The Evolution of Offices Post-Pandemic

Changing Purpose of the Office

• Traditional office: Place to show face every day
• Modern office: Social destination rather than container for equipment and people
• Influencing factors: Pandemic and hybrid working

Redesigning the Office

• Functional design has shifted to collaborative and social design
• Examples of new features:
  • Collaboration spaces
  • Relaxation zones
  • Restaurants and bars
• Companies involved include Ericsson, Standard Chartered, Boston Consulting Group, and Beam Suntory

Impact of Hybrid Working

• Hybrid model: Work partly from home, partly in office
• Emphasis on social interactions and informal learning
• High trust required between employers and employees
• Example: Fei Wong, senior manager of a multinational firm, uses the office mainly to reconnect and socialize

Employee Preferences and Trends

• Rising demand for flexible working
• Remote working statistics:
  • 76% of workers in Europe
  • 86% in America
  • 78% in Asia

Management and Evaluation

• New focus on results over attendance
• Importance of autonomy and trust
• Potential challenges with traditional presenteeism cultures, especially in Asia
• Better employee engagement and increased work quality

Potential Disadvantages of Hybrid Working

• Working mothers may face increased discrimination
• Gender inequality issues, particularly in Asia

Office Location and Urban Planning

• Shift towards hub-and-spoke model: Multiple smaller offices near residential areas
• Decreased appetite for long commutes
• Increase in office vacancies in major cities like London, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Paris
• Expansion of co-working spaces in residential areas

Urban Planning Trends

• Return to mixed-use development models (similar to post-industrial revolution)
• Urban concepts like 15-minute city, 5-minute city, and 1-minute city
• Example: Singapore's advanced urban planning
• Benefits of mixed residential and business areas for communities and talent attraction