People leave their marks on places where they work. The first writing was done on clay tablets and now new devices called tablets are once again coming into use but they have evolved considerably since the days of clay tablets. Office furniture in the twenty-first century also shows the effects of considerable evolution since the beginning of industrialization.
In times past the environment was considered a threat. It had to be defeated and dominated, so natural features like mountains were seen as obstacles and not beautiful features. Architecture and furnishing reflected these attitudes. Rooms were furnished with solid wooden pieces that seemed to repel outside influences. Umbrella and coat stands stood ready to hold protective gear and fires burned to warm the air. High in the wall small windows kept the raw air out and let little sunlight in.
Paper was available before typewriters or incandescent light bulbs. High wooden stools were placed before writing desks that sloped and had ledges for storing pens, nibs and inkwells. Bureaus were sufficient for storing documents and roll top desks could be closed to shut in papers and prevent them flying about. Ironically the well padded leather chairs of the bosses were probably less healthy for backs than the tall wooden stools used by the clerks who could stand when their backs ached.
Partly as a consequence of feminism and partly as a result of the two world wars women flocked into the work force during the twentieth century. They brought with them some demands and a great deal of feminine genius into work places. Many were employed in typing pools where they needed flat tables for their typewriters and light chairs to perch on when taking down shorthand, The typed pages that flew from their typewriters had to be filed in metal filing cabinets that replace bureaus.
Telephones also brought changes. Executive offices had a telephone on the desk and at least two chairs. One was for the boss and one was a light for a secretary to perch on as she took down in shorthand what he dictated. Executive toys such as metal balls that clicked as they were set in motion helped bosses to focus on things other than their secretaries.
With the accumulation of wealth came large office towers with hundreds of work spaces that could not be furnished with solid wooden desks. Chipboard made its appearance and plastics, aluminum and glass became popular materials for furnishings.
Information that was a few years ago stored in long rows of metal filing cabinets can now be stored in a smart phone the size of a hand. Such changes have astonished the world in recent decades and have made new demands on office furniture designers. With cloud computing and similar innovations now changing again concepts of how office space should be allocated designers are faced with waves of new challenges and also new opportunities.
In times past the environment was considered a threat. It had to be defeated and dominated, so natural features like mountains were seen as obstacles and not beautiful features. Architecture and furnishing reflected these attitudes. Rooms were furnished with solid wooden pieces that seemed to repel outside influences. Umbrella and coat stands stood ready to hold protective gear and fires burned to warm the air. High in the wall small windows kept the raw air out and let little sunlight in.
Paper was available before typewriters or incandescent light bulbs. High wooden stools were placed before writing desks that sloped and had ledges for storing pens, nibs and inkwells. Bureaus were sufficient for storing documents and roll top desks could be closed to shut in papers and prevent them flying about. Ironically the well padded leather chairs of the bosses were probably less healthy for backs than the tall wooden stools used by the clerks who could stand when their backs ached.
Partly as a consequence of feminism and partly as a result of the two world wars women flocked into the work force during the twentieth century. They brought with them some demands and a great deal of feminine genius into work places. Many were employed in typing pools where they needed flat tables for their typewriters and light chairs to perch on when taking down shorthand, The typed pages that flew from their typewriters had to be filed in metal filing cabinets that replace bureaus.
Telephones also brought changes. Executive offices had a telephone on the desk and at least two chairs. One was for the boss and one was a light for a secretary to perch on as she took down in shorthand what he dictated. Executive toys such as metal balls that clicked as they were set in motion helped bosses to focus on things other than their secretaries.
With the accumulation of wealth came large office towers with hundreds of work spaces that could not be furnished with solid wooden desks. Chipboard made its appearance and plastics, aluminum and glass became popular materials for furnishings.
Information that was a few years ago stored in long rows of metal filing cabinets can now be stored in a smart phone the size of a hand. Such changes have astonished the world in recent decades and have made new demands on office furniture designers. With cloud computing and similar innovations now changing again concepts of how office space should be allocated designers are faced with waves of new challenges and also new opportunities.
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