Office Kitchens: Open Plan Positives

The kitchen is increasingly seen as the focal point of modern office design, an important place for collaboration, innovation and personal connection.

More businesses are recognising the value of their kitchen space and as a result, are spending more time and money on kitchen design.

There are a number of design trends when it comes to office kitchens, and one of them is the open plan design, commonly seen in open plan offices.

Whilst open plan work spaces may not be as popular as they once were, there are a number of benefits to having an open plan kitchen in your office.

Here are some of them.

Healthier

Open plan kitchens are healthier for your staff.

They offer better airflow and more space for staff to move about, which means your workers will feel less cramped.

In fact, a study of US government workers found that employees in open plan work spaces were healthier and reported lower levels of stress.

Therefore, an office which offers an open plan kitchen rather than a cramped, closed off space is better for your staff.

Collaboration and Social Connections

Collaboration and communication should always be central considerations when it comes to office design.

For example, an open plan office kitchen offers a space that encourages communication and collaboration between your employees.

With a more open space, your workers will find it easier to chat over a meal or coffee, share ideas and build on relationships that aren’t just work based.

Research has shown that workers who interact outside the office work more effectively together, when in the office.

Therefore, an open plan kitchen can help boost productivity and employee happiness.

Natural Light

Natural light is important for any space.

Thankfully, an open plan kitchen will allow natural light to flow unimpeded, so long as there are windows nearby.

More natural light means healthier and happier employees, and it also saves your business money by forgoing the need for additional artificial light.

The health benefits for your staff include better mental health, as well as better sleep and lower instances of minor illness like colds.

These benefits ultimately translate into better levels of productivity for your business.

Dynamic

An open plan kitchen can be a dynamic space.

For instance, it can be used as a casual meeting area, activity space or conference area for informal talks.

Having a space with multiple functions means your business will outlay less on additional rooms that may not necessarily be required.

However, using your open plan kitchen for multiple functions cannot come at a sacrifice to the enjoyment of the space by your workers.

Eating and relaxing must always take precedence in an office kitchen space, so don’t compromise this for your staff.