We all know that meeting spaces can influence the success of a meeting, in the way delegates are engaged, inspired and encouraged to interact with one another.
Understanding this very well, Japanese IT firm Zeeboon has transformed one of its meeting spaces into the interior of a grand medieval castle and taken Alice in Wonderland as the inspiration for another.
These Idea Castle conference rooms are rented out for 30,000 yen (US$281) per hour.
The School of Witchcraft room – which draws heavily on popular fantasy literature Harry Potter – is approached through a secret underground passageway, while the room itself is decorated with owl cages and swords.
The stone throne is likely to be taken by the CEO, with leather chairs either side for his closest acolytes. The rest of the royal court (or company) share wooden tables.
The Alice room, a surreal space that looks right at home in fairytale land, is decorated with pages from the famous Lewis Carrol book and a paper tree.
In spite of the fairytale surroundings, both rooms come fully equipped with what’s required for a modern-day meeting, including wireless Internet connection and 60-inch monitors.
Each room is 100m2, with The School of Witchcraft room having space for 54 people and Alice’s area capable of accommodating 46 people.
Zeeboon says it hopes the unconventional surroundings will stimulate employees’ minds and enable them to return to the creativity and free-thinking faculties of a child.
Meik G Brammer
