DESIGNER MAGAZINE P O S T- P A N D E M I C D E S I G N
Designing Recovery In the second in a two-part series looking at the bounce back from Covid restrictions, we hear from some of the experts who will be speaking at the Workspace Design Show (4-5 November at London’s Business Design Centre) about the challenges and opportunities facing those involved in office design
F
or many office workers, it has been well over a year since they have experienced being in the office nine-to-five, seven days a week. Some continue to work from home most or all of the time, while others have seen a partial return in a more flexible-based approach to working location. While we are all keen to be free of the restrictions imposed on society by the pandemic, a return to nearnormality is not without feelings of apprehension. So how can this be addressed, and how important is employee wellbeing in office design to the process of making staff feel
comfortable with being back in the workspace? Charlie Green, CoCEO of The Office Group, believes that the pandemic has highlighted a need to place greater emphasis on our health, both in the physical and mental sense: “Employers have a responsibility to their employees to ensure their wellbeing and the working environment plays a fundamental role in this. They need to ensure that, firstly, buildings are safe spaces – with good ventilation systems and air quality for example – but also that the workspace is one that allows people and businesses to thrive. Features designed to enhance wellbeing (such as good natural
light, adequate space to work and quiet spaces for reflection) as well as facilities like on-site gyms and yoga studios, are increasingly important.” Cristiano Testi, Principal Director at tp bennett, believes that wellbeing at work has been a priority in office design since long before Covid struck: “The last decade has seen increased interest in biophilia, with our refurb of Windmill Green in Manchester featuring the city’s largest living wall. Rooms focused on wellness are prevalent, and our London office for Spotify features a ‘hideaway’ where people can break away from work and recharge enjoying views over the Thames.
50
Designer 250 Designing Recovery (space).indd 50
20/05/2021 22:42