All work and some play

A no-cubicle set up at the new Urban Ladder office ensures that the workplace is accessible yet productive

Workplace meetings often bring to mind prosaic conference rooms, massive boardroom tables and staid couches. But what if you could exchange ideas at work while seated on a swing, or a rocking chair or even inside an open box-like space tucked into the wall? These are only some of the features that Urban Ladder, a Bengaluru-based online furniture and home decor company, has included in giving its office a makeover.

The 32,000-square-foot office off Old Airport Road fits 400 people in a semi-circular space. "We have grown rapidly in the last year. As we grew, our need for space kept increasing," says Vikram Viswanath, who heads the design research team at Urban Ladder, which was founded in 2012. "Until last year, we were split in three different office spaces. There was a need for a collaborative office space for teams to ideate."

Meeting boxes for one-on-one informal chats

  One of the key features of the new office is a no-cubicle set-up, which is aimed at encouraging an organisational structure that ensures easy access. Apart from 12 meeting rooms - each named after ground breakers in the world of design, such as Charles and Ray, Zaha Hadid, Elon Musk and Steve Jobs - suited for more formal discussions, there are three "jumpspaces". Located close to workstations, these pop-up areas are ideal for quick stand-up meetings for groups of eight. Or teams of three could catch up at the three lounges, which are casual ensembles spread throughout the office. For even more informal exchanges, there are four "meeting boxes", which are tiny spaces shaped like open boxes that are embedded in the wall - ideal for a quick one-on-one chat, without having to book a meeting room.

Quiet ‘phone booths’, big enough to accommodate a desk, are an escape from workplace chatter

Several "breakout areas" - one of which has swing chairs - give the employees a chance to move away from their desks to hold quick meetings or for breaks.

An open-plan office does, however, have noise distractions. Whether it's a long phone call with a customer or an assignment that requires sustained focus, the clatter of keyboards and workplace chatter always get in the way of work. At Urban Ladder, one could find an escape in a "phone booth." Large enough to accommodate a desk and fitted with a glass door, the phone booth is where employees can work in peace.

The office also boasts a "mixed mode" workspace, which includes a foosball table, a pool table, a yoga room, a gym and a playstation. "One of our core values is 'fun as a way of life'," says Viswanath. "We want this to be a space where people are at their productive best". Additionally, three nap rooms are available for those who need a power nap during work hours.

A mini-breakout area with rocking chairs close to the workstation

In order to encourage the employees to think and innovate, the designers have introduced the concept of "mood boards". A set of multi-coloured alcoves built into the walls, "mood boards" will serve as the background against which the creative team could place furniture and wall accent pieces to play with design even as they brainstorm ideas.

The walls are left mostly white in order to create a sense of space. The only bursts of colour are around the workstations. Also, the workstations are mostly arranged near the periphery to keep the employees close to the sunlight streaming in.

A pool table in the recreation area

What's also peculiar is that nearly all the furniture is from Urban Ladder. The office space is also a way for employees to "connect with what we do as a brand," says Viswanath. The reception area itself is a showcase for Urban Ladder ware. After much discussion, the design team concluded that waiting areas were mostly a waste of space. "That's why we've got a demo apartment waiting to welcome any visitor with an Urban Ladder furniture showcase that can be refreshed as often as we like," he adds.