How to build offices that work beyond ten years from now?

Michaela Novotná, 19. 6. 2025

Interior

The working environment is changing. Before the pandemic, care was taken to ensure that desks and meeting rooms were efficiently arranged. Today, the focus is on fostering company culture, team dynamics and individual performance – so that offices mirror the new flexible working environment. But how do you design spaces that won’t be outdated in five years?

The most important element of any office is not the walls, chairs or technological equipment – it’s the people. It’s how they feel together, how they work together, what space they have to focus or meet spontaneously. That’s why workplace design should also start with an analysis of teams and their needs.

Two basic rules

  1. Corporate culture as a basis for thinking about space

For companies that don’t sell physical products, offices are often the only tangible indicator of their spirit. That’s why they should reflect what the company is really like. Do your offices encourage openness, collaboration, or more of a quiet time for deep work? Space types should be an expression of corporate identity, not a one-size-fits-all backdrop.

Do you have corporate values? Try to imprint them not only in the design, but also in the layout of spaces and their typology.

  1. Design to suit work habits

Not every company needs a ping-pong table. Most of those that thought they needed one have subsequently concluded that no one uses it.

But what every company needs is a space that reflects its working style – and that includes space for rest or quick relaxation. In fact, it’s one of the definitions of workplace design– design that responds to how employees actually work, not how we think they should work.

How much time do teams spend on the phone? How much in meetings? Where do they meet for informal meetings? Find out and design the floor plan accordingly.

So how to proceed?

  1. Workplace Performance Index

In order to manage design strategically, we need data. That’s why we work with the Workplace Performance Index, a tool we developed at Perspektiv that measures the effectiveness and attractiveness of the workplace across six dimensions: from space utilization to support for different work modes to perceptions of company culture.

It helps us define what works and where there are opportunities for improvement – before the building plans come in.

  1. Correct typology of space

Forget “open space” versus “offices”. Today’s offices work with a range of space types – from focus rooms to team zones to hubs and work cafes. It’s all about getting the right mix based on what your teams really need.

The Workplace Performance Index tells you which spaces you need and in what proportion.

  1. Sustainability

For offices to work in 10 years’ time, they must not only be flexible but also environmentally friendly. From the choice of materials to energy efficiency to the possibility of easy modifications without major structural interventions.

Tip: If you’re interested in sustainable materials, you can also read our article on living concrete, fridge chairs and mushrooms on the walls.

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