Flexible commercial space

What exactly is an office unit?

An office unit is a separate space within your existing office. You can use it as a workspace, meeting room, phone booth, or project room. Our units have a modular design, so you’re not limited to a single standard size. You can have a small space for one person, or a larger team space.

The main difference from traditional construction lies in the structure. Our units are freestanding within the existing space. They do not need to be permanently attached to the floor or ceiling. As a result, the building itself remains largely intact. This is particularly advantageous in a rental property or office where the layout changes frequently.

Take a look at our office unit if you'd like to see what options are available first.

Office unit or dedicated meeting room: which is a better fit?

Both solutions can work just fine. The difference lies mainly in the amount of flexibility you want to retain later on.

A fixed-layout room may make sense if you're certain that the layout will remain the same for years to come. Do you, on the other hand, expect growth or change? In that case, a modular solution offers more flexibility.

We've noticed that organizations with open-plan offices, in particular, benefit from this. You retain the large open space, but add enclosed workstations exactly where they're needed.

Real-world example: A team grows from eight to sixteen employees

Suppose you rent an office where eight people can work comfortably. A year later, the team grows to sixteen employees. There is more collaboration, and at the same time, online meetings are on the rise.

You could immediately start looking for a larger office. However, that isn’t always necessary. Perhaps there’s enough space, but it isn’t being used efficiently. An office unit, for example, could first be used as a meeting space for four people. That way, meetings no longer have to take place in the middle of the workspace.

Will the team continue to grow? If so, the same modular approach can be used to create additional focus or project space. This means you can adapt the office to the organization step by step.

For us, that’s a key advantage of a modular approach: you don’t have to know exactly today what your office will look like in five years.

Getting more functionality out of the same square meters

Needing extra space doesn't automatically mean you need a larger building. Sometimes what you really need is a better layout. Take, for example, a large open-plan office. It might hold twenty desks. Yet there's no place for a quiet conversation or video call.

An office unit gives a specific purpose to a portion of that floor space. So you’re not creating additional square meters, but rather using the existing space more efficiently. This works especially well when you take the time beforehand to observe what happens on the work floor. For example, spend a typical workday observing the space. Where do colleagues make phone calls? Where do spontaneous discussions take place? Which meeting room is always occupied? Where do people go when they need some quiet?

With that information, you can determine much more precisely which space is missing.

A flexible workspace needs both openness and tranquility

Open-plan offices are great for collaboration. Colleagues can see each other and easily pop over to discuss something. At the same time, noise builds up quickly. A single Teams call isn’t much of a problem. But when five colleagues are on calls at the same time, you definitely notice it.

That’s why a good, flexible workspace is all about balance. Not everything needs to be enclosed. In fact, you want to offer different types of workspaces side by side.

An office cubicle can create a quiet zone within an open-plan office. It allows someone to step away for a moment without becoming completely disconnected from the rest of the team. Acoustics, of course, play a major role in this. That’s why we can use PET felt panels to make the sound within a space more pleasant.

Are you looking to create a quieter environment? Then check out our acoustic workspace.

Which office unit suits your work style?

A flexible workspace doesn’t have to consist of just one type of workstation. One colleague may be looking mainly for quiet, while another may need a place for discussions. That’s why at BOW we work with various basic layouts—from a compact space for a phone call to a full-fledged meeting room for a larger team.

The examples below provide a good overview of the possibilities:

These aren’t strict limits you have to stick to. Our system is actually modular. Using the configurator, you can start with about 1.5 m² and expand to virtually any size you want. You get to choose the layout, colors, finishes, and accessories yourself.

That’s why it’s worth asking more than just: How big should my office space be? Focus instead on what happens during a workday. Perhaps you need three small spaces more than one large conference room. Or maybe a growing team would actually benefit from one larger, lockable project room.

Decide for yourself what your flexible commercial space will look like

You don't have to limit yourself to existing models. With our online configurator, you can design the space yourself using a grid. This allows you to try out different dimensions and layouts before anything is installed.

You can also customize the finish quite extensively. Consider RAL colors for the frame, PET felt, glass panels, custom patterns, prints, and logos. In addition, you can add accessories that suit the use of the space.

After configuration, you will receive a digital drawing, product information, and a no-obligation quote. The 3D drawing can also be used in various drawing programs. This is useful when an architect or office designer is already working on the overall layout.

And once the space is in place, there’s no need for a full-scale construction project. A BOW can be equipped with ventilation, lighting, and electrical service through a single connection. This allows you to add a functional space with minimal impact on the existing workspace.

An office unit for hybrid work

Hybrid work has changed the role of many offices. Not every employee works from the same location five days a week anymore. As a result, the office is increasingly becoming a place for collaboration. At the same time, many video calls take place with colleagues or clients outside the office.

That calls for different types of spaces. An employee might want to work in a focused manner for an hour first and then hold a Teams meeting. Next, a meeting with three colleagues is scheduled. With modular units, you can allocate those functions without having to build a permanent room for every activity.

This makes a flexible workspace less dependent on the number of fixed desks. The question shifts to: what work styles do we need to be able to support today?

Minimize Renovations When Your Organization Changes

Renovating an office can be a great option if you’re looking for a long-term, permanent layout. Still, you don’t want to have to start from scratch every few years. Demolition, new walls, finishing touches, and modifications to the building systems take time. Moreover, a renovation often disrupts employees who just want to keep working as usual in the meantime.

