A family affair

Flexitime is certainly better than it used to be, but the ongoing question of where children go during working hours is as contentious as ever. How can companies support parental wellbeing as well as their employees’ work? Enter, Israeli designer sarIt shanI hay

At a software company in Tel Aviv family time is integral, which is why it decided to turn part of its headquarters into an indoor playground. Spanning 180 sq m, the task was to encourage a sense of community within the workplace that emulates the feeling of joy and creativity that one feels outdoors – despite being 15 storeys high. A hammock, treehouse, climbing wall and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city all support Shani Hay’s vision of creating a space that feels “between heaven and earth”.

Signaling a closeness to nature, Nordic design principles and biophilia are weaved throughout, as well as splashes of blue and green to break up the otherwise pale scheme. Wooden posts stretching from floor to ceiling resemble trees and a gridded plywood volume doubles up as storage, as well as somewhere to sit and climb on. Nearby, an integrated kitchen provides easy access for food preparation without interrupting workers, while a café allows employees to have a break with their little ones. To reduce the noise of children running around, the floor has been installed with cast rubber for a shock absorption effect. shanIhay.com

Advocates for improving mental and physical health wherever possible, the philosophy at Shani Hay’s studio echoes its client’s approach, believing the benefit of children-focused design in an office to be profound yet simple. The two also believe it is possible to truly blend work and life. Food for thought, perhaps.