More technology less labour

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structure. These include the lack of clear work categories, multiple roles and varying work locations. More enlightened firms have understood that a quality corporate office is also a valid communication instrument that conveys the brand to the external world while creating a sense of belonging within the firm.

twsm Could you give some concrete examples that best express these goals that you speak of? rs The projects that entered our last US Awards were well represented by Italy’s best, including the winners, Antonio Citterio’s Zegna office, Riccardo Diotallevi’s Elica Office, and Grafton Architects and Dante Bonuccelli’s Bocconi home. These represented state of the art planning solutions. Other relevant examples abroad are given by Best Office Award, organized by the Colone Orgatec Fair, which, last year awarded Osnabrück’ services company, Hellmann World• wide Logistics, and Sydney’s real estate company Stockland.

By CRISTINA CARAMELO GOMES

WORKPLACE AND NEW TECHNOLOGIES The increasing technological requirement of space, its corresponding scarcity, coupled to the need for flexibility will continue to set the tone for workplaces.

03 Technologies and new methods of work influence office architectural design and facilities management in two apparently contradictory ways, the increasing technological requirement of the space and the potential physical reduction of it. Work is becoming more technology and less labour-intensive. Offices need to improve their ability to accommodate technology whilst reducing the number of their employees. Smaller sites and better locations can be chosen, with a corresponding impact on urban living.

Quality and flexibility are keywords. Labour is changing and technology requires improved skills.

This is already changing the balance between city centre and peripheral areas, and between historical cores and new development areas. Housing is returning to the city centre, corporations are moving to the peripheries and this means that eventually labour and capital are geographically converging in a sustainable way. The rearranging of what may be called traditional housing and corporate locations has a strong impact on the real estate and labour markets, by changing the supply and demand for both space and labour. These trends apply equally to traditional and non traditional companies, with quality and flexibility being keywords. Labour is changing and technology requires improved skills. Improved skills are accompanied by higher • qualifications and quality of life expectations.

Cristina Caramelo Gomes, Professor of It and Ergomomics at the Architecture Faculty of Universidade Lusiada, Portugal. ws m — #1.09 t