Over the last 12 months, organisations that were prepared for change and able to act quickly in the post-pandemic world have redesigned their offices for hybrid working, says Simon Grundy commercial interior designer, seeing it as an opportunity rather than a problem.

Technology has enabled more ways to work from more places, for more people – allowing work around everyday life commitments. When the working culture says that everybody is flexible the difference between part-time and full-time working is less noticeable, and this should help to make workplaces more inclusive.

The pandemic has accelerated a journey to more flexible and agile office working for many organisations that was already underway. Hybrid working – partly from home, partly from the company office – is now an established reality.

The new workplaces we have helped develop over the last year all look very different to each other, but are based on a similar set of criteria. Our clients were able to discuss this type of office redesign because they were already well-prepared to adapt to lockdown through their digital first approach, moving to complete remote working overnight.

Multi-generational appeal

 They understood that younger people – Generations Y and Z – are generally more comfortable with flexible approaches to office working supported by technology they have grown up with. The influence of the younger generations is that work is part of life, not an end in itself.

Older employees – the Baby Boomers and Generation X – who are working longer have seen the advantages of these approaches and are also often keen to adapt to new ways of working, taking time out and being more productive.

Helping people get on board

As it became possible to consider returning to the office the companies consulted their employees to find out how people would like to use the office and how often. This produces interesting data sets which help to build up the design concept.

Generally they found that whilst people appreciated the flexibility, they missed the in-person opportunities for learning, collaboration and friendships that working together brings which cannot truly be replaced just by video calls.

We’ve also seen repeatedly in consultations on projects for clients from government departments to legal firms, how important providing better office facilities has become – good coffee, instant hot water, instant cold water, breakfast, showers, gender neutral washrooms, coat and bag storage, bike storage. Distractions and unmet needs stop people being productive. When the office looks after basic requirements well, employees don’t have to waste time and can focus on doing their best work.

Design concepts delivered

The design concepts we have developed have delivered places where employees and visitors can reconnect with each other and with the companies. They are professional environments which reflect the brands.

There is still often a need for reception and lounge facilities, which now focus more on being an expo for the business and a club for the teams to visit and touch base.

The use of a more domestic approach in the variety of work stations, as well as relocating kitchens to be more easily accessible, aims to help people feel more comfortable and bridges the divide between home and office environments.

Different types of interior settings – from amphitheatres to dining booths, boardroom to café space – all allow for social distancing. These settings have multiple uses, for example as meeting and individual work areas.

Connecting with the outside has always been an important element of interior design for staff wellbeing, but now it is a key feature. In a single floor workspace on an upper storey this means optimising the layout for ventilation and views. Where it’s possible for people to go to adjacent outdoor areas these can become part of the design, removing walls to replace with floor to ceiling glass doors and opening up the interior.

Studies so far suggest that the office, albeit in a different form, is definitely here to stay. It’s time to join the hybrid journey.

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