Before the global pandemic, office design trends were laser-focused on increasing efficiency. Open-plan offices, hot desking, phone booths, even sleep pods were all becoming the norm. The problem is, these innovative design trends no longer work in a socially-distant society.
We’re now beginning to realise that these trends to maximise efficiency meant cramming more and more people into offices, which simply doesn’t work in the current workplace.
But as people begin to make their way back into the office, what are the new trends going to be? How is the Covid-19 pandemic changing the interior design trends of workspaces?
Let’s take a look at some of the most likely changes offices will see to ensure offices are as safe as possible for all employees.
Maximising Space
Many people are continuing to work from home and it seems this may be the new norm for many people. This means offices have more space for a reduced workforce. Pre-covid, offices had a standard of just 60 square feet per person, but new guidelines may see this increase to 100 square feet.
To accommodate this, offices will need to ditch the mindset of ultra-efficiency and decongest offices. This will mean larger offices or cubicles for employees with sufficient separation between each using protective screens.
What’s more, break rooms will need to be larger, or more will be needed which are shared by fewer people.
Gone are the days of cramped workspaces, replaced by open, airy spaces where people can work safely and comfortably.
Hospital Design Inspiration
Before the pandemic, modern offices were incorporating more and more natural elements such as wood and stone into designs.
However, these materials are porous and difficult to keep clean, making them unacceptable in our health-conscious reality.
Instead, interior designs for workspaces will take inspiration from hospitals by incorporating easy-to-clean surfaces. For example, laminate and other easy-to-disinfect materials will be used for flooring rather than carpet or hardwood.
What’s more, quarantine rooms, oxygen supplies and mask stations may be a usual occurrence in new office spaces. These medical-style elements may not be as aesthetically pleasing but will be an important part of modern design.
Air-conditioning
New office buildings will likely incorporate redesigned air conditioning units that minimise the risk of community infection. These will include separate zones for each floor meaning air cannot circulate throughout entire buildings.
HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters may also be commonplace, along with UV lighting units which kill bacteria.
Sanitisation Tunnels
Although they may seem like something out of a sci-fi movie, sanitisation tunnels may begin to be incorporated into workspace interior design.
These are placed at the entrance of office buildings, allowing anyone entering to be disinfected on entry.
Interior Design of the Future
The barrier to many of these design elements is the significant cost involved. However, in this unpredictable time, investors may need to increase interior design budgets to allow for these protective measures.
It is safe to say that the way offices are designed will never be the same again. Even once the immediate danger of covid-19 has passed, the safety of workers will be at the forefront of workspace interior design moving forward.
Get in touch with our team if you’re looking to redesign your workspace to ensure it’s a safe working space.
