Simplicity is the word for office interior design

Simplicity is the word for office interior design

JAKARTA (JP): It is interesting to note that most property
management companies use modest office spaces compared to their
lessors or tenants. But there is a similarity in their interior
design -- simplicity.

For example, the Tenant Association of Menara Imperium (PPMI),
which manages the skyscraper Menara Imperium a leading strata-
title office building in Kuningan, Jakarta uses a small office
space in the parking lot area of the tower.

PT Senayan Trikarya Sempana (STS), the owner and operator of
the capital's most prominent shopping center Plaza Senayan, has a
very modest "shelter" in the basement of the building.

The office locations chosen by PPMI and STS are unlikely to be
chosen by other companies as an office is said to reflect the
image and the financial soundness of a company.

Yet, wherever an office is located, its interior design plays
a significant role in creating the whole working environment. The
current trend in office interior design is simplicity and many
offices are adopting the concept.

Natalia A. Hatmarini, advertising and promotion manager of
STS, said the simplicity concept applied in her office was more
due to the nationality of the owners.

"STS is controlled by a Japanese company, so the office is
designed with a Japanese touch, which minimizes partitions. Each
table is set face-to-face while the supervisor sits where he can
watch every corner clearly.

"Conventionally, an office with a Japanese touch is modest,
practical, simple, straight, open and flat," she said.

Panca Cahyo of PPMI said partitions had been removed from his
office to improve the setting.

"Since the new concept was applied, employees have become more
familiar with each other. I think the impact is better," he said,
adding that there were 15 employees at the 150-square-meter
office.

As a matter of fact, many offices at Menara Imperium and other
office buildings in the capital's central business district (CBD)
apply the simplicity concept. The concept is not only popular in
offices in CBD but also in offices outside this district.

Robert Wilarso, the manager of a trading company whose office
is located in Sunter, North Jakarta, said the minimal-partition
design had been applied for sometime in his office.

"Other than that, my office has installed a special desk at
the reception to make the receptionist more comfortable, while at
the same time its attractive," he said.

Natalia added that her office also used simple colors for
ornaments and furniture.

"Nothing is fancy at my office except in my division as we
have to experiment with new ideas in the advertising and
promotion department," she said.

She said no or minimal partitions extended a great advantage
to the employees.

"We learn how to concentrate and focus on our work. We learn
how not to be distracted when our colleagues speak on the phone
or talk loudly," Natalia said, adding that employees could also
talk to each other without having to leave their desks.

She said the concept of simplicity also created transparency
among the employees.

"However, it is disadvantageous to employees who like to
chat," she said.

Image

The managing director of an interior design consultancy PT
Kuorum Deconesia, Duan Elnastio, said a simple design in offices
is more human and homely.

"Many office are now designed with far less partitions or
panels. This is to create more dynamism and interaction among the
employees," he said.

However, he said some departments should be separated.

"Finance and accounting departments, for instance, should be
separated for security reasons, he said.

He added that some companies select certain designs to reflect
their image.

"In most cases, this relates to the type of business the
company is in. For example, a trading company or a bank will
select something with a conservative touch, an advertising agency
may want something creative or unique, an IT company will require
a high-tech visage, while a lawyer's office need to depict
professionalism," he said.

He said most of his clients now were very concerned of prices.

"They have no problems with local products as long as the
quality is above average. What is important for them is the
finishing touches," he said.

Imported products are usually used for the directors' and
conference rooms, he said.

He said to portray a good image, most companies paid more
attention on their conference or meeting rooms, and the
reception.

"Many of my clients need the latest multimedia or audio visual
equipment for presentations, therefore the interior design of
their offices must match these. Meanwhile, some of them want to
have the reception beautified with paintings or ornaments," he
said.

He said most IT companies would order specially designed
tables, such as round tables, like those found in cafes, with an
electrical or communications connection jack in the center.

"Because most IT executives are very mobile, they need to plug
and unplug their laptops fast and conveniently," he said.

The simplicity trend, he said, would remain a favorite for a
long time as it offered a more human touch, which consequently
encouraged more interaction among the staff.

Stationary

Rosse Hutapea, an executive of PT Datasrip, a private business
solution provider, said that stationery and office equipment are
essential in facilitating productivity.

"There are two major sorts of stationery and office equipment,
the IT and non-IT products. We have seen increasing sales in both
products despite the prolonged economic crisis," she said.

In correlation with the expansion of the Internet and e-
business, products related to the cyberworld are becoming more
popular, she added.

"There's been a higher demand for IT related products
including printers, digital cameras, scanners and multimedia
projectors," she said.

Stationery and office equipment suppliers will retain their
roles, and will closely mirror change in the business and
commercial sector, she said. (I. Christianto)