Office design has shifted from the rigid "open bullpen" to spaces that prioritise flexibility and well-being. In today’s work environment office design varies massively, from building to building and company to company, as there is no one-size fits all design, however this wasn’t always the case.
From the Industrial Revolution until the 1960’s, office space was predominantly designed as an ‘open bullpen', with employees crammed into large open spaces which was intended to maximise efficiency and productivity.
However this was far from reality. Morale and mental social well-being were disregarded, which we now understand to be detrimental to productivity.
From the late 1950s to the 1990s, various changes and theories emerged regarding office layouts. One notable concept was Bürolandschaft, a German term meaning "office landscape", which introduced a more organic approach to office design.
In 1968, the Action Office system was introduced by HermanMiller, aiming to provide employees with greater privacy through innovations like pop-up cubicles and partitions separating colleagues from one another.(Herman Miller, 2023)
Later, during the tech boom of the 1990s-2000s, coupled with the rise of white-collar professions across various industries, perceptions of what an office should offer began to shift. The focus turned to maximising efficiency and productivity. (ArchDaily, May 12, 2020)
Key elements such as the increased comfort of office furniture, including ergonomic chairs, and advancements in technology played a pivotal role in shaping the revolutionary office designs we see today. These developments have driven companies to implement radical changes to their workspaces.
Modern offices are more than just workspaces—they are communities that prioritise comfort and social well-being.
Companies like Google, Meta, and Apple have introduced lounges, cafés, game rooms, and even sleeping pods to meet employees' diverse needs.
This shift reflects the evolving perception of a 'workplace.' Adapting to these changes is essential for companies to attract and retain top talent.
