The future of the office

Will the workplace ever be the same again? As a hybrid approach to ways of working comes into focus in the near future, what will be the critical facilities, technologies and innovations to support productivity in the home office and inclusivity in the corporate office?

Jessica-Christin Hametner, Editor of OnOffice magazine, was one of the panelists at the Aritco talk “The Future of the Office”. We asked her a few questions on this hot topic for the Aritco blog.

The pandemic has changed the role of the office and what we now expect from our workplaces. For example, a recent online survey from Harvard Business School found that 59% of people now make health a priority. Mental health and wellbeing will become increasingly important post-pandemic. In the future, employers will need to invest in wellness-related strategies such as relaxation rooms, biophilic design and flexible working hours. Personally, I’d also like to see offices incorporate more mixed-use facilities, such as children’s day-care and stress management services.

Designers need to answer the question: “Why are we returning to the office at all?” Offices will need to have exciting, enticing activity-based spaces that cater to different personalities (introverts and extroverts) and needs – open, collaborative spaces and enclosed pods or quiet areas for focused work. We also need to design buildings, spaces and furniture that are welcoming and accessible for people with or without disabilities. Happy employees are more productive workers – people need a better experience at the office, somewhere that inspires their best and most creative selves

Modular and flexible designs will be key. While having a dedicated garden office or home office is great, many people simply don’t have the space or can’t afford expensive office furniture. We need clever and multi-purpose furniture that caters to many people and needs such as fold-away desks or closets that turn into home offices. These modular designs should also encourage users to reconfigure and reuse pieces rather than discard them which will help us live more sustainably.

The pandemic gives us an opportunity to re-evaluate where and how we work – it should be a catalyst for positive change in cities. Carbon emissions did fall during the pandemic, but not enough to mitigate the climate crisis. I’d like to see greener infrastructure that focuses on biodiversity, people and local communities and prioritises health and safety. Cities should be car-free with safer cycle paths to encourage healthier lifestyles, and we also need to increase green spaces where children can play safely. I’d like to see greener cities that will put the health of its people and the planet first.