Transforming the workspace

Presented by
Christhina Candido, Senior lecturer, The University of Sydney

I lead multidisciplinary investigations focused at contemporary open-plan offices, and activity-based working (ABW) in particular, aimed at bridging the gap between workspace design, occupants’ satisfaction, productivity and health. Findings are targeted at identifying high-performance workspaces and provide the evidence needed for the design of sustainable and healthy environments. By shifting attention to design features that actually perform well from workers’ perspectives, my research aims to provide the empirical basis needed to transform the way workspaces are designed now and in the future.

Linking the individual with the collective

Presented by
Marta Pozo, Director, MVRDV

Technology, millennials and sharing economies have triggered a seismic shift in the way we understand work. Once upon a time, we talked about the layout of spaces, about sustainability, about company branding or productivity and we called it an office building. Now, it is about the collision of people, wellbeing, about creating experience, performance, and we call this business clubs, creative hubs or simply hives. Nevertheless, these tendencies are not new.

The concept of offices as we know it began to blow up years ago, but still, offices dominate the contemporary city with CBDs symbolizing power, while the workplace can be anywhere in the city, from home to cafes, and it can happen at any time. Is the best workspace a tech palace, a cosy and informal rooftop, or is it an app? When work doesn’t feel like work, what type of physical space might it generate?

For decades MVRDV has explored the dynamics of work environments and has been fascinated by how these transformations influence everyday life and our cities. This lecture will explore how workspaces can link the individual with the collective, work with leisure, constraints with flexibility, technology with nature, and above all, how they can be a source of inspiration and empowerment.

The future of high performance

Presented by
Emma Birchall, Head of Insight and Forecasting, Hot Spots Movement

What will high performance look like for tomorrow's workforce? We will start by considering what work itself will look like and what organizations will therefore need from future talent. We will explore how technological disruption is changing how we create value in organizations, such that the skills and capabilities we need in the next five to ten years will be dramatically different to those that have underpinned our success so far. With this in mind, we will explore how social and demographic trends are changing what life looks like for future talent, including a departure from traditional family structures, a new context with longer working lives, and – as a result – a new relationship with employers. We will conclude with reflection on what it will take to attract, engage and build an alliance with key talent, creating the right culture and environment to unleash individual and organisational high performance.

Experiments in freedom

Presented by
Stijn de Weerd, Co-founder, Space Encounters

Ever since 1930, when John Maynard Keynes predicted the fifteen-hour work week, there have been promises regarding the future of work. We were going to work more efficiently, with more flexibility and at a time and place of our choosing. And indeed: thanks to the digital revolution the office doesn't hold the monopoly for working anymore. But old habits die hard. Companies don't realize that the traditional office has competition now, and that they won't win anyone over with grid ceilings and carpet tiles. It will take some time before everybody understands that we won't go back to the old ways. How can we cash in on these promises of freedom and make sure this momentum isn't going to waste? By means of our work we try to answer these questions. Every new design is an opportunity to experiment.