SPACEWISE
For a self-contained workstation
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In conversation with Hema Vijay, architect Pradeep Varma, of Varsha and Pradeep Architects, helps you hit on the right design for your workstation, a furniture concept that can be elaborated into a complete home office.
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Photo: S.R.Ragunathan
Right setting: A view of the computer work station.
The table can ideally have a height of two and a half feet, with a width of four or five feet and a depth of two feet. Space permitting, you can opt for an L shaped workstation. The keyboard tray is to be placed 4” below the table surface. The CPU is ideally placed towards the right extreme of the computer table. You can affix metal hangers of dimensions 8” (width) X 18” (height) X 9” (depth), that come in an inverted L shape and tilted upwards to
the wooden side frame of the table at about 6” off the ground to allow for floor cleaning.
Locate the UPS away from the monitor and the CPU, as the harmonics created by the electrical currents generated in the UPS can corrupt CDs and the monitor screen. A ledge underneath the table (below the monitor and just ahead of the leg rest) with dimensions of 12” X 4”X 4” serves the purpose well. Provide a space of 8” X 18” X 18” for the printer, ideally to the left extremity of the table.
Add an open or closed book ledge (with one or multi-racks) above the monitor space and a pin-up board behind the monitor space to make your workstation complete.
As for the finish, laminated finishes are ideal as they are easy to maintain. Opt for a post-formed finish wherein the laminate curves over the edge, which pre-empts the stuck laminate against coming off from the plywood over a period of time. Another option is the PVC edge lamination which creates the same effect. Never opt for edge banding finishes, at least for the front-facing edges of the table.
Synchro tilt
Chairs with sturdy mesh backing are ideal as they allow ventilation and provide good lumbar support. If you opt for a fabric backed chair, ensure that the fabric comes over a hard PU (Polyurethene) backing.
A hard backed chair corrects your posture while a cushioned soft backed chair moulds itself to your posture. High backed chairs are preferable as the home environment tends to relax the person and induce him to lean back on the chair.
The body tends to feel unstable when you lean back and your feet leave the ground.
So, opt for a ‘synchro tilt’ mechanism in the chair, which allows the seat of the chair to tilt to just half the extent the chair’s back tilts.
Ask for a gas lift mechanism to adjust the height of the chair seat.
If there is a high degree of variability in the size of the people who will be using the chair, opt for chairs with adjustable arms which allow for the arms to be moved apart from each other, to make for more space.
Likewise, the height of the arms too can be adjusted. Both branded and locally manufactured models are available and cost between Rs. 3,500 and Rs. 5,000.
Task lighting
Clamp lamps can be clamped to the side of the table.
A space saving arrangement would be to install a task lamp to the underside of the book ledge above the monitor space.
A wattage of 40 to 60 for incandescent lamps and 13-18 watts for CFCs or energy saving lamps serves the purpose.
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