Page 15 - From space to place

In this issue, we want to explore how spaces can be conceived as “enabling platforms”, i.e. tools to welcome and foster new technolo- gies and new collaborative processes. Starting by considering the office space of the building, what is the role of architecture in pro- moting new ways of working? How can we combine the constraints and the rigidity of the building with the need for flexibility and flu- idity of the contemporary working space?
S.C. _ Architecture and building structures are crucial elements in find- ing an optimal starting point for the definition of spaces for new ways of working. This important fact is often not considered sufficiently. Over the last years, we have learnt that a very important point in pro- moting collaboration and communication is to have as few stories as possible. Thus towers, though perfect from a real estate point of view, are not the best models of office space. It is far better to have a large horizontal floor plate, around 2-4.000 square meters, with open spac- es, as few columns as possible and light from both facades, that we can use the way we want. And “the way we want” not only refers to the present, but also to a time 5-10 years from now, in case something dif- ferent arrives in the office and the space will be forced to change. We do not know what and how, but we know we will have to be ready for
it and we should make it as easy as possible for a company to adjust and change. In addition, you can also see how floor plates are organ- ized. If you look at the easyCredit project, for example (see the section “The Case”), you will see an almost perfect building because of the way people can move in it: you can always go diagonally, taking the short- est way and this naturally encourages people to quickly see and talk to each other rather than writing emails or make phone calls.
So, yes, we think that the quality of buildings is actually the foundation of an optimal workspace.
Research shows that the “open office” model, as opposed to cubi- cles, did not keep its promise of ensuring both an optimal level of productivity and user engagement. It turned out that one always had to be sacrificed for the benefit of the other. What is your opinion about it?
S.C. _ We do not think we can provide a “onefitsall” solution. We need to look at the company needs, vision and goals and understand the individual needs of the employees. Research helps us to discover how to balance the working space providing the flexibility related to the changing needs of concentration, collaboration and all the areas in
THE EXPERTS’S TALK | 15