Hot desking, agile workspaces, home working—traditional office models are being challenged in a variety of ways. But controversy remains over which approach maximises the potential of the business concerned. According to environmental psychologist Nigel Oseland, who opened the series of talks organised by the Museum of Architecture at Herman Miller’s offices in central London, our psychology has been built for living in the Sahara, so the office is still an alien environment. How does the current vogue for “fluid” workspaces deal with our innate preferences, developed over millennia? Ziona Strelitz, Founder Director of ZZA Responsive User Environments, pointed out that there is not actually much evidence to suggest that the new trends in the workplace are meeting expectations. The original architectural design cannot be changed, so there may be a limit on what is possible. Perhaps the way forward is simply to make the work, rather than the workplace, more interesting, she said. Bruce Davison spoke about creating new workplace typologies through the collection of user data and designing offices around people and their needs and teams.
The series of talks ends on 2 June, when workplace consultant Nick Fletcher will look at the notions of “tribes” and “bands”. The debate will continue at this year’s London Festival of Architecture, the theme of which is the changing nature of work and its impact on the city.
Words by Tony Minichiello - a London-based freelance architecture journalist.
The series of talks ends on 2 June, when workplace consultant Nick Fletcher will look at the notions of “tribes” and “bands”. The debate will continue at this year’s London Festival of Architecture, the theme of which is the changing nature of work and its impact on the city.
Words by Tony Minichiello - a London-based freelance architecture journalist.
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