Very, very interesting work by Anne Hardy, more at the Bellwether gallery.

Some interesting ideas on experience in the office, more here

The heads-down technical experience

Engineers who work on equipment often need to be able to work next to it. They also need to be able to easily access reference material. Some engineers need to solder.

• Equipment at the workstation, in racks, on special shelves, etc. With appropriate power and connection.

• Work surfaces for the job, such as lab-level bench, space for two computers, etc.

• Sufficient storage as appropriate for the job.

  • Local storage for immediate access.

  • Other accessible storage for longer-term items.

  • Ergonomic considerations taken into account.

• Secure equipment, either at workstation or nearby storage.

• Transport at hand as needed, such as trolley that stores under the workbench.

• Appropriately flexible phone system, eg. with wireless headset to allow talking with customers whilst walking to equipment.

The community and team experience

Although many field are in and out, they still feel a sense of community. Some people work alone and feel a sense of isolation.

Create a sense of identity

• …for individuals, workgroups and visitors.

• Distinct color scheme and lighting effects that enables immediate identification.

• Transition at boundaries that signifies movement into the identified area and gives a sense of arrival.

• Zones within overall workspace that enclose and identify groups and shared areas.

• Ability to personalize individual and group spaces.

• People magnets which draw diverse people together to share information and socialize.

  • Eg. coffee bars at copy centers with information and connectivity.

• Visual connection with others, for example lower partitions to allow people to see one another. Balanced with height for zoning and perceived privacy.

Enable shared activity

…within teams and the field.

• Team meeting spaces close to their individual workstations.

• Individual meeting space at workstation only for those with specific needs.

• Larger meeting rooms for group get-togethers.

• Noise minimization between the sounds of talking and those who have a need for quiet.

• Private space where confidential conversations can be held.

• Social space that allows serendipitous, chance conversation. Give a purpose to be there (as ‘people magnets’ above).

• Technology-enabled space with net connect at all places and PC projection in meeting rooms.

My article: “The post telework condition” has been published by the journal of E-working. 

Abstract

“His weariness is that of the gladiator after the combat; his work was the whitewashing of a corner in a state official’s office”. Franz Kafka.

You can read the full text here.

The international ITA workshop will be in Krakow, Poland this year. I will not be able to join in person but I will be making a live video presentation. This year’s theme will be “ICT-supported collaboration and flexible working perceived as vehicles for stimulating local development, supporting entrepreneurship and building a fully inclusive Information Society.”

The tittle for my presentation is “What does regionalism mean today”, in this presentation I want to address the (new) meaning of regionalism today. Cities, and especially larger cities, are known due to their importance in the global economy, or due to their cultural, political or religious importance. The hierarchy and importance of a city acts as an attractor which has been the main drive for the growth of cities. A city is nothing more than a grouping of architecture, and architecture are man-made structures that support human activity. Thus initially regionalism was defined by its architecture, as architecture was the very expression of the region, not only as an expression of the activities that formed the attraction of the place, but also as the materials that were used to construct the architecture which would come directly from the regional context. Today all of this is changing. Success of a city and of a region today depends on the success of its attractors. If in the past the attraction grew slowly and depended on a hierarchical system, today the attraction can be created (almost) overnight. Think of Bilbao in Spain, the construction of the Guggenheim museum has placed this sleepy little town on the global map, or Dubai which is moving from a camel market place into a global city within a few years, or the Chinese manufacturing cities that have and are popping up like mushrooms in the Chinese countryside. 

How high can we go? Very high it seems. 

J@pan Inc asked my views on architecture of Japan and especially Tokyo. Although it is presented as if written by Jun Mitsui (I used to work for him), you can read the whole story here.

Jun Mitsui’s point that Japan is becoming a disposal ground, a toilet for foreign architects, is funny indeed, but I think rather outdated. Most of the interesting architecture in Japan these days comes from young Japanese architects, the days of foreign dumpings (potty training would be a better description), in my opinion are over. Don’t forget that most of the shit built here is by Japanese architects.

The new Peninsula, dumped according to the new colour regulations?

A great place to work by the looks of it. More here , including a VPRO documentary.

Can we fake happiness? 

According to the excellent presentation by Dan Gilbert:

Our “psychological immune system” lets us feel real, enduring happiness, he says, even when things don’t go as planned. He calls this kind of happiness “synthetic happiness,” and he says it’s “every bit as real and enduring as the kind of happiness you stumble upon when you get exactly what you were aiming for.” 

According to this article in Times:

“We’re wired to be optimistic. Most people think they’re happier than most [other] people.” And even if you aren’t part of that lucky majority, Bates says, there’s always that other 50% of overall life satisfaction that, according to his research, is not genetically predetermined. To feel happier, he recommends mimicking the personality traits of those who are: Be social, even if it’s only with a few people; set achievable goals and work toward them; and concentrate on putting setbacks and worries in perspective. Don’t worry, as the saying goes. Be happy.”

More cool offices at office snapshots, including our office.

Or how about this one from Kesselskramer?