While repurposing some of them on a global scale is one possible long-term scenario in real estate terms, we need to think on the scale of the interior in order to make quick adaptations that can respond to new working requirements. One of the key steps in creating this new reality is to rethink office buildings at large. The spatial solutions and the processes behind these solutions should empower employees to take the lead in shaping their spaces and should result from experimenting with multiple arrangements to find the ones that best fit their culture and needs. Instead of fixed set-ups, new offices require fluid solutions that can be changed almost on a daily basis, depending on the number of people physically present and those online, alongside the type of collaboration and team working styles.ĭesigners and manufactures need to offer toolboxes that enable the personalisation of spatial experiences for different hybrid modes of working – from online meetings to quick calls and from large team brainstorms on digital white boards, to client meetings, community building activities and water cooler moments. We are currently observing new ways of organising workloads and locations in relation to tasks that is prompting offices to attune to these new habits. The human-centric workplace means that we need to account for all needs, both in the digital and physical realms. We need a truly human-centric approach to work that thoughtfully considers how these new processes, spaces and tools meet the expectations of the employees. To allow teams and individuals to thrive in this new reality, we need to take a closer look at people’s experiences, their values and their personal and collective goals. In an attempt to navigate through this new reality, between health regulations, employee needs and technical requirements, we now see companies experimenting with new approaches: from management styles and tools, to implementing new software and hardware, to addressing the organisation of home and office spaces. More precisely, how we can shape work for people who have found new routines and habits that promise them a healthier way of working. While the aftermath of 1.5 years of working from home is likely to unfold itself gradually over the coming year(s), these insights do outline the first conclusions regarding which strategic approach we should take to shape the future of workspaces. As a result, people are now seeking more flexible, healthy and meaningful work that aligns with their needs and enables them to live healthy and fulfilled lives. This has occurred at the same time as new generations are revisiting and questioning the system of a 40-hour workweek in a late-capitalist society, where stress, a sedentary lifestyle and overconsumption fuel the need for more conscious, efficient and future-proof workspaces and jobs. Having experienced the comfort and time-win of working from home and the freedom of being able to work from anywhere, we now start to synchronise our working location to best suit the tasks we have on our schedules. To understand the workplace of the future we asked ourselves, what are the biggest shifts in perception of work and how can our workplaces of the future adapt to those changes? While the idea of the office as a primary workspace is somewhat engrained in the thinking of many industries, the global shift in attitudes to work cannot be denied. The way we perceive the paradigm of work has changed. As parts of the world move back into shared office space it becomes clear that there is no way of going back to a pre-Covid normative. Over the last two years, offices have had to evaluate and revise their approach based on changing conditions, attitudes and regulations, and as such, have had to reassess the meaning of work.
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