We Think Typical, Bulky Reception Desks Are “Out” - Here’s Why
When designing a space, you want to ensure people know where to go when they first enter. So, the only way is to insert a large block of a reception desk that reads, COME HERE, right? Maybe not…
“An Investment You Can Experience” by Green Velvet
Do I Need A Typical Reception Desk?
People are smarter than you think. It can be obvious that one is supposed to check in “here” without creating a five-foot monstrosity between a guest and a receptionist.
It’s considered industry standard to create a large, sometimes L-shaped reception desk in the lobby of a public space - kind of like the one we tore down at the start of construction of “An Investment You Can Experience”, a whisky vault on Central Park South. But we think simple statements are still statements, and people are intuitive enough to pick up on them.
Less Is More
One of the driving principles we followed while designing the reception area was to maintain a fun, speakeasy ambiance. When you get off the elevator, there is intentionally no obvious branding; only slight nods to the company and its culture. We wanted guests to enter the space and think, “Where am I?” For Green Velvet, the reception area is all about preserving a sense of wonder.
“An Investment You Can Experience” by Green Velvet
Guests invited to the space are likely to be curious before they even arrive. “A whisky vault? Whisky-cask investment? A bar, in a commercial building? What am I about to walk into?” The reception, an enclosed area before the main whisky-tasting space, should be the peak of guest’s curiosity.
To put it quite frankly - we think a typical, bulky reception desk would have killed the vibe. Having a residential-type desk when you first walk in sets a tone. It’s understated, it’s functional, and it’s also familiar.
Long gone are the days of fifty-pound computers with sixteen different wires. It’s 2023 (or so they say), and all you need is a laptop - and maybe a cell phone. So, the next time you’re designing a space, consider ditching the two-ton formica reception desk and saying hello to a modest one.
