Related terms
Closed office: concept and overview
For years, the closed office was the norm in the corporate world, the standard-bearer of the fixed-office policy. Although the advent of open space and shared offices has relegated it to the background, it has not disappeared. As an isolated workspace, the closed office is sought-after for its confidentiality.
What is a closed office?
A closed office is a partitioned workspace, separated from other areas. It can be arranged in different ways, depending on the degree of isolation required:
- a fully enclosed, soundproofed space that provides users with both peace and privacy;
- an enclosed office with a glass partition to guarantee soundproofing, while remaining visually open to the other spaces;
- a semi-open office with partial partitions to delimit zones and partially isolate other spaces.
They can be found within companies themselves, but also for rent in coworking spaces or operated offices. Some companies also sublet closed offices for corpoworking.
Closed office or open space: which workspace is best?
Thework environment must be adapted to the needs and uses of employees. In this respect, the closed office and the open space meet different criteria.
- The closed office is a privileged workspace for holding confidential meetings in small groups, or for isolating yourself to concentrate. For short-term rentals, this type of space cannot be customized.
- The open space, on the other hand, is an open workspace designed to bring employees together in a single location. It facilitates collaboration and networking. Its users are stimulated by the presence of other workers around them.
What you need to know
The decline in closed, dedicated offices, in favor of shared workspaces, leaves less room for personalization (decorating the office, leaving personal belongings, etc.). As a result, many employees find it difficult to make their new workspaces their own. To guarantee their well-being, it's important to provide a pleasant working environment, with decorations, plants and even areas for expression (shared bulletin boards).
Closed offices are ideal for isolation and concentration. On the other hand, open space encourages communication and conviviality.
Closed or shared office: what's the difference?
Today, closed offices are becoming increasingly rare on company premises, as companies prefer open, collaborative spaces.
In operated offices or coworking spaces, the closed office can be rented on a flexible basis (hourly, daily, monthly). It can accommodate a single employee or several at a time.
A shared office is a workspace occupied by several employees, either from the same company or from different organizations. This is the case of open spaces, coworking or corpoworking spaces.
Good to know
Although any surface can be used as an enclosed office, the Service-Public.fr website recommends a minimum of 10m2 per person.
A closed office is a partitioned workspace that enables confidential professional activity to be carried out in complete safety.
