The stresses of work often make us want to crawl under our desks. Now, one innovative firm is providing offices with a designated place to tune out the noise and find inner peace. Designed by New York-based firm ROOM, the Calm Booth, which is made out of 1,088 recycled plastic bottles, was created for companies that want to provide their employees with a space to enjoy a moment of peace while working.
According to the designers, the inspiration for the Calm Booth came from the common difficulty that workers face when wanting to find a moment of peace during a long, hectic workday. The booth is designed to be a place where “meditation meets privacy,” allowing workers to enjoy a respite to relax and refocus during the day.
ROOM has long been known for its soundproof booths that are designed to create private spaces for office use. But this time around, it is partnering with a meditation app, called Calm, to create a soothing space that has an extensive library of meditation soundtracks, from nature soundscapes to music to “nap stories.”
The Calm Booth is a simple structure clad in a crisp, white facade with a frosted, acrylic privacy door. The booth is made soundproof thanks to three layers of insulation made with more than 1,000 recycled plastic bottles. On the interior, the space is minimalist with a simple, green forest print on the walls. The booth also comes with a small shelf, a built-in Ethernet port, soft motion-enabled LED lighting and a ventilation system.
According to the American Institute of Stress, work-related stress accounts for high absenteeism in offices around the country. Hopefully, companies will begin to take notice that providing a place for workers to practice mindfulness within the office is both beneficial to employees as well as the bottom line. Creating that space with recycled materials is better for the planet, too.
Calm Booth is a soundproof office retreat made out of recycled plastic bottles [Inhabitat]