With its fresh green color, the wing chair in the open-plan office immediately catches the observer's eye. In the lounge area, too, with its coffee maker for common use, furniture provides a colorful touch and creates an atmosphere that encourages people to linger. Here employees meet to talk or collaborate on projects in a relaxed atmosphere. There is a constant flow of new people, who exchange a few words and then return to their flexibly structured offices or workspaces, where they can enjoy the peace and quiet they need.
It's an inspiring environment. Most notably, it allows space for interaction and communication, something that proved to be a major challenge as the pandemic forced people to start working from home. Remote work is not a perfect substitute for the office experience, and it's a challenge to recreate the benefits of personal contacts at the office, a brief chat at lunch, or working together on site to find new ideas.
Office concepts that keep pace with the times
What is needed to reinvigorate the concept of office work? Experts agree: flexibility is important. The office of the future must offer workers flexibility in terms of both space and time. At the same time, it should serve as a fixed location where the company's values are lived out and where workers can identify with their employer. This is largely where a sense of solidarity emerges, and where people work together to create new things.
When designing office areas, therefore, it is especially important to include shared spaces. These spaces provide the foundation for team spirit, creativity, and communication within a company. Interaction inspires ingenuity and plays an important role in creative teamwork.
However, there is still a need for dedicated zones where people can concentrate on their work and make telephone calls without being disturbed. It is only through an optimal combination of teamwork, informal discussion, and opportunities to withdraw and work individually that offices can become what they need to be: a place where people enjoy working.