The future office

What will the perfect working space and future office look like?

We all know how it feels to have tons of work to do, but no focus or energy to get it done. In a situation like that, a nice and quiet office can be a great way to get into a productive working mood. An office symbolizes something that we can step out of, once we’ve finished our work. It allows us to work when we have to work, and relax when we’re off.

Through time, the idea of what an office looks like has changed a lot. Today, most people don’t even have one. Some people consider every comfortable chair or space as a proper office. Just look at all the people who gets their work done at Starbucks and other hip cafés. Many people work from home, which allows them to stay in bed all day!

In the article “Office Space Timeline: Past, Present and Future” we take a look back at some of the previous decades’ office trends. Futurist Liselotte Lyngsø’s gives her thoughts on what the future office is going to look like. Together with another futurist, Yesim Kunter, Liselotte points out future office-trends involving culture-, design- and attire.

Offices through the decades

A timeline from the past to the future illustrates office culture-, design- and attire. Is also states the amount of women in the workforce!

The office of the future

What will an office be like in 2030 & what will it look like in the 2100s century?

2030s: Influence of technology

The cultural aspect of the 2030-office evolves around how we’re going to manage people working from home, being digital nomads, while still needing a space to meet up in real life.

The design focusses on technology, sustainability and wellness. Offices will be designed based on the need of every single individual and not “one size fit all”.

How will working hours be distributed and how will women be considered?

“It is more likely that a woman is raised valuing empathy. While it’s difficult to feel empathetic towards a workforce of 200, it’s much easier for a workforce of 20. The progressive decentralisation of work will provide women with more opportunities to become leaders.”

-Liselotte Lyngsø

2100s: From high-tech to high-touch

The fact that we’re already becoming digital nomads today and that the level of actual human interaction is becoming smaller and smaller will result in a gigantic need of intimacy later on.

Read the article and discover how this will have an influence on different aspects of the 2100-office.

Read the article on this link to the BBC radio program.

Want to read more about what the future office will look like? Listen to “The future of X #1: the workplace”. A podcast with Liselotte Lyngso.