for a brief break. It does not need to be completely enclosed. However, confidential matters, long video meetings and group work involving loud noise require separate consideration and often a different space.<\/p>\n
Before you start planning, it\u2019s a good idea to identify the users and the situations. Is the area intended for staff to ask quick questions, for waiting for visitors, or for a small group to work together? These may look the same on a floor plan, but they require different layouts and furnishings.<\/p>\n
A natural spot is often found near areas that spark conversation: by the coffee corner, the project area or near the entrance. However, proximity does not mean that the sofa should be right in the doorway or behind workstations. Leave a clear path and space to stop, so that passers-by do not have to walk through the middle of a group of people chatting.<\/p>\n
Also consider the environment from the user\u2019s perspective. Is the spot easy to spot? Does it feel natural to sit there without the conversation feeling like a public performance? Where are the nearest places that require concentration? If the meeting area and a quiet work area are close to each other, some distance, orientation or spatial demarcation may be needed between them.<\/p>\n
It is not advisable to judge how sound travels based on a floor plan alone. Soft surfaces and sound-absorbing furnishings can affect the acoustic comfort of a space, but an open-plan area does not, in itself, become a soundproof room. Visual demarcation helps to define the intended use of an area; it does not, in itself, guarantee privacy of conversation.<\/p>\n
For a brief one-to-one conversation, two comfortable chairs and a small table may be sufficient. A workspace or presentation area is needed for reviewing drafts. When working in a small team, the orientation of the seats, eye contact and access to equipment are more important than the number of pieces of furniture.<\/p>\n
POINT seating solutions<\/a> can form an open meeting area. Tables and workstations<\/a> complement it when the discussion turns to the data. A spatial boundary can be constructed, for example, With the STORY WALL room divider<\/strong><\/a>, when you need a defined space and privacy. If the content of the conversation requires genuine privacy, consider a closed consultation room<\/a>.<\/p>\n Avoid the two extremes. An area with too little furniture will simply become a thoroughfare. An area that is too large and well-equipped will start to attract long meetings, leaving no space for quick get-togethers. The furnishings should tell the user what the space is designed for.<\/p>\nHow can a meeting area be integrated into quiet spaces?<\/h2>\n