ITOKI Designing an office space where you can work in your own way.
It seems that there is a company that is reforming the way people work by creating office interiors and spaces. It is Itoki, a long-established office furniture manufacturer founded in 1890. It is a company that manufactures and sells office furniture and also proposes office space design, and has positioned its Tokyo headquarters as a research and development laboratory. The most important point of this new work style is ABWORK's "XORK Style," in which employees design their own working hours, location, and work style. The most important point of this work style is the adoption of ABW (Activity Based Working). We have created an office where people can work autonomously based on a high degree of self-discretion by preparing work areas according to work objectives classified into 10 activities, such as high concentration, co-work, idea generation, and recharging.
Incidentally, the 10 activities are an idea based on research by Veldhoen+Company, a work style change consulting firm that is the founder of ABW in the Netherlands.
The first thing to note is the office layout. Itoki's offices are divided into three floors, and employees use an internal staircase located in the center of the building, rather than an elevator, which takes time to get to and from the office. The area near the stairs, where most people come and go, is a collaboration area with large desks for easy communication. The corner of the floor, where there is less pedestrian traffic, is a centralized area with desks for one person. By creating a variety of spaces, workers can find a suitable place for their work.
The chairs used are also ingenious. The chairs that Itoki makes have different recommended working hours, so they are used in different ways depending on the work area. For example, the chair in the coworking space, "Vertebra 03," is equipped with functions suitable for long hours of use. The seat slides and tilts forward to reduce the strain on the body. Incidentally, "Vertebra 03" was designed by product designer Fumie Shibata. It is a work chair that would fit in well in a living room. New product in collaboration with "Karimoku FurnitureVERTEBRA 03 Wood.also made an appearance.
The Flip Flap Chair was inspired by origami paper. It is introduced in conference rooms where people often turn their heads to the side because of the flexibility of the folds that hold the shoulders and make it easier to twist the body. It accommodates a variety of body positions, and the backrest may be collapsed up to 135 degrees for refreshment. The geometric pattern is stylish and sets it apart from conventional work chairs.
This is a "sound sofa" that allows online meetings without earphones in an open space. Speakers are built into the headrests, and the sound is audible within the area where you sit. The microphone in the center of the table is less likely to collect voices from a radius of 1 m or more away. The rounded shape gives a soft impression, and the gentle coloring blends in well with the office.
Plants are placed everywhere, as it is said that green in one's field of vision relieves stress. And, based on data showing that incorporating wood into the workplace environment improves concentration, reduces stress and anxiety, and facilitates the generation of ideas, the company is actively incorporating desks and chairs made of wood. Furthermore, the space is designed to be comfortable and pleasant, as if you are working in nature, with circadian rhythm lighting that changes brightness and color temperature over time like the sun, and sound masking that plays the sound of a flowing river or birds chirping as background music.
For those times when you want to concentrate, a booth for one person is also available. You do not have to worry about the noise around you, and you do not feel cramped because of the glass walls. Since the hours of use are fixed, you can concentrate on your work in a short period of time.
The Mind Fitness Zone, where you can meditate and improve your concentration, is also popular. Emptying your head and taking deep breaths relaxes both body and mind. The calm space is comfortable and ideal for refreshment. Many employees visit in the morning or evening, and recharging is another important element of XORK Style.
Itoki's office design creates a comfortable atmosphere that makes people want to come to the company. At the root of this is the revitalization of communication among employees, and the company aims to create new ideas and values through collaboration. In order to realize individual happiness with a fulfilling work and private life, they are repeatedly updating their offices every year to create a comfortable work environment through space.
