deep freeze
Hermantes Basha attended the Workplace Trends Conference 2010 : New Horizons
New technology has enabled the city or the home to become the office. There is an ever increasing demand for flexible working hours and flexibility in working location. The demand is here and now for every business. For the UK in particular, think ‘snow’ & the annual travel chaos, think ‘tube strike’. We need to be able to work remotely even if it’s for short periods of time.
In today’s economic climate businesses are being forced to work smarter and leaner. The majority of offices today are running at approximately 40% efficiency. As technology has increasingly allowed us to work in other spaces than our desks, this has resulted in the ‘empty office’. Offices with this sense of absenteeism are often lacklustre, lethargic environments that are conducive to creating nothing but idleness. There is a sense of, ‘Where has everyone gone?’ and ‘Am I the only person working here?’.
Businesses need to create offices to support the technology we frequently use and the way we work today.
Agile working. The shift has been to focus on work performance and not work attendance. People can work anywhere technology allows them and in the hours that suit them. Businesses need to analyse what work needs to be done and focus on how best to do it with people, places and technology.
Benefits of agile working:
• Increase in communication between teams, and remote teams
• Increase in speed of decision making
• Increased access to decision makers
• Increased sense of office energy and positivity
• Increase sense of belonging
• Dramatic reduction in churn
• Increase in meeting business sustainability targets
Key changes in the office:
• People work in a variety of task supportive spaces and do not typically own a desk.
• Pivotal mental shift from ‘my’ space to ‘our’ space
• Touch screen technology is becoming common place – iPad etc
• Social media is becoming part of the office to give business a human face. Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter etc
• Flexible working hours are becoming more common place and accepted.
• Social interaction is recognised as an essential part of the office culture and business success.
• High level collaboration spaces are in demand. Video conferencing & Tele-presence rooms are in high demand.
Workplace Trends Conference: New Horizons 8th Dec 2010 CBI Conference Centre
Workplace Trends
Interieur 2010 _Kortrijk Design Expo: Best in Show
PROOFF We loved SitTable designed by UN studio
FELD Best newcomer. Simple seating collection and flexible / functional timber wall panels.
Deltalight Sexy Splitlights with the latest LED technology
Wever & Ducre their Art Deco inspired wall lights were everywhere.
Bulo curves & colour! Bulo created executive desking in the colour of the show…. ‘peacock blue’.
Minotti as always, beautiful styling. Lacquer coffee tables in surprise, surprise, ‘peacock blue’.
Innofa innovative textured stretch textiles.
Formagenda were making the old new. Suspended fluorescents look agreeable with stitched leather covers.
Gessi polished, cylinderical rainshowers ( water wastage but 70’s heaven! )
Domani Outdoor erupting concrete landscapes
HB enjoyed a few cocktails in Art Deco opulence at L’ Archiduc, located on the chic Rue Antoine Dansaert, Brussels.
An original Art Deco jazz bar with atmospheric smokers – somehow it’s allowed because it’s part of the design….
www.archiduc.net
We are nearing the unveiling of a five bedroom Thames side property which has undergone a complete refurbishment, both inside and out. The property has been extended cleverly within the existing build boundaries by 22% – creating a new, double height contemporary kitchen / dining space, an additional bedroom and two additonal ensuites. Features include cutting edge bathroom design and fittings, large sliding doors and double height windows, as well as a new internal stair and foyer spaces.
Completion due before Xmas 2010.
benjaminhubert studio
a lovely collection manufactured from simple, honest materials . .
www.benjaminhubertstudio.co.uk
Sterling Studios . . we were like kids in a sweet shop pawing at a vast and amazing array of beautiful finishes !
’Sterling Studios is a creative, research-based, applied arts workshop offering an inspirational collection of decorative finishes. From hand-painted traditional and modern eglomisé glass, scagliola and gesso work to wallpapers, paintings, decorative metals, embossed and patinated leather.
architectural terracotta glazing
www.nbk.de