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Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been many changes in officedesign trends. We’ve seen the influx of people returning to work over the past twoyears and this has prompted the advent of hybrid working and hybrid offices. Post-pandemic design trends are focused more on health & safety, comfort, productivity,and functionality. Some of the current trends for corporate and commercial officespaces in the post-pandemic era are as follows.
1. Biophilic Design
Most businesses now see the need to increase employee connectivity to nature by incorporating nature in to the office space. Rather than focus on artificial lighting and rows of desks, offices can infuse natural materials like fish tanks, bamboo, stone, wood, water and plants in private and public office spaces.
Plants that thrive in low-light environments can also be infused as part of reception areas or lounge rooms like cacti, snake plants, lilies, etc. Natural lighting is a great alternative to artificial lighting as most offices are now restructuring their layout allowing for an increase in air inflow and improved productivity.
Biophilic focused-design increases focus, reducesstress, and boosts creativity and overall wellbeing. It's a win win for the employees and the company because productivity levels will be off the charts.
2. A Sense of “Home” at Work
This concept connotes a merging of the comfort of home with the workplace. Mostpeople got used to the comfort of their homes during the pandemic, in fact, we sawmany people work from either their bed or couch. The idea is to incorporate peakcomfort in the post-pandemic office.
Some trending ways include comfortable seats, throw pillows, curtains, warm lightingor an outdoor setting. A couch in a private office space is a great inclusion for peoplewho need a break from traditional desks.
Some implementable design trends are café areas, casual areas with couches andsmall employee meeting spaces.
3. Leisure Spaces
As proof that businesses and companies are involved in the physical and mental well-being of their employees; most are creating non-working spaces in the workplace.Typically, offices now should have spaces dedicated to leisure like relaxation or prayerrooms, nursing rooms, yoga rooms, and game rooms for socialization and relaxationamong employees. Of course, in the past, traditional offices had rooms for lunch orcoffee breaks but now, most offices are looking at food and fitness concepts asincentives for employees working with them.
If the office is more than just a place to work, it will encourage people to come in asthey will have a positive view of the company as one concerned about employee wellbeing.
4. Modified Open Office Concept
Floor plans are the most noteworthy trends in office interior design. Considering the post-pandemicera, the open space plan is modified to one that allows employees to work in an open butcomfortable and enjoyable environment in a way that best suits them.
The best plan is to mix private and public workstations and have small private pods for teambrainstorming meetings, calls, and quiet work time. A small breakout space can be transformed intoa mini-office room with a moveable wall partition helping you divide the space for more flexibility.
As the world adopts new ways of workingin response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Madison Chai Ltd. ishelping clients develop holistic approaches for returning to the office. Centered around the employeeexperience, this thought process and approach allow organizations to reimagine their workplaces in aholistic waywhile ensuring employee safety and well-being remain a top priority.