Innovative energy – it’s all about the space

The term ‘office’ is derived from the Latin word ‘bure’, which referred to a coarse woollen fabric that monks used to cover their writing desks and thus protect their sensitive documents. The term initially referred to the piece of furniture, later to the entire room, and has remained in use to this day.

In a brief overview of history, Jessica Weiß, Workspace Developer (Bene GmbH), demonstrated how work – and consequently the demands placed on the space – has changed over time. From monks in monasteries, through factories during the Industrial Revolution, to today’s work with smartphones and AI, work and workspaces have undergone significant transformation.

When designing a space, it is important to understand the tasks carried out within the company and how employees work. Everyone should ask themselves the following questions when designing a space:

• Is the focus on quiet, individual work or creative teamwork?
• Is there a lot of contact with external partners or customers? Is there a lot of telephone use?
• Are there clearly defined departments or rotating project teams?
• Is the business involved in manufacturing or is it a service provider?
• What is the age structure of the workforce and what do they need to be able to work effectively?

Bene’s Office Equalizer enables a structured analysis of a company’s needs and processes, allowing for the creation of a bespoke spatial concept that is as suitable as possible. The participants agreed that flexibility, teamwork, curiosity and creativity are key prerequisites for innovative work. This innovative energy needs to be fostered through the design of the workspace.

By the end of the workshop, everyone had taken individual ideas back with them to apply in their day-to-day work. The participants’ motivations varied greatly and centred, amongst other things, on giving unused spaces within the company new functions, encouraging staff to return to the office more regularly, and creating additional workspaces in rapidly growing companies. The question of how space can be factored in from the outset during corporate transformation processes also played a role.

The speaker and the discussions among the participants provided a wealth of ideas and inspiration for all these questions. We look forward to seeing the results of their implementation within the companies.