Architecture

Sliding walls reconfigure office space as needs change

Sliding walls reconfigure office space as needs change
Partitions in the Kinematix office space are mounted on rails so that they can be moved as required and the office reconfigured (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
Partitions in the Kinematix office space are mounted on rails so that they can be moved as required and the office reconfigured (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
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Partitions in the Kinematix office space are mounted on rails so that they can be moved as required and the office reconfigured (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
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Partitions in the Kinematix office space are mounted on rails so that they can be moved as required and the office reconfigured (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
The moving partitions spaces to be opened up or closed off depending on what is required in the Kinematix office (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
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The moving partitions spaces to be opened up or closed off depending on what is required in the Kinematix office (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
A view along the length of the Kinematix office (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
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A view along the length of the Kinematix office (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
Corrugated metal sheets are used as partitions in the Kinematix office (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
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Corrugated metal sheets are used as partitions in the Kinematix office (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
A view of the corrugated metal partitions in the Kinematix office from the main work area (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
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A view of the corrugated metal partitions in the Kinematix office from the main work area (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
The sliding partitions can be used to separate the main work area from smaller activity spaces in the Kinematix office (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
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The sliding partitions can be used to separate the main work area from smaller activity spaces in the Kinematix office (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
Different sections of the Kinematix office can be opened up with others left closed (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
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Different sections of the Kinematix office can be opened up with others left closed (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
Windows have been included in the corrugated metal partitions to allow natural light into sections that are closed over (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
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Windows have been included in the corrugated metal partitions to allow natural light into sections that are closed over (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
The corrugated metal partitions in the Kinematix office can be easily pushed along the rails (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
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The corrugated metal partitions in the Kinematix office can be easily pushed along the rails (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
The corrugated metal partitions in the Kinematix office are decorated with orange and red strips of tape (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
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The corrugated metal partitions in the Kinematix office are decorated with orange and red strips of tape (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
A plan of the Kinematix office (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
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A plan of the Kinematix office (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
View gallery - 11 images

When companies begin to outgrow the office-space they have available, it can be difficult to squeeze everything in. To combat this, Likearchitects has designed an office that can be adapted as required. Sliding partition walls at Kinematix allow the spaces to be easily reconfigured.

We've seen sliding components used before in order to make best use of the space available. In Kitoko Studio's tiny Paris maid's room, the furniture slides into and out of sight depending on when it is needed, while the All I Own House by PKMN Architectures has entire units on runners. Unlike these examples, however, the Kinematix office, based in Porto, Portugal, uses sliding partitions to actually redefine the shape of the spaces within.

"Kinematix has been growing organically fast and, like several start-ups, it's difficult to forecast the growth of the company," explains CEO of Kinematix Paulo Ferreira dos Santos to Gizmag. "The flexibility of the office space is essential to fulfill its daily needs, like accommodating different visits and Skype conferences at the same time."

The moving partitions spaces to be opened up or closed off depending on what is required in the Kinematix office (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)
The moving partitions spaces to be opened up or closed off depending on what is required in the Kinematix office (Photo: Dinis Sottomayor Photography)

To achieve this flexibility, a system has been installed that uses corrugated metal garage doors mounted on rails. This allows spaces to be opened up or closed off depending on what's required and has the potential for many different layouts. To increase the number of different potential layouts, rails are run alongside one another in places, meaning that certain partitions can be moved past each other.

Hinged sections of the partitions can be swung open to act as doorways or simply as a means of further opening up the space. Window sections are also included in the partitions to allow natural light into sectioned off areas. The corrugated metal partitions are decorated with orange and red strips of tape.

The project was delivered last year.

Source: Likearchitects

View gallery - 11 images
2 comments
2 comments
Eric Brackenbury
This has so been done before and the track method is not space efficient overall.
Germano Pecoraro Designer
I find it interesting that solution. The sliding panels, however, can be pulled during opening / closing. I wonder: creak when touched or hit by a stream of air? There is then the problem of the cleaning of the floor: the binary collect dust, require a vacuum and can not be cleaned / disinfected with detergent, alcohol, detergents etc!