Too Noisy at Work? How to Create Privacy in an Open Office

A survey shows that 80% of offices choose open offices to facilitate employee communication and sharing of ideas. Ironically, however, 85% of employees dislike them. This situation is even more pronounced among the self-conscious young workers born in the 1990s and 2000s. So how can a balance be struck between the company and its employees? This company, which embraces open offices, has chosen this solution:

●Another Large Hangzhou Factory Embarking on "Involution"—Cool Home●

After Alibaba,

Another large Hangzhou company has begun to adopt silent cabins as independent workspaces on a large scale.

*Alibaba Silent Cabin

Cool Home is the industry's top interior design platform.

With the company's growth and the influx of new employees, the company has opened new office buildings. However, how can high-quality offices attract this new generation of workers? Perhaps offices can also apply the hard-core principles of "involution" to their work environment.

This new office space in Hangzhou features a completely open work environment, with only two separate conference rooms. Neither senior executives nor other positions have separate offices.

To ensure privacy, Kujiale approached us to utilize the soundproofing and privacy of silent cabins to accommodate essential office activities.

*Phone Booth Cabin

*Conference Room Cabin

●Noise Issues in Open Offices●

The external acoustic environment of this office building is similar to that of most other office buildings.

Next door is Hangzhou East Railway Station.

There are several construction sites currently under construction downstairs.

This noise includes both low- and high-frequency noises.

*Hangzhou East Railway Station

*Construction Site

Open office workstations in large companies often have high levels of emissions.

The sounds of employees typing and talking contribute to noise, especially for those making phone calls.

The high decibels of phone calls carried unimpeded in such an open space.

Not only does it disrupt the work of others, it can also be extremely deafening for the caller. Privacy Exposed

*New Office Workstations

●How Silent Cabinets Achieve Private Working●

Cool Home selected two types of silent cabins.

To ensure privacy, the company also used frosted paper.

The originally transparent silent cabin glass was covered completely.

The first type is a small, phone booth-style cabin placed between two workstation areas to serve as a partition.

It is convenient for employees in both areas and can be used for:

1. Making and receiving phone calls (privacy for both work and personal calls)

2. Independent work (for short periods of quiet creative work)
3. Short breaks (with built-in Bluetooth speakers for listening to music)

A client called to discuss pricing details; the client's voice called and harshly denied me that it was impossible; my girlfriend called unexpectedly with a headache...all of these things will have a place to go from now on.

During lunch break, I sleep so poorly I don't want anyone to see me. My creative energy is constantly interrupted by my colleagues' gossip, so I need a quiet place. I want to listen to a song but don't have headphones, so thankfully the silent pods can connect to Bluetooth...

The four small blue pods add a visual impact to the entire office, both beautiful and elegant.

The second type is the negotiation room pod.

Place it next to the front desk at the main entrance.

It's primarily used for reception, interviews, and negotiations with visitors.

Conversations in the two negotiation rooms don't interfere with each other.

The office was just completed, and we're hiring a lot. Interviews come here. When partners or clients come, they need to communicate about related matters. The silent pods ensure privacy.

Bosses want to talk with employees, arrange work, and plan development...

Perhaps even bosses want to slack off sometimes?

●How effective are the silent pods?●

Below is a video I brought back from the field.

The effect of installing silent pods in the office.

Tip: The final steady-state indoor acoustic environment was recorded with the exhaust fan on.

Because air purifiers were running throughout the office that day,

the room was quite noisy

which perfectly simulated a harsh work environment.

(In addition to the air purifiers, activated carbon was also placed in every corner.)

Emphasis on the fact: Environmental protection is the primary priority for development.

Before purchasing this product, the company where Kujiale works had already purchased our silent cabins