Space Planner
Space Planner (Nhà quy hoạch không gian)
Space Planner thiết kế layout không gian — office, retail, residential — focus on functional flow + efficient use. Bridge giữa Architect (structure) + Interior Designer (finishing). Critical cho corporate office + workplace strategy.
Khi Google office Mountain View tối ưu collaboration + concentration zone, khi Vingroup HQ tower có flow + meeting room ratio đúng, khi WeWork coworking space combines hot desk + private + community area smart — đó là tác phẩm của Space Planner.
Space Planner là chuyên gia thiết kế layout không gian — office, retail, residential — focus on functional flow + efficient use. Bridge giữa Architect (structure) + Interior Designer (finishing). Critical cho corporate office + workplace strategy. Bad space plan = wasted sqm + unhappy employee; great = productivity + culture.
01Space Planner là ai?
Space Planner là chuyên gia layout + workplace strategy. Phân loại theo project type: (1) Corporate office — biggest market; (2) Retail — store layout + merchandising; (3) Healthcare — hospital + clinic flow; (4) Education — school + university; (5) Hospitality — hotel + restaurant; (6) Residential — apartment + house. Phân loại theo employer: (1) Architecture firm; (2) Interior design firm; (3) Workplace consultant — JLL, Cushman & Wakefield, CBRE; (4) In-house corporate real estate — large company workplace team; (5) Furniture dealer — Steelcase, Herman Miller, Haworth có Space Planner.
Khác với Architect (building structure) — Space Planner work within existing shell. Khác với Interior Designer (aesthetic + finishing) — Space Planner functional + analytical. Khác với Workplace Strategist (research + strategy) — Space Planner execute strategy via design. Khác với Facility Manager (operations) — different focus. Hợp tác chặt với: Architect, Interior Designer, Workplace Strategist, HR + Operations team, Facility Manager, Furniture dealer, Real estate broker, Client / occupant.
- Space program + requirement gather
- Test fit + layout option
- Block + stack + plan develop
- Furniture spec + installation
Space Planner — workplace layout designer
Space Planner hoạt động pre-construction phase (after lease sign / before fit-out). Báo cáo Design Director / Project Architect / Workplace Lead. Per project: 2-6 tháng (office fit-out). Office work (CAD) + site visit + client meeting. Often work across multiple project parallel.
02Công việc của một Space Planner
1. Programming + requirement gather
Stakeholder interview: với leadership + department head + HR — hiểu business need, headcount projection, work style. Survey + observation: existing space utilization data, peak occupancy. Program develop: spreadsheet — every space need (workstation, meeting room, focus room, social, support). Headcount + growth: 3-5 năm projection. Work style assess: assigned vs hot desk vs hybrid + percentage.
- Stakeholder interview
- Program develop
- Headcount + work style
Programming + gather
2. Test fit + option compare
Core deliverable. Test fit: quick layout option in CAD — fit program into building floor plate. Multiple option: 2-3 layout option for client compare. Block + stack: high-level zoning (department by floor or zone). Adjacency analysis: who need sit near who (Sales + Marketing, Engineering + QA). Circulation + flow: how people move through space, escape route. Quantity + efficiency check: utilization ratio, sqm per person.
- Test fit option
- Block + stack
- Adjacency + flow
Test fit
Block + stack
3. Detailed plan + furniture spec
After client choose direction. Detailed plan: every workstation, meeting room, room location, dimension. Furniture spec: workstation system (Steelcase, Herman Miller, Haworth), meeting room table + chair, lounge furniture. Power + data plan: với electrical engineer — outlet location per workstation. Lighting plan: với lighting designer if scope. Acoustic consideration: open vs enclosed, sound mask, acoustic panel. Accessibility: wheelchair access, accessible workstation, restroom.
- Detail plan
- Furniture spec
- Power + acoustic
Detail + furniture
4. Construction support + move + post-occupancy
Construction drawing: với architect, complete drawing for permit + build. Construction support: site visit, answer question, sign-off layout. Furniture order + delivery: với dealer. Furniture install: oversee installer place per plan. Move-in: coordinate move, assign workstation. Post-occupancy evaluation: 3-6 months after move, survey occupant, observe utilization, iterate.
- Construction support
- Furniture + install
- Post-occupancy
Install + move
03Space Planner cần giỏi gì?
AutoCAD + Revit
AutoCAD standard for space planning. Revit BIM increasingly standard. SketchUp for 3D quick. BlocksCAD / Furniture Library. Cobra / Bluebeam markup. Read: "Mastering AutoCAD" (Omura).
Programming + spreadsheet
Excel master for program — pivot table, formula, sqm calculation. Headcount projection. Utilization analysis. Visualization (Tableau, Power BI). Workplace data analysis.
Workplace strategy
Hiểu workplace trend — activity-based working, hot desking, hybrid work, collaboration zone. Read: "Cool Spaces" (Lewis), "The Activity-Based Workplace" (Cushman). Follow Steelcase, Herman Miller research.
Furniture system literacy
Major manufacturer: Steelcase, Herman Miller, Haworth, Knoll, Kokuyo, Vitra. Workstation system (Answer, Resolve, Compose). Task chair, conference table, sofa. Specification + lead time + price knowledge.
Code + regulation
Building code (occupancy, egress, fire). Accessibility (ADA, QCVN). Worksafe regulation. Energy code. Permit process.
Client + stakeholder
Workshop facilitate (leadership session, focus group). Present option. Manage conflicting opinion. Diplomatic communication. Manage budget conversation.
04Làm cách nào để trở thành Space Planner?
Nền tảng: Architecture, Interior Design, Workplace Strategy, Facility Management. VN: ĐH Kiến trúc HN/TPHCM, ĐH Mỹ thuật Công nghiệp Nội thất, RMIT Interior Design, ĐH Văn Lang Nội thất. Quốc tế: Pratt Interior Design, Parsons, SCAD Interior Design, RISD Interior Architecture, Cornell DEA.
Entry. VN: JLL Vietnam, Cushman & Wakefield VN, CBRE VN, Savills VN, Knight Frank, Colliers International (real estate consultant); aDesign, ARCHIRAY, T3 Architects, ID&A Vietnam, Bricks Studio, Workplace Vietnam Architects, NDD Architects (architecture); Steelcase + Herman Miller dealer (Office Solutions VN, Iro). Quốc tế: Gensler, HOK, Perkins+Will, IA Interior Architects, M Moser Associates (top workplace firm).
Full role. Lead small-medium project.
Senior. Large project + multi-floor + multi-location.
Director. Workplace Strategy leadership. Industry expert.
Lộ trình dài hạn: (1) Director / Partner workplace firm — Gensler, HOK, M Moser; (2) Workplace Strategist senior — JLL, CBRE workplace advisory; (3) In-house Head of Workplace large corporate — Google, Microsoft VN; (4) Founder boutique workplace studio; (5) Furniture dealer partnership; (6) Crossover broader Interior Design; (7) Educator. Lương: VN Space Planner mid 20-45M/tháng; senior 45-100M; Director 100-220M+. Quốc tế: $75K-$110K mid; $110K-$160K senior; $160K-$280K Director. Hybrid work era → space planner role evolve fast. Stable demand (office always need plan + replan).
