In a time of change and transition, we ask ourselves what is the future of the work environment? In her keynote presentation, Valeria Segovia, Principal & Design Director at Gensler, linked the demands on office buildings with the challenges of sustainability. She began by explaining what office buildings need to make people want to work there. She emphasised the importance of values, community and the freedom to experiment, as well as the need to be prepared for change.
However, the reality of the built environment is very different (for now). Valeria Segovia estimates that 70 per cent of London’s office buildings are not fit for the future. At the same time, buildings are responsible for 39 per cent of global CO2 emissions. Much of this comes from the production of building materials, the construction process itself and subsequent disposal. The demolition and rebuilding of buildings must therefore be replaced by the revitalisation of buildings. Using examples from her work at Gensler, the experienced architect demonstrated that this is possible in most cases, and the excellent results that can be achieved with measures ranging from refreshing and revitalising to completely rethinking the structure and use of buildings.
A summary of the inspiring lecture is available in the IBA Forum Newsroom.
Photo: Valeria Segovia in conversation with Tracey Ingram, © Gensler
