Mobile comfort with Vitrintec’s new product

Modern interiors reflect the “mobile” lifestyle of a changing society. The preferences of new generations of consumers have also had a revolutionary impact in the field of office real estate. The growing needs and demands have made the multifunctionality of office space and furniture an overriding value. Today, comfort is determined by the ability to quickly rearrange a space.

Today’s office interiors are rooted in the modernist concept of interiors and are in keeping with the ideology of Le Corbusier, who believed that a “Home is a machine for living in.” And so the contemporary office became a mechanism that all of its users can adjust to their own needs. Each employee is an individual with completely different preferences. It is this fact that has contributed to a change in approach when designing interiors. What matters is comfort. Architects were also faced with the question of whether open spaces, which have so far been the most fashionable types of spaces, are also the ones most suitable for employees.

Research on comfort

Studies on the comfort of working in open spaces have repeatedly been conducted in the Netherlands. Researchers there confirmed the fact that such interiors are not always conducive to creative work. They confirmed and documented a fact known to every employee. The open-plan space is tantamount to a top-down setting of temperature, light level, and sound intensity. With the popularity of such offices, it is often the case that it is impossible to introduce changes in working conditions directly affecting employees. An employee who cannot adjust working conditions to their needs works less efficiently.

In the 1950s, the approach hitherto advocated by the pioneer of open space, architect Frank Lloyd Wright, completely changed. All thanks to Quickborner, a German group of architects who proposed separating workstations from each other with a small wall.

In Poland, this type of space arrangement emerged in the 1990s. It was also at this time that the concept of dividing spaces with glass walls emerged. They are intended, first and foremost, to provide comfort to employees.

Mobile solutions

Office spaces have made somewhat broader demands than just classic partition walls. Mobile walls make it easier for employees to function in large open-plan offices. Research shows that every employee values comfort and privacy above all else in office work. This need gave rise to a new product – mobile walls that guarantee comfort and superior aesthetics of the office space. They provide a wide range of possibilities for arranging spaces without the limitations of wall length. A huge advantage of such an application is the ability to adapt the modules to each room and the needs of its users. A mobile wall can become a permanent part of the office or a quick form of space reorganisation.

Functionality is guaranteed by the installed single door that enables the division of a given space in any way with walls without the need to provide additional passages. The modules are easily slid in and out manually. The profiles of the mobile wall are designed to be as translucent as possible – approx. 87% of the entire surface of the modules is the translucent part.

History of mobile walls

It would seem that mobile walls are a modern product created out of the need for privacy in the office. However, this need as well as the walls themselves have existed for centuries. Folding room dividers were first developed in China around the 4th century BC. These early Chinese screens served as both furnishings and decoration. They were heavy ornamental works of art, which is why their prices reached extremely high levels. The size and weight of such screens made it difficult to move them freely, as their dimensions reached as high values as their prices.

One interior, many applications

Multi-functionality is undoubtedly the hallmark of a modern office. The dynamism and diversity of today’s work require design solutions that make the office space more than just an interior with desks. Every employee has likely had an unexpected meeting at some point — at a time when all available meeting rooms were occupied. Mobile partition walls are supposed to prevent such situations by allowing you to separate spaces and avoid having to cancel plans and scheduled meetings. Apart from their purely practical function, modular partition walls also serve as a visual addition to interiors, further complementing their aesthetics. A classic version of the glass wall is a modern element that adds a minimalist touch to the interior. However, the modules do not have to be made solely of glass. A furniture board, which is also a common solution, fits into the trend of nature-themed modern offices. Such large spaces can also be covered with designer wallpaper or film.

Comfort of silence

One of the biggest drawbacks of open space is the constant noise. The hustle and bustle of the office environment makes it almost impossible to fully concentrate on the work at hand. Enter mobile walls — a simple way to provide acoustic comfort for employees. The product provides sound insulation (Rw) of up to 49dB with a glass panel and up to 44dB with a furniture board. Thus, mobile walls are a great solution for any open-space office that lacks extra space for meetings or private conversations. Ensure privacy by dividing your interior with walls

Post-covid offices

The new reality of the pandemic has contributed to a different model of office space design. This period requires an in-depth analysis of the needs of a particular company and its employees. Hybrid work forces employers to create a safe space that will encourage employees to return from home office. Today’s employees not only call for well-designed offices with excellent aesthetics but above all the safety of being in large groups. The open space model, the most popular and familiar option in most office buildings, is transforming. What once remained open is now being divided using glass and mobile walls. The modules can change their function as required, including by changing their translucency. Thanks to the movable parts, you can create variations of one seemingly simple interior.

Modular walls are a compromise between open space and the elements of privacy that employees currently need more than ever. It is also a way to quickly rearrange a space as well as guarantee safety and comfort.