BUSINESS
What will the office of the future look like? Photos | Szymon Polański
Offices around the world are undergoing a major transformation. The coronavirus pandemic and its effects have contributed to the evolution of business and natural social changes. This was a violent global phenomenon – it affected companies on all continents to an equal extent. After many months of moving activities to a virtual space and the widespread domination of the home-office model, more and more companies decide to return to offices. However, everything indicates that this will be a return to other, better interiors. It is worth summarizing these changes.
FLEXIBLE OFFICE
a necessity. But designers care not only
the ability for the company to func-
The ability to smoothly adapt the office
about the users' backbones, but also...
tion normally?
space to current needs is an advantage
heads. Relaxation zones providing
Fortunately, there is not missing
that began to be appreciated several
excellent conditions for relaxation have
items that can be used to separate work-
years ago. The need to quickly switch
become a standard. A short nap or a few
stations or to secure critical places (proper
between individual and team work was
minutes of rocking on an office swing
construction of a reception desk) – while
becoming more and more common. Pre-
helps you recover and can miraculously
maintaining the required functions.
vious office arrangements did not give
restore freshness.
such freedom, hence the growing popula
An excellent example of a safe, yet effective and functional office is the inte-
rity of mobile furniture facilitating quick
SAFE OFFICE
rior design of the Warsaw headquarters
meetings as well as the emergence of ele-
The coronavirus pandemic posed a chal-
of the international consulting company
ments that allow you to quickly separate
lenge for office administrators – how
Cushman & Wakefield, which imple-
yourself from the environment during
to minimize the risk of virus transmission
mented its own 6 FEET OFFICE concept
individual work. A perfect example are
in closed rooms. How to protect emplo
(ensuring adequate distance between
the furniture and accessories are sofas
yees and visitors, while maintaining
people in the office).
and pouffes for small meetings, movable screens which isolate the individuals from distracting images and sounds, and soundproofed telephone booths.
HEALTHY OFFICE No, it is not just about "ordinary" ergo- nomics, which is the construction of chairs and armchairs that provide back support nor is the layout of the desk that allows the appropriate location of the computer keyboard and monitor. A modern office actively supports the broadly understood well-being of the user, which is a combination of optimal conditions for the body and soul. Desks and tables with electric height adjustment are more and more popular – they allow you to change the working position, and even remind you of such
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Interiors of the Cushman & Wakefield office in Warsaw.
Focus on Business | January–February 2022
