Back to the Office! Key considerations for creating a well-designed chill zone – through a completed project

As the summer holiday season comes to an end, offices begin to fill up again. But what makes a workplace somewhere people genuinely enjoy returning to?

The role of the office has changed significantly in recent years. Alongside workstations and meeting rooms, increasing attention is being given to communal office spaces that provide room for a short break, a spontaneous conversation, an informal meeting or even a change of setting for focused work.

The role of the chill zone now extends far beyond that of a traditional break area. A well-designed communal space can accommodate a variety of activities while supporting the overall workplace through comfort, atmosphere and thoughtful design.

But what makes these spaces work, and what should be considered when selecting furniture for them?

Through the example of Rossmann’s new office and logistics hub in Üllő, we explore some of the key considerations that can provide useful guidance when designing communal spaces in other workplace projects.

The project was designed by Capstone Management, with project management by Spányi Partners.

Creating a successful chill zone does not necessarily begin with choosing a sofa or a set of lounge chairs. The first step is to establish what kinds of activities the space needs to accommodate.

Will employees primarily use it to take a break? To catch up with colleagues over coffee? For informal meetings? Or should it also provide an alternative work setting where people can occasionally sit down with their laptops?

A communal space can, of course, serve several purposes at once. This is why office furniture planning should start with the anticipated uses of the space rather than with individual pieces of furniture.

The communal areas in Rossmann’s new logistics and office hub also accommodate a variety of uses. The different zones are not designed around a single function, but provide settings for relaxation, interaction and more informal ways of working.

One of the key takeaways from the project is simple: when functions are defined first, office furniture can be selected purposefully to support them.

If a space is designed to serve several functions, its furniture should be able to respond accordingly.

Not everyone uses a chill zone for the same reason or for the same length of time. Someone may sit down for a few minutes with a coffee, another person may discuss a task with a colleague, while someone else may simply want a change of environment and continue working from there.

Combining different types of seating and table heights can create multiple ways of using the same space. Sofas and lounge chairs provide a setting for more relaxed interactions, while other types of chairs, tables and higher seating can offer a suitable environment for shorter meetings or work sessions.

This variety can also be seen throughout the Rossmann HQ project. Different furniture arrangements allow employees to use the communal areas according to their current needs rather than in one predetermined way, giving them the freedom to choose an environment that suits the activity at hand.

Communal spaces in contemporary offices increasingly feature furniture inspired by residential interiors. Sofas, comfortable armchairs, softer textures and smaller tables can make a traditional workplace feel more relaxed and welcoming.

However, creating a homely atmosphere should never mean overlooking the requirements of professional use.

Furniture in an office communal area may be used by many people every day, which means that durability, material selection, ease of maintenance and suitability for intensive use are just as important as design.

This was also an important consideration in furnishing the Rossmann logistics and office hub: its more welcoming and relaxed interior character is supported by furniture that is designed to meet the demands of everyday use in a professional workplace.

One of the key benefits of furniture designed for commercial use is its ability to withstand intensive use without requiring compromises when it comes to the overall appearance of the interior.

A distinctive armchair or sofa can easily become one of the defining visual elements of a communal space. In an office, however, looking good is not enough.

The real question is whether a piece of furniture works well for the purpose for which it was selected.

Someone sitting down for a short break has different comfort requirements from someone having a longer conversation or an informal meeting. Seat height, seat depth, back support and the relationship between the height of the table and seating can all influence the overall user experience.

The different furniture types used throughout the Rossmann HQ project also demonstrate that design and comfort do not have to compete with one another. Alongside visually distinctive solutions, functionality and usability play an equally important role.

In a well-designed chill zone, the aim is for the two to reinforce one another.

In an open-plan office, walls are not always necessary to define where one function ends and another begins.

Thoughtfully positioned office furniture can create distinct zones in its own right.

A sofa combined with a few armchairs can form an intimate conversation area, while a different table and seating arrangement may create a setting for shorter, more active interactions. Alongside furniture groupings, colours, materials, textures and accessories can also help visually distinguish different functions within the space.

This can be particularly valuable in larger open-plan environments, where the aim is to maintain a sense of openness while also creating smaller, more human-scale settings.

In Rossmann’s new logistics and office hub, the furniture does more than simply occupy the available space – it actively contributes to its structure. The different communal zones each have their own character while remaining visually connected as part of a coherent workplace interior.

An office is more than simply a place to work. Its design can also say a great deal about how a company approaches its working environment, collaboration and employee comfort.

Communal spaces are particularly interesting in this respect. They often offer greater freedom to introduce distinctive forms, colours, textures and material combinations than more traditional workstation areas.

This does not necessarily mean reproducing corporate brand colours literally throughout the interior. What matters more is that the atmosphere of the space reflects the character and company culture the workplace is intended to represent.

The Rossmann HQ project is also a good example of how communal spaces with different functions and distinctive identities can be created while remaining part of a coherent overall interior.

Furniture therefore becomes more than a functional element: it also plays an important role in shaping the atmosphere and identity of the workplace.

A well-designed chill zone is ultimately much more than a simple break area. Through thoughtful furniture selection, it can become a place for interaction, recharging and informal collaboration, contributing to a working environment that people genuinely enjoy returning to.