The "Monastery" Office

The user-experience consultancy firm Netlife Research commissioned Eriksen Skajaa Architects to rethink their offices and create new spaces for reflection and creativity.

The challenge of low headroom and deep, dark office spaces inspired the architects to choose lightness as the basis for their concepts. These included white, natural rubber floors and a white ceiling as well as large glass walls and "Light boxes" to divide the different meeting rooms. The meeting rooms hover between the ceiling and the floor, while the black hall offers depth and solidity.

As a second concept the client was given four different "gardens" to enhance their creative working methods: The monastery garden, the park, the kitchen garden and the forest clearing; different places to relax and reflect.

Employees at web consultancy Netlife Research in Oslo can take a moment for contemplation inside one of three wooden rooms dedicated to silence. Potted plants are housed inside the smaller recesses, while others are large enough for a person to climb inside.