The art of place-making: designing a “world office” for innovation and community-building

November 4, 2024

VIVACE had the chance to attend ORGATEC in Germany last week, the leading trade fair that showcases the latest trends and innovations in office design and workplace solutions. We discovered some important innovations and ideas at this year's edition; below are some of our key takeaways.

The world office, a multi-purpose creation hub

According to ORGATEC, creating the “world office” of tomorrow is about much more than just office design. It involves creating a workspace that not only supports productivity and efficiency, but also fosters creativity, collaboration, and community-building. A world office is designed to be more than just a place to work – it's a hub for innovation, inspiration and connection.

How does this hub look? For one thing, it's all about fostering in-person exchange and co-collaboration. While there are closed-off spaces, the core principle of the world office is much more about bringing people together who may be coming from different cities, countries and even continents.

The role of art in fostering innovation

Art can fill a wall, or it can change a whole space. At this year's ORGATEC, we understood how important the role of art is in defining our surroundings, contributing to an inspiring workspace or adapting radical new ideas into the daily working environment. The most cutting edge office projects not only feature artist exhibitions, studios and rotations, but a constant flow of pop-up animations, ranging from food carts to artisan crafts and wellness experiences.

The office as an invitation to innovate

The theme of this year's trade show was “wherever, whenever.” We don't think this means working all the time, but it means taking an approach to work that allows employees and partners to feel free to work and innovate in a rhythm that works for them. What is essential is that the office be sufficiently inviting so as to attract employees and partners not out of an obligation, but out of sheer enjoyment and quality of experience.

Right-sizing the role of technology

Technology is critical in developing efficient work, communication, collaboration, travel and operational solutions. That said, the office of tomorrow must not overstate its importance. Cutting-edge technological solutions in video conferencing, virtual reality and management systems may enable seamless communication, but healthy limits must be developed. A number of companies are now instituting no-tech office days to foster real-life collaboration, especially in hybrid working environments.

Many thanks to the organizers and participants, we look forward to future editions!

CPM