How can we build more flexible spaces? How do we pre-emptively adapt to the demands of the future? Workspace proposes a new way forward.
Level 8/257 Collins Street | Photographer: Mitch Lyons Photography
May 1st, 2023
The pandemic has forever changed the landscape of the modern office in countless ways. An accelerated shift towards hybridity means that modern offices need to be more flexible, adaptable and comfortable.
Physical office spaces have seen a drastic shift in purpose, moving from spaces with the primary responsibility of supporting individual work into spaces which foster collaboration, connection and employee well-being above all else. This is due to the critical shift from the in-person working model to the current diversity of working types – from those who choose to continue to work from home to those who return or work in hub and spoke models, or other remote locations (and of course, those who prefer to remain in-office).
The physical office now needs to offer facilities and opportunities that an employee’s home cannot: most conspicuously, it needs to become a place for collaboration. Design, layout and furniture needs to facilitate the live connections that cannot be replicated remotely – meaning that spaces need to inspire brainstorming, problem-solving and teamwork.
Another key feature of the future office is comfort. For employees to prefer working in the physical office over their home space, the office space must address and maintain their individual needs for well-being. Ergonomic chairs and sit-stand desks become critical to providing a productive workspace as individuals spend longer periods of time sitting in front of their computers.
Privacy and confidentiality are significant considerations in an open office layout. It is important to build separate spaces for individuals to carry out work securely and comfortably when necessary. Often furniture can provide solutions; privacy screens and sound-absorbing panels can protect the integrity of a sectioned space and allow employees to maintain professionalism. This will also only become more critical as the world adjusts further to the hybridity of post-pandemic work, as employees will need hybrid workspaces which cater to in-person and virtual collaborative endeavours alike.
Workspace Commercial Furniture is dedicated to providing innovative, adaptable solutions to the challenges of the ever-changing working landscape. Compact, private pods such as Domain, the Room Booth and Zone allow workers to engage with their work in focused areas free from distractions. Ergonomic furniture choices such as the Bika Chair and the Elan Flip Table ensure that workers can maintain optimal comfort throughout the day’s duration, and flexible furniture options such as the Hive Modular Lounge, Arc Lite Screen and the Locker system provide employees with the opportunity to participate in collaborative or individual work as necessary. Workspace Commercial Furniture aims to evolve and support the developing needs of employees and offices everywhere. Learn more about the shifting future of the physical office here.
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