FOCUS 091
What are your thoughts currently on office design and what do clients now require from architects and designers since Covid?
Te Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the way we perceive and design office spaces. Clients now prioritise measures that promote their people’s health and wellbeing and put them at the forefront of a project. Great consideration is given to improving the quality of space; fresh air, natural light, ventilation, integration of nature and biophilic design, integration of ergonomic furniture, standing desks and spaces that promote physical activity, are all now considered essential for creating healthy work environments.
Flexibility and adaptability is another important topic that we discuss with every client we work with. Clients now require spaces that can easily adapt to the changing needs of the business and the people, allowing for collaboration, focused work and private conversations while keeping the layout flexible and the space versatile so that they have the ability to reconfigure layouts as needed.
Clients expect designs that encourage communication, teamwork, and spontaneous interactions among employees. Open-plan layouts, shared spaces, and collaboration zones are being prioritised to foster a sense of community and to facilitate knowledge sharing. Environmental sustainability has gained more prominence in office design too, with an increasing desire for designs that incorporate sustainable materials, energy- efficient systems and strategies for reducing the carbon footprint of their fitout. Te brief is certainly becoming complex and more involved.
Q&A May Fawzy
Founder, MF Studio
How proactive are clients on thinking ahead for projects for next year or beyond?
Clients’ proactivity can vary from one client to the other. It also varies based upon their sector, the economic climate, their requirements, their timescales and also their experience. Many recognise that building materials, fittings and furniture may have longer lead-times than we were used to, which in turn prompts clients to start the planning stages earlier to ensure that the quality of the design is not being compromised.
Early planning also gives the added benefit of having a contingency plan in place in case the approval process took longer than anticipated. We always advise our clients to spend time planning the project, so they can reap the benefits of early planning when the project is at the construction stage, ensuring they end up with no unpleasant surprises.
What would you say are the seismic changes from office design pre-Covid and now?
Above Clients now fully expect architects to design ofice spaces that facilitate communication, teamwork and spontaneous interaction
We can all agree that the office purpose has significantly changed post the pandemic. With the remote and flexible working, we are all capable of undertaking focused individual tasks from home. We expect to interact and collaborate with our peers and colleagues when we are in the office. Tis shift in mindset informs the design solution, and therefore the way the office presents nowadays is very different from when you compare it to how it did a decade or so ago.
Users require an environment that supports collaboration, wellbeing and inclusivity. Tere is an
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