What people want from the workplace is changing, suggests new data from two leading players in the workplace design sector. According to recently published reports from workplace design consultancies, Peldon Rose (who we’ve collaborated with) and Gensler, the Covid-19 pandemic will radically change the way office spaces serve the needs of workers. This presents an opportunity for new approaches to working as we get closer to a point where more of us can return to ‘the office’.
In its “The Office of the Future” report, which Peldon Rose commissioned in conjunction with workplace strategy and employee engagement specialists, WKspace, there is an examination of the impact the pandemic has had on the changing needs of tenants. This shows that 52% of employees now want a more flexible approach – also known as a hybrid model – with a mixture of home and office working.
There’s also an expectation (by employees) that companies will invest in new measures within a workplace that promote social distancing and ensure employees feel safe and comfortable in the working environment. In fact, the Peldon Rose data reveals that only 6% of respondents would choose hot-desking in the workplace. This suggests this once popular collaborative working style is now going out of favour. The Peldon Rose report also reveals a move away from close co-working is further supported by almost half (48%) of respondents who stated they now want a private office/co-working space with a quieter section away from noise and distraction. The full report from Peldon Rose and findings can be found here.
Meanwhile, global architecture, design, and planning firm Gensler’s new workplace survey also indicate that rumours of the demise of the office may be greatly exaggerated.
According to Gensler’s findings, 67% of UK workers want a hybrid model of working, spending between 1 and 4 days in the office each week. The survey shows that those in a hybrid model are currently having the best experience.
William Hibbert, our co-Founder & MD welcomes these two reports and believes that reports of a ‘work from home revolution’, have been somewhat mis-judged.
“Human beings are social animals,” says Will. “We crave opportunities to be with our colleagues and team-mates; collaboration and communication is vital in any business. But, we now have to find a way to do this in a safe way – and we need to re-think the way office spaces are configured to support the emotional and physical needs of users. What this data tells me is that we will continue to see investments made in physical office spaces. But, these spaces will look different. As suppliers to the sector, we need to respond to this.”
The Forest & Maker team is already working with some of Europe’s best-known workspace designers to re-imagine the offices of the future. “We decided at the very beginning of the pandemic that we needed to keep one step ahead and embrace change in the market,” says Will. “If commercial property owners want to ensure their buildings remain occupied and attractive to tenants, it’s important that these new ways of thinking are applied to their buildings – and we stand ready to work with anyone trying to achieve this. There’s no doubt that the specification of handcrafted, solid-timber furniture and fittings can help to make a space both attractive in a visual sense; but, it can also create a sense of calm, and ‘grounded-ness’ too. This will be vital moving forward.”
Looking forward to 2021, it seems likely that Forest & Maker will be spending more and more of its time delivering on projects where spaces are being re-configured for the hybrid model. “It’s all exciting stuff,” concludes Will Hibbert. “Change is a good thing for all of us – and we’re ready to support designers and architects, whatever the future looks like.
Featured Image: Peldon Rose
