A swing in the office is relaxing and can inspire to think in new ways!

Companies are putting more effort into designing inspirational office spaces for their employees. Santa Maria in Sweden is one of them. In their activity based office (ABW) they have placed four Lillagunga Grand swings hanging in a room they call the Mind Lab. Here the employees can sit in a swing while having a phone meeting or let the creativity flow during a work shop session. We asked Gisela, Senior Sourcing Manager at Santa Maria to answer a couple of questions about the office and our swings.

To sit on a swing, while having a meeting is not very common and we believe it can bring creativity and make us think in new ways.

1) Why do you think that it’s important to spend some extra on the interior decoration in the office?

We have an activity based office (ABW) and have created spaces for different types of work. When you change work tasks during the day you should also be able to change the environment to one that better suits your current need. Every meeting is different and we wanted to create different conference rooms and surfaces in the office for various purposes. The room where the Lillagunga Grand swings are hanging is called the Mind Lab and is really a place where you can let the creativity flow! To sit on a swing, while having a meeting is not very common and we believe it can bring creativity and inspire us to think in new ways.

  

Swinging is relaxing and creates a more relaxed atmosphere!

2) How did you come to think of swings for the office?

It was our interior designer who suggested swings and we were not slow to take on the idea. It has become a bit of a recurring theme in the office with both a hammock and several wicker swings, in addition to the Lillagunga swings. Swinging is relaxing and creates a more relaxed atmosphere.
 

3) What do you use your swings for?

We mainly use the swings for meetings when you don’t need a computer. You can sit in them for example when you are on the phone or have a spontaneous meeting. We also use them when we have workshops and other similar meetings and need to break out of old thinking patterns. In the door to the conference room, where the swings are hanging, are two panes of glass from where you can peek in. When people look into the room it usually creates a buzz and is a fun thing to show for external guests visiting the office.

4) What does your employees think about the swings and how often do you use them?

Our employees think it’s a good and fun idea. They probably also think that it’s fun that we have been thinking a little bit out of the box. We use the swings on a daily basis. The swings are just as much nice decoration as they are functional. They are an eye-catcher and that little extra that awakens interest and curiosity.

I think you can swing almost everywhere, as long as there is enough room. It's probably just your imagination that sets the boundaries! 

5) Can you come up with other places where you could place the swing?

I think you can swing almost everywhere, as long as there is enough room. It's probably just your imagination that sets the boundaries! Just as you would be able to hang swings in a reception or a coffee room, there could be swings in office spaces. There are probably no limitations at all. Even in public places such as coffee shops, it would bee fun to see swings. Everyone thinks that it's fun to swing and if there would be swings in other places than playgrounds (in environments where adults spend time) there would probably be a lot more swinging!

Find out more abut the Lillagunga Grand swing here.