Forooraghi, M; Miedema, E; Ryd, N; Wallbaum, H and Babapour Chafi, M (2023) Relationship between the design characteristics of activity-based flexible offices and users' perceptions of privacy and social interactions. Building Research & Information, 51(5), pp. 588-604. ISSN 0961-3218
Abstract
Activity-based flexible offices (AFOs) provide a variety of workspaces to meet the need for social interactions and privacy at work. This study investigates the relationship between the design characteristics of AFOs and users' perceptions of visual and acoustic privacy and social interactions. This case study is based on post-occupancy evaluations in three AFO layouts at a public service organization in Sweden. A mixed-method approach is adopted that combines questionnaires and layout analysis. In general, the results showed that while aesthetics received the highest satisfaction scores, office functionality, task support, storage and visual and acoustic privacy received the lowest ratings. Key design characteristics for AFOs were operationalized, observed and exemplified: zone diversity, proportion, readability, spatial enclosure, sharing ratios and functionality of furniture and tools. These insights may contribute to better-informed decisions about the design characteristics that influence privacy and social interactions in AFOs.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | activity-based working; case study; layout analysis; office design; post-occupancy evaluation; work environment |
| Index terms: | work environment, social interaction, office design, satisfaction, case study, enclosure, Sweden, workspace, aesthetic, post-occupancy evaluation, privacy, questionnaire, functionality |
| Subjects: | sociology, specialized design, professional ethics, factor and component analysis, management, architectural elements, Geography, design features, evaluation methods, project delivery, data collection methods |
| Topics: | Stakeholder Management, Geographical Context, Project Management, Research Practice, Organizational Design, Quality Management, Design Practice, Legal Issues |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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