Cafe-Themed Offices Spaces & How They Work

11/11/2019 | By Marella Gimenez

The first office structure of the past was known for its scientific approach and designed solely for productivity and efficiency’s sake. The rigid, regulated layout comprised of cramped rows of desks often encircled with managers’ offices, allowing them to supervise. After focusing exclusively on only gaining maximum productivity out of its staff, later designs considered the human and social aspects of working. The open plan design evolved afterward to be more spacious for its workers with wider workstations and a mix of private offices.

Rebranding the Workspace

Present-day modern office design now seeks to reflect the image of the company and the kind of work culture it possesses. It is currently bringing new focus to the well-being of employees in hopes that they yield good output in return.

An arising trend of this modern design is the rebranding of workspaces into socializing spaces. The lines between the two are becoming increasingly blurred while borrowing certain aspects from sectors of the hospitality industry. Design elements from hotel lobbies, domestic lounges, and cafes are used to create a more attractive working environment for employees. However, the most notable layout out of this trend is the café design with its growth in popularity over recent years.

The "Work Cafe" Design

No longer having to be chained to their desks, the current workforce at present is becoming more mobile with the innovative rise of technology. It's now normal to see people working outside of the office, in a non-traditional work setting. With laptops in tow, cafes and coffee shops have become a popular alternative as a place to get work done. The new demands of these mobile and flexible workers have currently even fueled the rapid growth of coworking spaces.

Today, employees desire to work in an open and adaptable environment and café styles perfectly suit this need. Because of this, workspaces are now trading in their symmetrical desks, swivel chairs, and partitions in exchange for curated bookcases, plush upholstery, and leafy potted plants. The new concept design implements the layout of a café service area which can be used for staff lunches, presentations, meetings, or an informal working area. Typical office furniture such as meeting tables and workstations also extends into the café area creating an image of work-play integration.

How It Works

The work café operates more like a coffee shop than a traditional breakroom, emphasized with decorations such as bar stools and other lounge furniture. Its main purpose is to serve as a “third space” in the workplace where it aims to promote:

• Team collaboration
• Spontaneous meetings
• Brainstorming sessions
• Informal conversation
• One-on-one dialogue

Furthermore, work café designs create a casual and relaxed atmosphere that is proven to boost the productivity levels of employees. The design ultimately provides companies the opportunity to give their employees an alternative workspace that allows them a change in environment. It therefore results in setting the stage for these kinds of engagements that build trust and foster a sense of belonging.

Coworking spaces, known for their trendy and contemporary design, do this well with their shared working spaces that allow for networking with workers from other companies. Breaking away from the usual mold of what a typical office looks like, it attracts mobile workers with its fresh take on office design and provides various amenities.

Coffee Shop Benefits

It is a given that with a café-themed office, comes with it are all the comforts of an actual café. Any office worker will agree that coffee is an integral part of their day and these little details are what ultimately become key in retaining talent. After all, caffeine is what really drives employees to be productive on the day to day. In a café-themed work space, the enticing availability of coffee coupled with informal coffee shop décor are what offer employees a stimulating experience at work.

However, this is already an advantage that coworking spaces have over traditional offices, which is that they offer additional perks like free-flowing coffee to all their workers. Along with creative collaborative spaces, shared offices have shown that they are a bit more ahead of the times and continue to be forward-thinking.

Looking to work at spaces similar to these? Want to be flexible in work location and hours?