Throughout the 1990s Swedish photographer Lars Tunbjörk documented corporate office spaces throughout Sweden, Japan and the United States. His subsequent photo book Office was published in 2001 and was considered a masterstroke in capturing the homogeny of these spaces. The cult-favourite book was recently re-published by Loose Joints and includes an unseen series titled LA Office.
Even though interior design seemed a universal afterthought in nineties corporate culture, a distinct aesthetic emerges from Tunbjörk’s pages. Venetian blinds, wall to wall carpet, glass blocks and steel might all be hallmarks of these offices and yet, they also read as a checklist for many recent zeitgeist-y residential design projects.
For instance, Spanish architecture studio EME157 tempered the polished functionality of linoleum and stainless steel with the rawness of exposed concrete beams when designing an open-plan kitchen extension. Sky-blue accents add a subtle dash of colour to the minimalist scheme. eme157.com
Before open-plan design and hot-desking defined how we work, internal windows and venetian blinds were ubiquitous in offices. Recently, venetian blinds have had a resurgence in design-led residences like this apartment by architecture firm DIIR. In this stylish kitchen, the sleekness of stainless-steel cabinetry contrasts with the warmth of wooden flooring. estudiodiir.com
Concrete blocks are a common sight in commercial spaces, but less so in the home. Architects Anita Panov and Andrew Scott championed their versatility when designing this suburban property, with an exterior concrete wall acting as a privacy screen that also filters in natural light. panovscott.com.au
At just four metres wide, every design choice in this Sydney home was carefully considered by Studio Carsen Kelly. The master bedroom is cloaked in a dreamy, diffused light thanks to a wall of glass blocks, while a toffee-coloured carpet adds comfort underfoot. studiocarsonkelly.com
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The era of office culture that Tunbjörk captured may no longer exist yet it continues to be an unexpected source of inspiration across fashion, culture and design.
On the small screen, the office continues to captivate, from the open-plan hellscapes depicted in Industry, to the science-fiction-meets-water-cooler set design of Severance.
Similarly, cubicle dividers, filing cabinets and beige carpets were a supporting cast in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant’s satirical masterpiece The Office, which first aired 25 years ago. Despite the distinctly British office culture it parodied, the interiors on screen show that, whether it’s Stockholm or Slough, Tunbjörk’s finding was correct: the remarkable sameness of office design was a truly global phenomenon. And one that can still inspire today. ‘Office/LA Office’ is published by Loose Joints
