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A NEW OFFICE
BUILDING.
INTERVIEWER:
Ingrid
Chapman,
tell us
about this
new office
block.
MS. CHAPMAN:
It has
enormous
glass walls,
because
transparency
was
paramount In
the brief I
received
from my
clients – that gives
ft an airy,
spacious
feel inside.
The three
floors all
open onto a
cavernous
central
hall, and
this is what's crucial
for me – there are so
many reasons
for people
to meet
there: have
a coffee,
gossip,
discuss
formal
matters in
an informal
setting. I
force them
to do these
things by
locating
most of the
services
they need in
this area – toilets,
photocopying,
cafe,
etcetera.
INTERVIEWER:
Forgive me,
but there'll
be company
executives
listening
who are
saying, 'That's
all very
well if
you're able
to design a
brand new
building
from scratch'.
What would
you say to
them?
MS. CHAPMAN:
Commission
me to come
up with a
scheme for a
replacement,
for example?
No,
seriously,
It doesn't
require much,
a little
creativity,
that's all.
Under-used
areas can be
refurbished,
art hung on
the walls,
that sort of
thing. And a
questionnaire
can be sent
to all
personnel to
get their
reactions to
any changes
you've made.
Good morale
facilitates
productivity. |
