Future Office: Inside-Out

Five principles for the office of the future

Segovia presented five key factors that will determine the working environments of the future:

1. The office as a destination: The main motivation for employees to come to the office is face-to-face interaction. In order to create attractive workplaces, it is important to offer spatial experiences that go beyond the mere workplace. This includes an environment that inspires and creates incentives to consciously come to the office instead of working from home. Quality of stay, opportunities for social interaction and a well thought-out design help to give the office real added value.
2. A clear communication of values: A strong sense of values is becoming increasingly important. This means expressing the corporate identity and philosophy architecturally and making it tangible in order to clearly position the company as an employer. This can be achieved through materials, colour schemes, design concepts or the integration of sustainable elements.
3. Focusing on community: Workplaces shouldn’t be isolated, but instead integrated into the urban environment. The combination of corporate and urban culture creates working environments with a high level of identification. The connection to the local community, the use of buildings for different purposes and the provision of spaces for cultural and social events are important aspects of this.
4. Freedom to experiment: The working world of the future requires flexibility. Premises should be designed in such a way that they can be dynamically adapted to changing needs. This includes modular workstations, adaptable room structures and intelligent technologies that can create an atmosphere that suits the respective usage situation.
5. Sustainability as a guiding principle: A sustainable office conserves resources. Material cycles, energy-efficient renovations and intelligent room concepts must be integrated into the planning. With sustainable building materials, CO2-neutral energy sources and well thought-out building strategies, companies can, over the long term, reduce both environmental impact and operating costs.

Real-life examples: Sustainable transformation of existing buildings

On the basis of specific projects, Segovia showed how existing buildings can be sustainably revitalised and adapted to modern working requirements. 

OFFICE ComplexE Covent Garden
One example is the revitalisation of an office complex in London’s Covent Garden district. Originally designed as a bank, the building was isolated from its surroundings and gave an uninviting impression. The challenge was to break up the rigid structure and connect the building more closely with urban life. By deliberately opening up the inner courtyard, introducing flexible work areas and integrating public zones, the building was transformed into a lively meeting place. Visitors and employees now benefit from an open space concept that promotes both concentrated work and social interaction.

London CITY HALL
Another example of sustainable redesign is the transformation of London City Hall, one of the city’s landmarks, designed by Norman Foster. Originally designed as the headquarters of the Greater London Authority, the building no longer met modern requirements for flexible and integrative use. Sustainable design measures have been taken to improve the environmental balance and increase the quality of stay. The formerly static façade was given greened elements that can be partially opened and support passive heating and cooling systems. The building was also redesigned to be barrier-free to facilitate access for all user groups. Through targeted measures, a building that shapes its townscape was given a new use with minimal consumption of resources.

HIGH-RISE in Canary Wharf
Another impressive example is the conversion of a high-rise building in Canary Wharf, which no longer met current standards for office buildings due to its outdated design. Instead of demolishing the high-rise, it was converted into a multifunctional building complex that combines office space with co-working spaces as well as training and leisure areas. To optimise the indoor climate and reduce energy consumption, an atrium was added in the middle of the building. Natural ventilation significantly reduced the need for artificial air conditioning. In addition, the different usage zones make the building a lively place that can adapt to changing needs and goes far beyond a classic office building.

Regeneration instead of new construction

For Valeria Segovia, the future of architecture lies in the intelligent conversion of existing structures, in revitalisation rather than mere renovation. An important aspect here is the consideration of material cycles, i.e. the recycling of existing building materials and their integration into new building concepts. For example, façade cladding was removed from old buildings, cleaned and reused as flooring in other projects. The use of sensor technology also plays a central role for Segovia. By recording building data, it is possible to analyse how workspaces are actually used and which changes make sense. This could further optimise energy efficiency in the future and ensure a needs-based design. Segovia concluded with a vision of the future: the office as a living place that constantly adapts and interacts with its surroundings—and does so in a sustainable way.