Benefits of Open Space Designs in Buildings
Open plan design on buildings is an architectural and interior design term referring to any floor plan that minimizes the use of small rooms that are enclosed, such as offices, and utilizes large open spaces (Kaufmann-Buhler, 2021). The layout of the open-plan office design enables employees and students to work in an open space on the same floor. It speaks about the nature of the office or building occupants (Turner & Myerson, 2000). The key principles for open plan designs on buildings include the creation of zones for a variety of activities, ensuring that there is proper natural lighting and ventilation, and considering flexible arrangements of furniture. Essentially, open-plan office designs have made conventional office cubicles redundant. Creative and collaborative workspace environment has come into force. Open-plan design has a significant impact on society and, therefore, has a number of benefits. It encourages collaboration and teamwork by virtue of enabling all workers to be in one open space. It also promotes communication between people who all operate under one roof. Offices operating under open plan design are associated with enhanced productivity, flexibility, and increased opportunities for networking. In schools, the open plan helps students learn teamwork and collaborate in solving complex problems (Prain et al., 2014). Some of the disadvantages of the open-plan building design are increased levels of distraction and noise, lack of privacy, high levels of stress, and overcrowded workspaces (Higgins et al., 2005). People are different; some prefer to have some privacy, while others prefer an open environment that is lively and energetic. Open-plan office design confines all people, irrespective of their preferences, in one space. It creates conflict in the way people interact by combining the outgoing and the conservative people in one space. However, it helps workers learn to coexist and share limited resources by accommodating each other. In consideration of the advantages associated with the open plan building design, most schools and offices are using the plan. The paper discusses the various reasons that have led to the building of open-plan designs for most buildings for offices and schools.
The open-plan building design has numerous benefits associated with it. Even though not all personalities like the planning design, some people who enjoy working in a fast-paced environment enjoy the open plan building design (Turner & Myerson, 2000). The design is useful for employees who are keen on networking and collaborating with other employees. The spaces thrive off by means of socializing and communicating. The building plan promotes the sharing of ideas and building comradeship. The plan is also critical to people who value a sense of community and culture. Therefore, as much as the open building design is not liked by everyone, people who value some of the aspects discussed above enjoy operating in open space building design.
Such kinds of people who like open environments enjoy collaborations brought about by the open plan building design (Turner & Myerson, 2000). The open Environment as a workplace for employees enhances communication between employees and students and helps them share ideas. The open Environment enables people in open spaces to share ideas with like-minded colleagues, and this promotes creativity and enhances collaboration for projects among the employees.
An open-plan building plan also fosters networking among people or office dwellers (Kim & De Dear, 2013). Networking applies to employees from different fields working in the same space and connecting by virtue of being in the same Environment. Every time that individuals interact with new people, it helps in forming new relationships and creates possibilities for collaboration. Through collaboration, people manage to accomplish much more than what could have been accomplished individually.
Open-plan buildings have a relaxed atmosphere due to proper lighting and air circulation (Mi et al., 2020). The nature and setting of open plan office design enhances workflow at the workspace or school. Working in a good working environment, which is a result of the plan and design of the offices and workspaces, enables workers to enjoy their time at their place of work. It creates a conducive space for students to learn. Open-plan designs have better aesthetic value than closed-plan offices. The open-plan building design provides more freedom and space to workers, which is not only appealing but also helps in enabling the workers to enjoy their time and space at work.
Closed spaces, which have been the conventional workplace design for a long time, are limiting and suffocating (Kaufmann-Buhler, 2021). The closed walls hinder openness and keep individuals in isolation. Spending a lot of time in isolation is not as insightful as working in an open space. Therefore, the open space work design opens up the minds of workers. They have unlimited potential because they meet as many people as possible. During such interactions, individuals share ideas that are inspiring and, therefore, result in out-of-the-world solutions that could not have been realized if such people had never met and had a chance to exchange ideas.
The principles on which the design for the open plan office spaces constitutes the benefits realizable from the open plan building design (Ching, 2023). One such principle is the balance of privacy and interaction between workers. The design of workspaces based on open building design is oriented at facilitating communication and interaction between the workers. To create a balance between privacy and interaction, the workspaces are portioned into different zones to ensure that, for example, people in the finance department are all in one open space office, which is different from that of their marketing counterparts. This ensures that sensitive information in the finance department is confined to that department. However, it provides an open space for workers in the finance team to interact and communicate openly.
The health of the interior Environment is optimized by having an open well, well-lit, and aerated working space. A healthy working space is vital for the physiological and emotional well-being of the workers and students (Prain et al., 2014). The natural light and aeration enable the creation of a healthy and productive environment for people. It enhances energy, mood, and the well-being of the employees and learners.
Open-plan office design is guided by the principles of flexibility and adaptability (Mi et al., 2020). This is more so important in the context of the dynamic nature of work preferences, needs, and patterns. Open-plan office designs are created in consideration of the varying types of work and temperament of individuals. It is meant to accommodate different scenarios, such as reorganization, downsizing, and growth at the workplace.
Every organization aspires to cut as much cost as possible. Open office design helps organizations reduce their operational costs (Higgins et al., 2005). Open office plans are very simple to build and maintain. The cost of building them is lower than the conventional closed office design because they require less construction material and labor costs. The temperatures and lights in the building are controlled naturally. Therefore, little or no additional cost is incurred.
In modern times, the working Environment has changed from bureaucratic and hierarchical workspaces to more collaborative spaces with lower levels of hierarchies (Ching, 2023). The changes are reflected in the modern office building design, where the managers and their junior employees all work in the same space and interact openly. Therefore, change in building style reflects the cultural shift at work and aligns physical spaces with values and practices in contemporary society.
In conclusion, the many benefits associated with open plan design for most buildings for offices and schools have led to the adoption of the building plan. Some of these benefits include promoting interaction and communication between the people working in the offices. Offices operating under open plan design are associated with enhanced productivity, flexibility, and increased opportunities for networking. The buildings are cheaper to build and maintain. They are also eco-friendly.

References
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