Example: a 71 m² net office
| Space | Inside dimension | Area |
|---|---|---|
| Open office (4 desks) | 6.20 × 4.80 m | 29.8 m² |
| Meeting room (table for 6) | 3.40 × 3.00 m | 10.2 m² |
| Manager | 3.40 × 2.60 m | 8.8 m² |
| Archive | 3.40 × 1.80 m | 6.1 m² |
| Kitchen | 2.80 × 2.80 m | 7.8 m² |
| WC | 1.40 × 2.80 m | 3.9 m² |
| Entrance | 1.60 × 2.80 m | 4.5 m² |
How much office space per person?
In Turkey, the regulation on workplace buildings requires enough space for employees but gives no figure. Germany’s ASR A1.2 rule recommends 8 m² for the first workstation and 6 m² for each additional one. By that measure the open office in the example (29.8 m²) is enough for four desks: 8 + 3 × 6 = 26 m². The manager’s office (8.8 m²) is above the 8 m² needed for one person.
Desk layout
- Place desks at right angles or side-on to the window. Light coming from the side of the screen means less glare.
- Leave a walkway behind the chairs. In the example you can walk comfortably behind the desks.
- Keep the meeting room near the entrance. Visitors get to the meeting without walking through the open office.
- Put the archive and shelving on walls without windows.
Escape route
Turkey’s Regulation on the Fire Protection of Buildings (Binaların Yangından Korunması Hakkında Yönetmelik) sets escape route widths according to the number of occupants. Desks and cabinets must not narrow the escape route; in large offices, have an expert check the plan.
The plans and dimensions in this post are layout ideas. A building permit, structural design or construction project requires a design by, and approval from, a licensed architect and engineer; ask your municipality about the details of the regulations.