Florencia Kratsman of FXCollaborative On How To Design Office Spaces That People Love To Work In

Prioritize Natural Light and Open, Flexible Spaces. Provide Comfortable and ergonomic furniture. Incorporate Greenery and Biophilic design. Embrace “Phigital” Spaces. Promote “Workspitality”.

As part of our series called “How To Design Office Spaces That People Love To Work In”, we had the pleasure of interviewing Florencia Kratsman.

Florencia is the Director of Interior Architecture at FXCollaborative with 25 years of experience in consulting, design, programming, and space planning. Her expansive portfolio includes corporate, cultural, residential, and hospitality projects located all over the world. As an experienced interior designer, Florencia is often crafting creative approaches to design solutions that prioritize progressive design and sustainability.

Thank you so much for joining us in this series! Before we dive in, our readers would love to learn a bit more about you. Can you tell us a story about what brought you to this specific career path?

I grew up in Argentina in a family of furniture makers. Because of my upbringing, I wanted to be an architect as a child and a set designer as a teenager. So, I decided to study architecture and after moving to NYC, I found myself being drawn to interior architecture. Somehow, I ended up doing set design for people’s everyday lives, which I love.

Can you share the most interesting story that happened to you since you started this career?

At the firm I worked at before joining FXCollaborative, I was part of the design team that was working on creating a scientific colony inside of a moon crater. It was interesting to design spaces for movement, but without gravity — creating artificial circadian rhythms, growing food, and building with robots.

It has been said that sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake you made when you were first starting and a lesson you learned from that?

It’s important to know yourself and your work style in order to set your own limits. I learned very early in my career that I am not the type of person who can burn the candle at both ends. It’s especially imperative for designers — who’s creative processes differ in so many ways — to figure out what works best for them.

Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Can you share how that was relevant to you in your life?

“The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

For me, this quote encourages me to say yes to things that are challenging, and to not let fear get in my way. This is my life motto in many ways. I am a third generation immigrant– my grandparents immigrated from Eastern Europe to Argentina, my parents immigrated from Argentina to Puerto Rico, and I immigrated from Puerto Rico to New York. It takes a specific character in a person to constantly move forward.

None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are? Can you share a story about that?

I am particularly grateful to those that have helped me come this far. Manuel Garcia Fonteboa and Emilio Martinez were some of my first architecture studio teachers at UPR; sculptor Maya Lin, Tom Krizmanic at STUDIOS; Stephen Apking at SOM; Bjarke Ingels; as well as Dan Kaplan and all of the folks at my current firm, FXCollaborative. They were, and are, exceptional at pushing me and challenging preconceptions of what our business is, while giving me the tools to define my own path and projects.

I’m also grateful for my parents who gave me my work ethic and were always my best advisors. My husband, Justin Korhammer, also encourages me in my work.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting projects you are working on now? How do you think that might help people?

I am currently working on the interiors of the redesigned Penn Station, which we hope will transform the commuting experience of New Yorkers. I am also designing a center for a local Brooklyn based university, which focuses on the emotional health and academic success of students — a vital program as we face an ongoing mental health crisis in this country. Finally, I am looking at a series of office to residential conversion projects that are questioning the future of living in NYC holistically — from street activation to the needs of the new home, post pandemic.

Thank you for that. Here is the main question of our discussion. What are your “Five Things You Should Do To Design Office Spaces That People Love To Work In” and why. Please share a story or example for each.

1 . Prioritize Natural Light and Open, Flexible Spaces. We should not take our need for natural light for granted, especially businesses, for which we are creating communities that will evolve overtime. The design of Google’s headquarters in Kings Cross, London exemplifies the incorporation of natural light and open, flexible spaces. Large windows flood the office with sunlight, the open layout has a diagonal stair that connects all the floors, and the cafes are filled with cuisines that represent their employees’ cultures, further encouraging collaboration. This design choice not only enhances productivity but also reflects Google’s commitment to cultural diversity and openness. Moreover, the project was designed for maximum flexibility overtime, understanding that the primary use of the building might evolve, and that workplace needs could vary.

2 . Provide Comfortable and ergonomic furniture. As the pandemic-era work from home movement can attest, ergonomics are necessary. At 1 Willoughby Square — home to FXCollaborative’s headquarters — in Brooklyn, ergonomic considerations go hand in hand with a commitment to employee well-being. The office features a variety of comfortable seating options, adjustable desks, and dedicated spaces for relaxation. This focus on comfort contributes to a positive work culture where employees feel supported in their day-to-day activities.

3 . Incorporate Greenery and Biophilic design. Nature is part of us, and we perform better when we are surrounded by it. The offices we are designing for a local Brooklyn college are a great testament to the benefits of biophilic design. The office is organized around a series of areas that incorporate plants, creating a serene environment for employees. This not only enhances the aesthetic, but also provides a peaceful retreat — promoting well-being and community interactions during breaks, and as people move between spaces.

4 . Embrace “Phigital” Spaces. “Phigital” design combines physical and digital elements to create a seamless and interactive environment. Companies like Apple incorporate phigital elements in their retail spaces, providing customers with a unique and engaging experience. In office design, integrating digital interfaces, interactive displays, and smart technologies can enhance the workplace environment, making it more dynamic and responsive to employees’ needs — especially now that remote work is here to stay.

5 . Promote “Workspitality”. “Workspitality” combines the concepts of workspace and hospitality, creating a workplace that prioritizes employee comfort and satisfaction. We are currently working on several projects that not only provide functional office space, but a hospitality-driven experience. This includes amenities like on-site cafes, concierge services, and social events — fostering a sense of community and well-being among employees.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

We need to take the housing shortage in our cities more seriously and remove policies that are getting in the way of converting existing buildings to meet needed quotas. At the same time, we need to make our cities greener and more sustainable for everyone. Some key options that can get us there are micro mobility, growing food, green roofs, solar and geothermal energy.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might see this, especially if we tag them :-)

I would love to meet someone (or a group) that is laser focused, thinks outside the box and has the power and political influence to solve some of the world’s problems, such as the housing shortage (mentioned above). Bill Gates comes to mind, as well as Michael Bloomberg.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

You can find updates on my and FXCollaborative’s work by following our Linkedin and Instagram pages:

FXCollaborative Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fxcollaborative/

FXCollaborative Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/FXCollaborative/

Florencia Kratsman Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/florencia-kratsman-asid-leed-ap-44a4668

Florencia Kratsman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/florenciakratsman/?hl=en

Thank you so much for joining us. This was very inspirational!