OFFICE AS AN “EXPERIENCE”
The pace and style of learning were set by the institutions, following a one-size-fits-all model. This model has basically remained unchanged for the past 100 years. To think about that is scary.
As the World Green Building Council said: “There is overwhelming evidence which demonstrates that the design of an office impacts the health, wellbeing and productivity of its occupants”.
The workplace impacts the business results!
The most direct benefit from flexible working comes from a perceived improvement in personal productivity. They attribute this to a less distracting, more conducive work environment away from an office environment.
We could put offices into three bucketts:
- Offices as a ‘product’: floor area, for a price (rent) – your typical office
- Offices as a ‘service’: space and service, for a simple fee (daily, monthly, etc.) – co-working spaces as an example
- Offices as ‘experience’: more than the sum of (a) + (b); attraction; added value;
Office as “experience” is a very interesting idea. What kind of experience will people want to have in such place?
How about the experience of having a place to work in complete silence? Experience of working uninterrupted for hours straight? Experience of feeling concentrated and productive?
To create some kind of experience that sensory deprivation facilities would offer. An experience of working in an unusual environment that is not only cool looking but also enhances your productivity and focus. A “Zen” place. A yoga studio, but in which you can work. How would your ideal workplace look like? What kind of environment do you need to be productive at work? What technology would you like to have at your disposal? Where would you build such a place? Next to your home, in downtown or somewhere in the middle of the forest?