Sedus INSIGHTS N°18 – Urbanised working environments

Our idea of workplaces has changed dramatically in recent years. The once rigid boundaries of the traditional office have blurred and hybrid working models have become the norm. This development reflects a profound change in the way we work and live.

Sedus INSIGHTS is a trend monitor for values and well-being at work. It provides an exciting look into how urbanised working environments function and what path companies need to take to turn offices into the most popular places for hybrid working. The topics for the latest issue No.18 are summarised below. For the full issue, subscibe for free here.

Flexibility and choice

The pandemic forced us to work from home and this experience changed our perspective on working environments. We learnt that work is not necessarily tied to a specific physical location. Instead, employees nowadays are looking for flexibility and choice in where and how they want to work.

This change has consequences for both companies and employees. On the one hand, it has reduced the demand for traditional office space and created new requirements for urban workspaces. On the other hand, places outside the traditional office, such as co-working spaces and café workspaces, have become increasingly popular.

The merging of work and life

Increasing flexibility is also changing the way we combine work and life. It’s no longer just about finding a work-life balance, but rather a seamless integration of work and private life. The transition between these two areas is becoming more fluid without sacrificing efficiency and productivity. This means that what was once considered a very important work-life balance is becoming more of a work-life blend.

The role of cities

The changes in the world of work are also having an impact on cities. Traditional office districts need to reinvent themselves to meet the needs of a flexible and mobile working population. Cities need to understand which areas need to be restructured and revitalised to meet changing demands. This is a new way of using the city than before.

The importance of the third space

Cafés and similar places have become important workspaces that meet workers’ needs for flexibility and social interaction. These ‘third spaces’ offer an alternative environment to the traditional office and encourage creativity and collaboration.

The transformation of the office

To compete with other workspaces and support hybrid working models, offices need to transform. Communal zones and flexible workspaces are becoming central elements of redesigned offices. They should not only promote efficiency, but also social interaction and well-being.

The global perspective

However, the changes in work culture are not uniform worldwide. In China, many people are almost returning to normality, while in the US, entire neighbourhoods are affected by depopulation, leading to public order problems. Europe lies in the middle of this spectrum, with the office remaining a central point of reference for work. Worldwide, 42,000 new co-working spaces are expected to open in the coming year.

What does this mean for us?

The future of the working world lies in hybrid working models that combine flexibility, productivity and quality of life. The transformation of offices and urban workspaces is crucial to meet these requirements. Ultimately, it’s about creating a working environment that meets the needs and desires of the modern workforce and help them reach their full potential.

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SEDUS INSIGHTS is a non-commercial publication and is based on desk and field research by SEDUS STOLL AG and PIERANDREI ASSOCIATI.

Content, concept, illustrations and layout: PIERANDREI ASSOCIATI in collaboration with PACO DESIGN COLLABORATIVE

Other Sedus INSIGHTS articles which may interest you:

• Flexibility in the workplace
• How to nurture the wellbeing of workers
• How technology shapes individual space at work