Office design has never played a more integral role in the success of a business as it does today. With each passing year, new technologies are implemented and new trends are adopted in office spaces around the world.
Innovation is part of every successful business strategy. In 2018, we saw office design trends that focused on innovative workplace design and creative use of workspaces. The trends of 2019 are based on the growing attention tо the happiness of employees and customers. The focus is on everything that is green. In this over-competitive business environment, attracting and retaining the best talent is a key driver for success.
Here are some of the trends in office design for 2019:
Experienced Driven Spaces:
The consumer-oriented economy is now giving way to the economy of experience. The trend incorporates a host of characteristics, all of which orbit the “human potential” aspects of space optimization, the goal of which prioritizes the employee experience at work. Experience-Driven Spaces are important because they help develop overall health, cultivate happiness, build community and raise morale for everyone in the company. These include: meditation areas, yoga studios, walking trails, rock climbing walls, massage studios, espresso and cocktail bars, games and sports halls, theater and music scenes, recreation areas and more.
Free-Range Cohabitation spaces:
In 2018, co-working spaces were very popular. This trend is preserved, with removing the walls in the offices, and allowing companies to share the same space, resources and sometimes even talent. Design is subordinate to the idea of maxiizing collaboration, creativity, flexibility and the promotion of innovative ideas. Shared spaces have evolved beyond the technology sector and are now integrating into business of all sizes.
Characteristics of the cohabitation include: open-plan office design; dynamic, multifunctional meeting areas; technological resource spaces; unconventional creative spaces, lots of glass, plants and greenery; portable furniture and wall dividers; a lot of desk space / no cubicles; comfortable sofas and chairs; espresso bars.
Old meets New:
This is a trend that injects a new life into fantastic old buildings with centuries-old traditions and history. This promising wave of reorganization has led to the reopening of new business parks in areas previously deprived of activity. Spaces such as old fishing yards, meat processing factories, abandoned production facilities and warehouses have a chance for a second life.
These "old-new" spaces usually combine the everlasting beauty of old buildings with modern furnishings and decor. Advanced technologies are embedded in rough, raw aesthetics to create innovative but non-traditional spaces. Their design brings a sense of the future, while retaining its inherent connection with the past.
Such design features include: antique and weathered textures; smooth and soft textures; craftsmenship of the old world; modern design accents ; glass and metals; carpet or wall coverings with abstract designs; modern furniture and office equipment.
Second nature:
This trend is related to the increased role of plants and biophilic design in the areas we work and live in. It is already firmly embedded in the philosophy of design and design culture, our "second nature". Biophilic construction and plants have become standard practices that will continue throughout the centuries as a necessity. They will be just as important in the concept of design as windows or staircases are for construction design.
Everything from office buildings to hotels and large shopping malls adds living walls, plants, trees or flowers to their inner and outer landscapes. The trend favoring interior greenery, as we saw last year with the biophilic designed trend, has evolved from a trendy fashion statement to a near-necessity in design econimics. This is also proof that the architectural and interior frameworks associated with the designs continue to evolve in new and fantastic ways. The design of the workplace will finally be tailored to the needs of office workers.
But what is biophilic design?
Biophilic design basically uses nature as an architectural framework for building models and forms of nature in the design environment through the use of textures, patterns, natural lighting and live plants.
Characteristics of this trend are: WELL certificates; FitWel certificates; LEED certificates; living green walls; plants; natural materials – biomorphic forms and patterns such as wood and stone; natural lighting; thermal comfort and high-quality ventilation; visual connections to nature.
Moss walls:
Green walls continue to gain popularity, as the macro-trend "Second nature" continues to captivate our collective consciousness. However, some smaller offices and companies can not participate in the revival of the green walls. This is often due to circumstances beyond their control, such as property ownership conflicts, insufficient lighting, inappropriate irrigation and budget constraints.
Natural moss walls are a great alternative to green walls. They are popular for businesses because of their varied design. Interior moss is a natural product that is easy to maintain and saves costs. It is used to make a living wall and frameworks to decorate spaces. These walls are created by using a variety of mosses that are arranged in different shapes and designs.
Hand-crafted and unique containers:
According to this trend, it is expected companies to participate in fair trade practice to buy things made by local artists in order to support the small business of artists and designers in the local area. There would be more ceramic vessels, woven baskets, ceramics and hand-made wooden stands with unique pots in the contemporary office space.