Our office units are specifically designed to create additional space without the need for traditional permanent renovations. Lighting, ventilation, and power can be integrated into the unit. This makes the transition from an empty floor to a usable workspace much simpler.

What if your needs change later on? Then you can continue working with the same modular components, instead of having to tear everything down again.

A modular office can grow with your business

"Modular" sometimes sounds like you have to choose from a few standard building blocks. With us, it works the other way around. You can start small and revisit the layout later. Elements can be added, moved, or used in a different way.

Suppose you need a space for four people today. In two years, that team might grow to eight employees. In that case, you wouldn’t want to automatically write off the entire investment, but rather assess which components can be reused. That’s exactly the advantage of a modular office: the space can adapt as your organization changes.

It is precisely that ability to reconfigure that makes modularity appealing to fast-growing organizations.

Sustainability is also about being able to reuse things

Sustainable design isn’t just about the materials a product is made of. Its lifespan is just as important. After all, furniture that is thrown away after a single office redesign requires new materials. The same applies to permanent walls that are removed when the layout is changed.

In a modular system, components can be reused. You can use them in a different configuration or space. This prevents unnecessary replacement and makes it easier to extend the lifespan of components.

For us, that idea is part of a forward-looking office design: not fixing everything in place permanently, but leaving room to build on what’s already there. BOW explicitly identifies reuse and reconfiguration as integral parts of the modular system.

What if you live in a rental property?

In a rental property, a traditional renovation can raise additional questions. Are you allowed to put up permanent walls? What needs to be restored when you move out? And who pays for it?

A freestanding office unit could be an interesting solution. Our units do not need to be permanently attached to the floor or ceiling, which gives you more flexibility if you move to a different floor or another building later on.

As a result, your office setup becomes less tied to a single specific location. This is especially beneficial for companies that are growing but don’t yet know exactly how many square meters they’ll need in a few years.

Real-world example: not enough meeting rooms, but enough floor space

Suppose your office has two large conference rooms. Yet they're almost always fully booked.

After a few weeks, something striking becomes apparent. Most meetings consist of only two or three people. The problem isn’t necessarily that there isn’t enough meeting space. The problem lies in the allocation of the rooms.

A compact office unit for small meetings can take a lot of the pressure off the large conference rooms. The large spaces remain available for team meetings. Small discussions have their own dedicated space.

This allows you to use the same office space much more efficiently, without having to rent additional square meters right away.

Also consider the ambiance and lighting

A flexible workspace needs to be practical, but of course you also want it to fit your organization’s style. That’s why, with our units, you can choose from a variety of colors and finishes. Frames can be coordinated with your interior, and panels can be customized to create a unique look.

Glass walls also play an important role. They help maintain sightlines and keep the space feeling brighter. Do you want more privacy or a calmer atmosphere? In that case, solid or acoustic elements can be added.

This way, an office unit doesn’t have to feel like a standalone box in the middle of the room. Instead, it can become part of the overall interior design concept. To achieve this, BOW offers a variety of RAL colors, panels, and customization options, among other things.

What supplies should you bring?

An office unit only works well when it’s tailored to what employees actually do there. So don’t just think about the size. Also consider the technology and layout.

For everyday use, these parts may be important:

• lighting;
• ventilation;
• power outlets;
• countertops;
• a conference table;
• monitor or TV mount;
• acoustic panels;
• enough light or, conversely, privacy;
• appropriate chairs;
• space for cables and equipment.

Do you mainly use the space for video calls? If so, power outlets and a screen are important. For a project room, it might be more about table space and a whiteboard. So the purpose of the space determines which extras are actually necessary.

When is an office unit not the best choice?

An office unit is not necessarily the best solution for every situation. When you completely renovate a building and the layout remains the same for decades, fixed walls can work just fine. Also, for uses that have specific structural requirements, the situation must first be carefully assessed.

That’s why we prefer not to start by asking: Which BOW do you want? We first look at what’s happening in the office. What problem do you want to solve? How many people use the space? What might change down the road? Only then does it become clear which solution makes sense.

How to Determine Whether an Office Unit Is a Good Fit for Your Commercial Space

Before you make a decision, take a moment to consider these questions:

1. Which teaching methods are currently missing?
2. Are the meeting rooms often occupied?
3. Are there a lot of phone calls in the open-plan office?
4. Do employees have enough places to concentrate?
5. Do you expect your business to grow within two to five years?
6. Work Do you work out of a rented space?
7. Do you want to be able to change the office layout later?
8. Is acoustics an important consideration?
9. How many people need to use the unit at the same time?
10. Which style complements the existing interior?

Can you answer these questions? If so, it will be much easier to determine the size, layout, and design.

You’re not just choosing an office unit. You’re choosing a space that fits the way your organization works.

Flexible workspace starts with taking a smart look at what you already have

A flexible workspace doesn’t always have to get bigger. Often, flexibility actually starts with making smarter use of the square meters you already have. With a modular office unit, you can add quiet workspaces, meeting rooms, and project spaces without permanently committing to a specific office layout.

At BOW, we therefore like to start by looking at your current situation. What challenges is the team facing? Which spaces are used frequently? And what changes do you expect in the coming years?

Would you like to discover what’s possible in your office? Take a look at our office units or contact us. We’d be happy to help you design a layout that works well today and leaves room for the future.