Back to the 60s? Reinventing the Cubicle

People have always been searching for

a "suitable" office space,

one that keeps up with ever-changing work.

The evolution of the cubicle

In the 1960s, changes in office equipment drove enormous changes in office space.

The cubicle became a highly cost-effective and powerfully innovative office format, developing in an ever more open direction. By leveraging the inherent extensibility of the cubicle, spaces gained a longer service life.

Cubicle offices have been popular with many companies for decades, but multi-sided partitions and closed-off sightlines are not conducive to instant communication and hinder a team's agile creativity.

At the turn of the century, Silicon Valley startups adopted open-plan offices to encourage collaboration, and other companies followed suit. Open office space came into favor, and the much-criticized cubicle was gradually replaced.

2020: Resetting the cubicle

In 2020, office space gained a new requirement — a sense of security. The global outbreak of COVID-19 put "social distancing" in the spotlight, and working in a safe, healthy environment became a defining issue of the pandemic era.

What is a safe "social distance"? Compared with complex high-tech solutions, adding partitions to open space has become the cost-effective choice for many companies.

Retaining the advantageous designs developed since the 1960s, modern workplaces have absorbed the essence of cubicle design, letting partition elements play an ever more important role.

The 1960s cubicle is riding the tide of the times back into our offices in a new way.

01 More types of partitions

Beyond continuously extending new content on the original cubicle format, developing new office space modules has become an important part of modern workplace solutions.

Partition structures are no longer just for "dividing" — they embrace diverse variations. A partition is not merely a single screen; it can also be a narrow storage space.

Capturing the essence of "dividing", public lounge modules are added, where comfortable rest and a gentle embrace let people pause their work and return at "full health".

Independent workstations are added, offering concentration and strong privacy to complete temporary work efficiently and quickly.

02 Diverse colors and materials

Colors grow richer with each era's trending palettes; materials have shifted from heavy to light and translucent. More eco-friendly, sound-absorbing materials have also become popular elements in today's offices.

Constant optimization, visually and to the touch. Even when "isolation" covers large areas of the office, the sense of confinement disappears.

03 Encouraging communication

Beyond workstations, lounge modules add an encouraging touch to the office. Partitions create small-team discussion environments that make socializing more focused!

Work and social life both satisfied, personal value expressed — while also meeting people's need for "safe social distance".

Through different partitioning approaches, the cubicle extends into lounge spaces, giving different receptions, discussions, and group work a safer distance.

Under the pandemic, people's attention to health and their need for healthy offices have risen as never before. Providing clients with the "most suitable" office space solution is also Yihang's professional mission!

The cubicle office never limits itself,

keeps reinventing itself,

and moves forward in step with health.