DANISH DESIGNERS ROSAN BOSCH AND RUNE FJORD DESIGN A FANTASY PLAYROOM OFFICE FOR LEGO PMD THAT IS FUN LIKE THEIR LEGO TOYS

The aggressive playfulness that characterizes a lot of office spaces nowadays, from Facebook to Google, has always struck us as vaguely infantilizing and, above all, misguided: Your IT guys don’t need a beach-themed break room, they need a quiet place to work so they can fix your damned computer. But here’s one company where a fun environment makes complete sense and, in fact, it’d be counterproductive any other way: Lego.

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These are folks who play for a living, after all. (Lucky jerks.) So for Lego PMD in Billund, Denmark--where the toy giant develops new products--Danish designers Rosan Bosch and Rune Fjord created a 21,500-square-foot big-kid funhouse. There’s an aerial walkway covered in blue padding to resemble a puffy cloud. There are cartoonishly oversized wall graphics, including one of the Lego man, and lush bonsai gardens built into the tables. There’s even a slide. (For getting to meetings faster?)

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The idea is to evoke in employees the same sense of wonder that illuminates childhood, the better for understanding their pint-sized customers (and, in turn, designing for them).   The designers say.

“Where does work stop and imagination start? Through the physical design, the children’s fantasy worlds become part of the everyday, creating the setting for the creation of new design for new games and play.”

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And it’s not like Lego PMD is all play and no work. The office has a mix of collaborative spaces (open meeting rooms, show-and-tell podiums) and private rooms (individual offices, enclosed meeting rooms, a “Fun Zone” where Lego’s tiniest employees test new models) to support the different stages of product development. Because in the end, creating fun is serious business.

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[Images courtesy of Rosan Bosch; h/t to Dezeen]

COMMENTARY:   That's what I call a really cool place to work.  I bet the software engineers and hackers at Google and Facebook would get a bit jealous knowing that Lego PMD did one up on them.  I love that slide tube from the mezzanine to the lower fantasy room office area.  

 Courtesy of an article dated February 10, 2012 appearing in Fast Company Design

Comments

[Johnathan Maloof]

Playfulness in the infrastructure of office can result into increase in efficiency and productivity overall as it will create interest and enthusiasm in employees to work. Everyone will love to work in such offices.

[kapak sözler]

waaaaavv super

[Albert Rose]

A cool office premises definitely turn the moods of every employee, here also we witnessed the office structures are constructed in such a way that it looks like a playroom and ultimately it helps to develop the moods of every employee and improves the skill of working with better comfort.

Big brands companies like Facebook, Google and companies like Disqus also made their office environment more comfortable and attractive.

[Bradley Hart]

Home offices need a clear work area, and that means providing adequate space for computer hardware and peripheral equipment, a spot for reference materials, file space and a location for frequently referenced supplies and paper. Make sure your office furniture provides ample space for work and storage.

[S Kelly]

Surely all your employees are enjoying the slide. :) Great office, hoping to have that slide too in our office. :)

[Hotel Dublin Airport]

These kinds of areas at work place are the best to reduce stress.

[Niagara falls canada hotels]

Today’s scenario about job is really unbelievable. There is lots of pressure on people of work and achieving targets. Everybody is busy in doing their best but this fast generation is lacking at health issues. Because of this work pressure and irregular routine they are getting lots of diseases and I think this is the best way to keep distance with stress.

[Tommy]

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[voile panels]

For sure everyone would love to work in this fantastic office. :)