The Return Of The Fun Palace

Daniel Walder's Fun Palace

Cedric Price's Fun Palace

With anecdotal evidence pointing towards a reduction in the demand for office space and several high profile companies claiming they no longer need any workplace at all, this emancipation of space within the city provides new opportunities for the designer. If much of our traditional, desk-based working now takes place at home, our cities can become places for fun, excitement and social interaction. In a post-pandemic future, the office will be a tech-rich, dynamic space more akin to Cedric Price’s Fun Palace than the Victorian workhouse model prevalent today.

Employees will need a reason to go to the office beyond simply having a desk. Meeting colleagues, hosting clients, large gatherings and social occasions are all obvious activities that require physical space. Access to technology, gyms, crèches and specialist equipment will also be key assets that provide an alternative dimension to the home office and will entice workers to return.

For graduates and younger employees, moving to the city and working for a company is an exciting new voyage of discovery and development, both personally and professionally. For them the office provides a focal point, social cohesion and a sense of belonging. With a reduction in rental values and lower demand for space, there may also be opportunities to provide high quality, short stay accommodation to ensure organisations can attract the brightest and the best.