Softrend’s Tallinn Office

Softrend’s office in Tallinn is a good example of the fact that the shoemaker’s children don’t always go barefoot. The home of Intuit by Softrend parent company is furnished according to the idea of Intuit’s breakout space – the room is divided into work zones with special functionality, facilitating an intuitive workplace selection.

The concept behind the interior design is inspired by the office’s location. The back walls feature large windows with stunning views of the reed-lined Kopli Bay, where several bird species nest. The colour scheme is inspired by the surrounding nature and the seaside. An abundance of calm and neutral tones makes the space feel light and airy, without seeming too cold.

“We wanted our new office to showcase our furniture the way it was designed – to support an intuitive choice of workplace in an open office that’s based on the type of work being performed. Our office houses the marketing, commerce and sales staff, all of whom have very different tasks to complete and varying work styles – some spend the whole day talking on the phone, while others need the space to focus on independent work. There are many different forms of collaboration, so we needed to create separate areas for everyone to be able to focus on what they need to do and still be productive,” said Joonatan Vinkel, CEO of Softrend.

The initial aim was for the workplace to match the company’s mission – an open-plan office designed in a way that supports different ways of working and helps employees focus on the most important tasks at hand.

In the case of the Softrend solution, the work zones with special functions are separated from one another by activities – the movement takes place from a more active environment to a quieter one. In an open office environment, it is very important to be comfortable working in separate workplaces as well as in groups and in meetings.

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The Importance of Zoning

In terms of the relationship between open and closed zones within the space, the interior architect’s intention was to keep the space as open as possible, shutting off only what was essential – meeting rooms, cabinets for smaller meetings and individual work.

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The main working area consists of islands of tables scattered throughout the space, separated by the more private workstations and acoustic screens. The August Nook and August Workbay by Softrend have sound absorbing panelled walls, offering privacy. These spaces were designed to let colleagues know that you want to work privately and not to be disrupted.

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“The August Nook is a key product in our new office and in our furniture collection. The table is big enough to fit everything that I need for the day – my laptop, phone, notebook, and a cup of tea. Most importantly, it’s comfortable! When sitting here, I can tune out all other office distractions and have my privacy, so I can focus on a task that needs my full attention,” says Svea, Softrend’s export sales assistant.

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For brainstorming sessions, a collaboration zone furnished in the stand-up meeting style is used – featuring the high Rolf table and Hubert rotating poufs. The table has wheels and is easily moveable so the area can be as big or small as needed. This zone invites everyone in – the idea is that if there’s a meeting held here, then anyone passing by can join if they think they have something to bring to the table.

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Small meetings are held in built-in rooms featuring compact Meeter sofas. For bigger meetings, there is a separate room with Mini Hubert rotating poufs regular seating height. Lounge areas are furnished with Meeter or Sans sofas, which are comfortable for you to take a moment to read a newspaper or have a coffee with a colleague. Alternatively, you can sit by the window in a rotating August armchair if you want to take a break in the peace and quiet with a stunning sea view.

The future of open-plan offices is focus based

The interior architects see Softrend’s solution as a good example of how open-plan offices of the future should be designed. „ Softrend’s products are designed to create favourable conditions for working alone in an open office. We have utilized several solutions where the space remains visually open but allows for separation to create private spaces as needed,” noted Ace of Space, the interior design architects behind the Softrend office’s interior design.

Successful companies understand the importance of office design

Several leading companies have taken the direction of offering their employees a diverse work environment where they feel good. We are happy to be their cooperation partner.