094 FOCUS
What are your thoughts currently on office design and what do clients now require from architects and designers since Covid?
Q&A Neil Thomas
Head of design,
Workplace Creations
In my 25 years experience, office design has never been more exciting and varied. Clients are more considerate of their workforce and are embracing a hybrid evolution providing choice and flexibility. More than ever, the workplace environment is driving a positive change focused on supporting the end user.
One style no longer fits all where each opportunity is unique, assessed on its individual merits with the visible promotion of ESG values and DE&I (diversity, equity and inclusion) in their environments. As designers and thought leaders, it is more important than ever for us to understand the business, how it operates and, more importantly, to know the end users.
Workspaces need to support two distinct thought processes: those who embrace hybrid working and those looking to return to the office. Clients embracing hybrid working want to identity the office as an attractive proposition for the time they’re in the office, promoting social and collaboration facilities. For those returning to the office full-time, the office needs to be a destination mimicking the home office, promoting ‘resimercial’ designs. All solutions are underlined with a focus on operational enhancements, wellbeing and inclusive design. Increasingly, clients require the workplace to be neurodiverse, tailoring the workplace for all, particularly for those with a hidden disability. Spaces needs to reflect the diverse makeup of organisations promoting variety and choice, creating spaces that will help retain staff and attract the best staff differentiating their workplace and business from the competition.
Task-based settings are centric to the progressive workplace, where the furniture industry has excelled creating products previously limited to built facilities. Freestanding solutions provide clients with greater flexibility and adaptability, enabling them to positively react to fluctuations in business and society – after all, who knows what is around the corner; we certainly didn’t in the autumn of 2019.
How proactive are clients on thinking ahead for projects for next year or beyond?
While some businesses remain clear on their occupational strategy, at Workplace Creations we continue to see clients conflicted and at a crossroads on how best to move the business and their workplace forward. Consequently, we find flexibility and adaptability as key KPIs. Te ability to efficiently change their workspaces in the future is intrinsic to most clients.
Economic challenges are driving value add solutions and economies of scale. Whether downsizing or releasing space to sub-tenants, lease events are being realised more than ever. Clients are assessing their options more frequently. Te world of design and build maintains a fast turnaround. Clients, however, are more receptive to and making time to engage and empower the end user through workplace questionnaires. Integral to their internal communications and change management strategies, clients are adopting a more consultative and engaged approach when defining spatial use and design. Data-driven solutions are at the heart of the workspaces.
What would you say are the seismic changes from office design pre-Covid and now?
What is normal post-pandemic? Te continued speed of change reinforces that there isn’t a norm within organisations and across business sectors. Working patterns and office occupancy and utilisation varies, with offices often near empty Monday and Friday.
It’s recognised the pandemic has fast tracked hybrid working and the importance of the third space. Office designs are less fixed or built solutions. Freestanding furniture solutions are more prevalent, offering adaptable plug and play solutions.
Te workplace aesthetic has changed significantly. Spaces are less corporate or branded, promoting ‘resimercial’ design and with a greater emphasis on the inclusion of artwork and biophilia. Clients are bolder and braver with their choice of colour and range of materials. Te choice of material and infrastructure is increasingly sustainable too, supplementing wellness in the office.
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