This article forms part of the Decorative and Applied Arts Encyclopedia, a master reference hub providing a structured overview of design history, materials, movements, and practitioners.
Due to the pandemic, there has been a change in office layout, with hybrid working providing a means of lowering carbon footprints and enhancing work-life balance. Multiple multidisciplinary experts from Buro Happold are assisting clients in reimagining their workspaces. Companies are investing in their offices to encourage employees to spend time with their teams, and people are still attempting to strike the right balance between working from home and the office. In Europe, Jan Lichocki oversees Buro Happold’s Workspace Technik division, which collaborates with architects to develop and engineer office layouts and designs that cater to client’s needs in the modern era.
Embracing Flexibility
Recognizing the dynamic nature of modern work, Buro Happold emphasizes the importance of flexibility in office design. This includes adaptable workspaces that can be reconfigured to meet changing organizational needs and support various work styles. Such designs not only enhance employee satisfaction but also improve operational efficiency. (burohappold.com)
Prioritizing Health and Wellbeing
The firm strongly emphasises creating environments that promote occupant health and wellbeing. By integrating elements such as natural lighting, improved air quality, and ergonomic design, they aim to boost productivity and ensure a positive workplace experience. (burohappold.com)
Sustainable Design Practices
Sustainability is central to Buro Happold’s office designs. They focus on reducing carbon footprints through energy-efficient systems, sustainable materials, and innovative solutions like natural ventilation and double-skin façades. A notable example is their work on The Tower at PNC Plaza, which features a fully automated double-skin façade and a solar chimney to optimize energy use. (en.wikipedia.org)
Integration of Technology
Incorporating advanced technologies is another hallmark of their approach. This includes innovative building systems that allow for personalized environmental controls, data-driven space utilization, and enhanced connectivity, all of which contribute to a more efficient and responsive workplace. (burohappold.com)
Designing for Hybrid Work Models
Acknowledging the rise of hybrid working models, Buro Happold designs spaces that support both in-office and remote work. This involves creating collaborative areas for team interactions, quiet zones for focused tasks, and ensuring robust technological infrastructure to support seamless communication across various work settings. (burohappold.com)
By focusing on these strategies, Buro Happold is shaping office environments that are adaptable, sustainable, and conducive to the evolving needs of the modern workforce.
Recommended Reading
Designing Your Forever Home: A Blueprint for Aging with Style. (n.d.). Hearthside Homes. Retrieved December 6, 2023, from https://www.hearthsidehomessa.com/new-home-education/articles/aging-with-style
Kristal, M., Schafer III, G., Williams, B. (2012). The Great American House: Tradition for the Way We Live Now. United States: Rizzoli. https://amzn.to/3FhcIVv
Ramstedt, F. (2020). The Interior Design Handbook. United Kingdom: Penguin Books Limited. https://amzn.to/3JaONIE
Shaping the American Interior: Structures, Contexts and Practices. (2018). United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis. https://amzn.to/3T9p9bH
Tanner, T. (2013). Early American Country Interiors. United States: Gibbs Smith, Publisher. https://amzn.to/3FeN5oy
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