I’ve noticed a trend with modern office concepts – they are quickly becoming more and more like public parks. As the analogy initially came to mind it just felt right. Especially when you look to where the future is going with options like co-working spaces and the coffee shop office.
Think of the best traits of well run public parks – they are spacious places surrounded by all the amenities that you may need and perfect for both planned and unplanned ventures out. If you want to go solo you can and if you want to go in groups you can. Good parks are now blanketed by free wifi so that you can still be connected if you want to be but it’s unobtrusive if you don’t need it. Parks exist as a service to those of a community and are designed to support the needs of that community.
Modern offices are much the same. Offices with dedicated designs and services are often under-utilized because the people they are built for no longer need to come in daily. The best modern designs are built to meet a multitude of changing needs and work styles. Designs are now built so that you can come in every day and find your familiar spot if you want or you can come in occasionally and constantly have a new experience. Modern offices effectively promote group collaboration and independent work. All supported by an invisible backbone of technology that allows anyone, anywhere to access the tools that they need. You don’t need to plan a day in the office, you come in and use the office the way you need.
The idea of “public good” is the new factor. Offices have historically been seen as very personal spaces with pictures of the kids and paper that represented the job you did. There’d be books for your independent reference and you’d know the people who sit next to you as well as you do your family.
Personal is inefficient though when compared to the community. Better to know more people as acquaintances than 3 people really well. Better to use the space however you want to use it than how an architect 5 years ago thought you should use it. Better to evolve with the times than be stuck in a static past.