Key Trends for Office Design in 2018

While it may not move as quickly as some areas of architecture, the design of the office has still undergone significant metamorphosis, particularly in response to changing working styles. Here we look at some of the key office design trends that are set to dominate in the coming year

Unconventional breakout spaces

Building on a relatively longstanding theme within modern offices, the breakout space has become particularly important in recent years as companies seek to attract top talent and mimic the inviting and trend-focused world of startups. Key to this trend is unusual spaces and shapes, providing areas for employees to work both individually and in groups, as well as socialise and collaborate. For many companies, these spaces play a vital role in encouraging employees to work long hours and take initiative within the business.

Moneypenny’s Wrexham, UK, headquarters shows off a variety of unique spaces for staff to meet and socialise, with a tree house meeting room and even its own pub. Image courtesy of Moneypenny

In the heart of Talinn, Estonia, the Rotermann grain elevator has been adapted to provide a variety of spaces, and combines the historic and the modern. Image courtesy of KOKO Architects

The Sarimanah office in Bandung, Indonesia, converted a house into an office space while maintaining much of the styling of the original home, in order to lend a more relaxed feel to the building. Image courtesy of Arkides Studio

Moneypenny’s Wrexham, UK, headquarters shows off a variety of unique spaces for staff to meet and socialise, with a tree house meeting room and even its own pub. Image courtesy of Moneypenny

Antao’s headquarters in Hangzhou, China, makes liberal use of natural materials and greenery as a point of comparison to the urban landscape around the building. Image courtesy of ANTAO group

The Sinergia Cowork in Montevideo features a blend between created and natural materials, centred by hanging plants that unite the various co-working spaces. Image courtesy of Marcos Guiponi

Amazon’s The Spheres provide a foliage-filled space for employees to gather and collaborate in the company’s Seattle, the US-based head office. Image courtesy of Amazon

Greening the office

Biophilic design, which is characterised by natural materials and planting, has become an increasingly popular trend across a host of scheme types. In the world of the office, however, it provides particular value for employee wellbeing as numerous studies have linked the presence of natural materials and planting to improved mental and physical health. Wood and stone have become particularly popular materials in this trend, while planting, including green walls, have become increasingly widespread.

Multiple materials

A contrast to the stark white walls found in many office environments, the use of multiple contrasting materials is becoming increasingly popular. Designed to create an environment that feels varied and inspirational, offices following this trend will often combine different finishes, paring glossy materials such as metals with matte wood or stone. Textiles are also gaining popularity as materials for office projects, in part due to their benefits for sound-proofing, but also to provide a warm, tactile environment.

The design for the Inseed co-working space in Osaka, Japan, combines a range of materials and colours to greet visitors at the entrance. Image courtesy of SWING

The Kiev, Ukraine, located UN.IT building combines more conventional office design with natural, wooden spaces. Image courtesy of M3 Architects

Arjaan de Feyter combines blackened steel, dark walnut and striking green marble for this lawyer’s office scheme near Antwerp, Belgium. Image courtesy of Arjaan de Feyter

Energy company innogy’s headquarters in the Czech Republic include an LED lighting system that is tuned to support the staff’s circadian rhythms. Image courtesy of Philips Lighting

Carlo Ratti’s Office 3.0 in Turin includes heating, cooling and lighting that can be tuned to each worker’s preference. Image courtesy of Carlo Ratti Associati

Many offices are now including private ‘phone booths’ for employees to make calls, such MMNT Studio-designed Make Lemonade in Toronto. Image courtesy of Make Lemonade

Energy company innogy’s headquarters in the Czech Republic include an LED lighting system that is tuned to support the staff’s circadian rhythms. Image courtesy of Philips Lighting

Integrated technology

Technology has for many years played a vital role in the typical office, but so often has remained an afterthought when it comes to design. However that is now changing. Communal technologies such as screens and videoconferencing suites are now being more carefully integrated into office projects, sometimes becoming key focuses on a design. In addition, technologies that enable energy efficiency are now widespread, and are increasingly being designed into the heart of office schemes.

Branded environments

While running the risk of appearing cheesy, corporate identity is increasingly being used to form the backbone of office design schemes. In many cases, it can be used as the basis of a colour scheme, but is also being used to inspire materials, shapes and lighting choices. In some cases, companies are even choosing to embed their logos into their office design, embracing increased customisation options available through many surface suppliers.