Why Touchdown Spaces Matter in Modern Workplaces
A touchdown space is a small, flexible work area where people can sit briefly, plug in, and get things done. It’s designed for short, focused tasks rather than long-term desk work.
As hybrid work becomes the norm across Australia, offices need spaces that support people moving in and out during the day. A well-planned touchdown area gives visiting staff, remote workers, and contractors a practical spot to land without needing a permanent desk. It also helps reduce wasted space by replacing underused traditional workstations with compact, shared settings.
These spaces are ideal for emails between meetings, quick calls, or last‑minute prep before a presentation. Unlike full-sized Single Person Workstations, touchdown zones are lighter, more open, and often located near circulation paths or collaboration areas. Done well, they improve productivity while keeping the fit-out cost-effective.
Planning the Right Location and Layout
The best touchdown zones are easy to access but not in the way. Start by mapping where people naturally move through your office.
Place touchdown spots near entry points, meeting rooms, or shared amenities so people can settle quickly between commitments. Avoid high-traffic pinch points where noise and constant movement become distracting. Instead, use corners, window bays, or the ends of work rows to create compact yet comfortable pockets of space.
Consider how touchdown areas connect with your existing workstation layout. For example, position them adjacent to 2 Person Workstations to support quick check-ins before staff return to deeper focus tasks. Home-based staff visiting the office occasionally may appreciate touchdown areas near quieter zones or alongside Home Office Desks, so their temporary work setup still feels professional and organised.
Think about flow: people should be able to move easily from touchdown points to formal desks, meeting rooms, and quiet zones. Linking touchdown seating with flexible surfaces like Mobile Tables or Flip Top Tables also lets you reconfigure the space when teams grow or project styles change.
Essential Furniture and Flexible Work Surfaces
Furniture is what makes a touchdown area actually usable. Focus on compact, multi-use pieces that suit short stays.
Start with simple, sturdy work surfaces sized for laptops and notebooks rather than full desktop setups. Adjustable-height options give users more control over comfort, letting them stand for a quick email burst or sit for a 30‑minute task. Incorporating a few Height Adjustable Workstations nearby can turn a basic landing zone into a genuinely ergonomic micro-hub that suits different staff preferences.
For larger teams or shared project work, cluster touchdown points alongside dedicated Single Person Workstations so individuals can move between deep focus and rapid-fire admin. Where space is tight, Mobile Tables and Flip Top Tables are ideal: they can roll out for busy days, tuck away when not needed, or be rearranged to support workshops and training sessions.
Don’t overlook soft seating. Low-profile pieces drawn from Breakout Seating ranges or compact Ottomans work well for ultra-brief drop-ins, quick chats, or mobile work where a laptop and headphones are all that’s required. These options keep the area inviting without making it feel like a heavy, permanent workstation zone.
Balancing Focus, Privacy, and Acoustics
Touchdown spaces need to feel open yet still support concentration. The solution is to manage visual and acoustic distractions without fully closing the space off.
Acoustic control is crucial because touchdown users often need to jump on calls or video meetings at short notice. Placing a few Office Pods or fully enclosed Acoustic Pods nearby gives staff somewhere to step into for confidential conversations or noise-sensitive tasks. This prevents the touchdown area itself from becoming overloaded with chatter and keeps ambient noise at a manageable level.
Use layout and furniture to create a sense of boundary without building walls. Taller screens, planters, or high-backed pieces from your Breakout Seating selection can visually separate touchdown spots from adjacent thoroughfares. Position smaller Ottomans on the outer edges for informal perch points and reserve interior seats for people who need to focus for a little longer.
If your office includes traditional desks or 2 Person Workstations, consider using the touchdown area as a buffer between noisy collaboration zones and quieter task spaces. This layered approach helps staff choose the right environment for their work without feeling boxed in or forced to sit in one spot all day.
Creating a Seamless Hybrid Work Experience
Touchdown areas work best when they support the full hybrid work journey. Think about what people need from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave.
Remote staff coming in occasionally shouldn’t have to hunt for somewhere to sit or cobble together a workspace from random chairs. Offer consistent power access, Wi‑Fi, and simple cable management at every landing spot, whether it’s a compact bench, a Home Office Desks-style setup, or a shared Height Adjustable Workstations cluster. Reliable basics matter more than flashy features when people have limited time in the office.
Consider how touchdown users transition to other zones. They may start at a soft seat from your Breakout Seating range for quick email triage, move to a focused Single Person Workstations area for deeper work, and then duck into an Acoustic Pods unit for a confidential client call. Designing this journey intentionally makes the office feel intuitive and supportive rather than fragmented.
Finally, keep adaptability front of mind. As teams change and hybrid patterns evolve, modular pieces like Mobile Tables, Flip Top Tables, and movable Ottomans let you resize or relocate touchdown zones with minimal disruption. Over time, analysing how often these spaces are used and how people move between them and more traditional 2 Person Workstations will help you refine the layout and maintain a workplace that genuinely supports flexible, productive work.
