Open plan office modern

Modern open plan offices combine flexibility and collaboration, but face challenges of privacy and noise in the global corporate environment.

About this subject

Open plan offices emerged in the early 20th century with the modernist movement, but gained traction in the 1950s and 1960s with the popularization of the office landscape concept (Bürolandschaft) in Germany. Companies like Herman Miller and Knoll developed modular furniture to facilitate open layouts, and the idea was adopted by tech giants such as Google and Facebook in Silicon Valley. The primary goal was to stimulate spontaneous communication, creativity, and hierarchical transparency, while also reducing space and construction costs.

However, recent studies show that open plan offices can have significant side effects. Research from the Gensler Workplace Survey indicates that employees in open environments report greater difficulty concentrating and higher stress levels due to constant noise and interruptions. Lack of privacy can also impair tasks requiring deep focus, leading to a drop in productivity. In response, many companies are adopting activity-based working (ABW), which offers specific zones for collaboration, concentration, phone calls, and relaxation.

In Brazil, open plan offices are common in business centers of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, and Belo Horizonte, especially in technology, consulting, and startup sectors. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the hybrid model gained traction, with open spaces redesigned to include more distant workstations, acoustic partitions, and outdoor areas. Trends for 2026 include integrating biophilic elements such as plants and natural lighting, and using noise-canceling technologies to mitigate negative aspects.

Despite criticisms, the open plan remains a popular choice for organizations that value collaborative culture and flexibility. The key to success lies in balance: offering a variety of space options within the same environment, respecting different employee needs. Data from the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) shows that well-planned offices can increase satisfaction by up to 30%, provided they consider acoustics, ergonomic furniture, and workstation personalization.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main pros and cons of open plan offices?

Pros: encourage collaboration, reduce space costs, and facilitate communication. Cons: high noise levels, lack of privacy, and difficulty concentrating on tasks that require focus.

How have open plan offices evolved after the COVID-19 pandemic?

The pandemic accelerated the adoption of hybrid models, with open spaces redesigned to include distancing, acoustic partitions, and outdoor areas. Many companies also started offering varied work zones to accommodate different activities.

What is activity-based working (ABW) and how does it relate to open plan?

Activity-based working is an approach that provides different zones in the office for specific tasks, such as collaboration, concentration, and calls. It complements open plan by mitigating noise and privacy issues, allowing employees to choose the most suitable environment for each activity.