CASE STUDY THE CORE
latest processes in a company or team. It is
important to think about these plans and
space concepts on a regular basis and make
sure they are still serving their purpose.”
The pandemic has resulted in many
enclosed meeting rooms being repurposed
as additional spaces to enable social
distancing, so does this mean that meeting
spaces will be more fluid in the future for
more flexible and less formal engagements?
Möckesch certaintly thinks so: “Because
aspects like collaboration and interaction
will gain greater importance in the postpandemic
world of work, meeting and
communication zones are becoming
increasingly important in the oˆ ice. The
oˆ ice must oˆ er space for teamwork, ideas
and opportunities, and become a motor for
innovation. It is about the right mix of formal
and informal zones. Today, in addition to the
traditional meeting room, there must also
be project spaces, video conference rooms,
workshop areas and the possibility for quick,
spontaneous exchange.”
CHANGED LANDSCAPE
No-one knows exactly how or when the
pandemic will end but there is no doubt
that it has altered the oˆ ice landscape
immeasurably. The idea behind THE CORE
is that you can constantly learn. The sensor
technology throughout enables the collation
and analysis of data to determine which
spatial settings are particularly popular.
Revisions and improvements can be
continually made to create the most eˆ icient
and eˆ ective workplaces.
Explains Michael Fried: “Modern oˆ ice
concepts are characterised by more
communal areas that can be used flexibly
and can be easily adapted to a wide range of
26 JUNE 2021
requirements. The importance of the oˆ ice
as a hub for information, corporate culture
and social interaction is growing. Oˆ ices
must convey a sense of security, orientation
and trust in order to continue to be inspiring
places for people to meet and be creative in
the future.”
POST-PANDEMIC PREDICTIONS
Some of the questions that arise from the
impact of the pandemic are also addressed
in this experimental setting, including
whether the agile oˆ ice is still feasible –
given the need to constantly clean/disinfect
work areas.
According to Möckesch: “Flexible room
concepts make more sense than ever. You
have just to use the right tools, such as
sensor technology, to ensure that hygiene
concepts are adhered to and the risk of
infection is minimised.”
It’s also being widely predicted that
remote working and the hybrid/home and
oˆ ice work pattern will remain prevalent
a‘ er the pandemic. This predicts Möckesch
will influence the interior design of the
workplace.
“Working from home will remain relevant
as an integral part of the oˆ ice landscape,
as it has become a very eˆ ective option for
concentration and focused work. The design
of oˆ ice space is changing, with areas for
communication and collaboration moving
into focus. Therefore, it is necessary to
realise high design quality at the oˆ ice, to
help to encourage staˆ to work from there.”
The other key question is how the oˆ ice
can support new ways of working and
how the use of digital technology can help
encourage people to engage with the culture
of the workplace, wherever they’re based?
Says Möckesch: “The oˆ ice is in direct
competition to the home oˆ ice. It is
important to develop holistic concepts to
create psychological wellbeing in addition
to physical wellbeing. More than just
ergonomics, holistic design and sensory
technology will be an essential part of the
user experience, creating a vivid oˆ ice
landscape with various areas that oˆ ers
the right space for the individual task and
process. The oˆ ice is the place where
you meet your colleagues, where face-toface
exchange is possible. It is a place of
exchange with others, where inspiration
and new ideas can take place. Spatial
opportunities for exchange - informal as well
as formal - must be available.”
Because the world of work and the oˆ ice
environment are already in a state of flux,
through the analysis of the data it provides,
THE CORE will not lose its relevance, even
a‘ er the pandemic is over.
FURTHER INFORMATION
https://bene.com/de/the-core-by-bene/
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