Sociopetal and Sociofugal Spaces: Why Do They Matter in a Workplace?

In the era of fast-moving office design trends, there’s something about “finding a balance” that makes a workspace feel more centred.?

Especially amidst the crumbling pressures of keeping up with deadlines and competition, every organisation needs an office that exudes stability and wholesomeness. To strike that balance, it is vital for companies to design workspaces according to the varying needs of their employees.?

Here is where the concept of introducing sociopetal and sociofugal spaces plays its part, helping optimise productivity and fulfilment at work.

Sociopetal v/s Sociofugal Spaces: What’s the Difference?

Both the terms “sociopetal” and “sociofugal” are quite literally associated with the concept of socialising. Essentially, a sociopetal space is meant for circling around and conversing- perfectly suited for collaboration. Conversely, a sociofugal space represents an area dispersed away from the centres of interaction- suitable for focused work.?

Coined in 1957 by Humphrey Osmond, a British psychiatrist, the two terms sociopetal and sociofugal are part of a larger science called proxemics. It deals with understanding spatial usage and its impact on human behaviour, communication, and interaction. This study is applicable to all kinds of built spaces from public institutions to private offices.

Why Integrate Sociopetal and Sociofugal Spaces in a Workplace?

Engagement and solitude are both essential for people to thrive at work. Hence, organisations must equally make room for either activity. So, while people need sociopetal spaces such as co-working areas and cafes for collaboration; they also require sociofugal spaces like pods and cubicles for heads-down productivity. And, it is in achieving the balance between both kinds of spaces that a holistic balanced workplace design is attained.?

How to Design a Well-Balanced Workspace?

The simplest way to integrate sociopetal and sociofugal spaces in an office is to imbibe the “yin and yang” philosophy in spatial planning. To simply quote, every space in the office needs an interdependent, interconnected, and complementary space to strike a balance. For instance, an office needs to have an equitable amount of area for collaborative work as well as focused work.?

Let’s have a look at how organisations can achieve this.?

Evaluating Workforce Needs

Deriving the right proportion of sociopetal and sociofugal spaces in an office depends on an organisation’s field and nature of work. For example, a marketing company would require more sociopetal settings because their work thrives on team discussions and ideation. On the other hand, an IT company would prefer sociofugal spaces to help developers with concentrated work. Thus, organisations must take a quantitative call based on the specific needs of their employees.?

Plan for Flexibility

Design your office to be adaptable, with movable furniture, partitions, and demountable walls. This flexibility allows you to adjust the layout of your workspace as the needs of your team evolve. For example, if a project requires increased collaboration, you can easily reconfigure the space to accommodate that, and then switch it back when the project is complete. In case you are looking for some uber-cool space dividers, do check out these.

Devise a Zoning Strategy

Sociopetal and sociofugal are two polarising spatial design concepts. So, to strike a balance, we need transitional spaces to ensure that employees do not go through emotional volatility. These areas bridge the gap between pro-social and anti-social spaces, allowing people to transition between collective and individual work seamlessly. They may include corridors, semi-open terraces, or lounge areas where impromptu discussions can take place.

Keep the Noise in Check

Noise is a productivity killer in workspaces. Typically, sociopetal spaces tend to be noisier due to interactions and conversations, while sociofugal spaces are quieter to facilitate concentration. To strike the right balance, it is crucial to use acoustic design elements such as Work Pods and Acoustics. These measures help manage noise levels to ensure that both types of spaces function optimally.

Holistic Furniture Layout

The selection and placement of furniture in workspaces should reflect a harmonious blend of community and personal spaces. For sociopetal areas, choose furniture such as co-working desks, cluster seating, and flexible seating arrangements arranged for face-to-face discussions. Likewise, for sociofugal spaces, consider shortlisting furniture that offers privacy. This may include ergonomic workstations or cubicles that minimise distractions.

In Conclusion

By maintaining a balance of sociopetal and sociofugal spaces, you can bring the best of both worlds to your office. It allows you to give your team the autonomy to choose the spaces that suit their ways of work. Because in the end, it all boils down to increasing employee productivity and job satisfaction by creating an office that truly works for everyone.

?? Written with passion by Pragya Sharma