The new working landscape: rethinking focus, privacy and collaboration

LOOKBOOK No. 03 from Sedus explores this question from various perspectives. The examples from Hybrid Hospitality, Point of View and Materiality all demonstrate a common principle: future-proof working environments do not need a single ‘perfect’ workspace. They need spaces that support different tasks, ways of perceiving the world and working styles.

Concentration does not come about solely from a quiet desk. It also depends on the environment available for a specific task. Someone working on a complex task requires different conditions to someone exchanging ideas with colleagues. A video call places different demands on a space than focused individual work. And even relaxation needs its own space. This is precisely where the idea of a differentiated workspace comes in: spaces are no longer planned solely according to their size or function, but according to the activities and needs of the people who use them. Focus, collaboration, retreat and regeneration become distinct qualities within the same working environment.

To find out how the Calm Tech approach works and how it relies on technology that takes a back seat and puts people at the centre, read the article: Calm Tech in the office: technology that doesn’t distract.

A modern working environment should offer a variety of options: 

• Areas for focused work
• Semi-enclosed focus spaces
• Retreat areas with visual and acoustic screening
• Open zones for collaboration
• Spaces for informal encounters
• Transitional areas for short breaks and regeneration
• Workstations with different sensory qualities 

The result is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ office, but an environment offering a range of choices.

Read the following article to find out how breaks boost concentration, creativity and productivity, and what ‘Slow Office Design’ is all about: Slow Office Design: Breaks as a Productivity Factor.

One of the key insights from the ‘Point of View’ chapter is clear spatial zoning. In an interview for LOOKBOOK No. 03, Kay Sargent describes how different areas of a working environment can support different working styles as well as varying levels of activity and energy. It is crucial that the function of a zone within the space is clear.

A workspace, for example, can be divided into different areas: 

• Deep Focus: For tasks requiring undivided attention.
• Focus: For concentrated individual work with slightly closer proximity to the team.
• Collaboration: For discussion, working together and meetings.
• Social & Community: For informal conversations, socialising and a sense of community.
• Regeneration: For relaxation, a change of perspective or short breaks. 

This is not about rigid boundaries. Good zoning provides orientation whilst allowing for different uses.

People do not work under the same conditions every day. Tasks, the time of day, energy levels and personal perceptions change. That is why it can make more sense to offer several suitable workspaces rather than designing every workstation identically. 

Key elements of neuro-inclusive design include: 

• A free choice of workspaces
• Spaces in quiet areas
• Relaxation rooms and quiet zones
• Adjustable lighting
• Natural elements
• Ergonomically adjustable furniture 

Open-plan workspaces can facilitate interaction and collaboration. However, open-plan spaces alone are not always sufficient for tasks requiring concentration. A quiet space does not necessarily mean a completely enclosed cubicle. Even a semi-enclosed nook, a workstation with a privacy screen, an acoustically shielded zone or a quiet area away from the main thoroughfares can make a difference.

To find out how design codes can be specifically tailored to the working environment and to different modes, read the article: Designcodes: Four atmospheres for four modes of attention.

An important concept is the freedom of choice and control. People benefit when they can choose their environment according to their task and personal needs. 

This gives rise to specific planning questions: 

• How much visual screening does the task in question require?
• Where do busy walkways run?
• Which areas are suitable for focused individual work?
• Where can telephone calls and video conferences take place?
• Which workstations offer sufficient natural light?
• Where can people take a break without having to leave the workspace? 

Retreat therefore does not become the antithesis of the open-plan office. It becomes an integral part of a balanced working environment.

A workspace does not fulfil its potential through its layout alone. Light, sounds, surfaces and materials also influence how we perceive a space. Sedus’ latest content on the topic of ‘Focus in the Office’ therefore defines multisensory design as the interplay of light, acoustics, materials and personal needs. 

Read the article to find out how light, sound and touch shape the way we perceive spaces, and how a thoughtfully designed working environment appeals to the senses and supports different ways of working: Multisensory design in the office: How light, sound and touch become tools for focus.

Different qualities of light can help to distinguish between different areas of a space and support specific activities. 

Factors relevant to planning include, for example: 

• daylight · indirect lighting
• adjustable light levels
• different lighting zones
• reduced glare
• clear visual orientation 

Adjustable lighting and daylight promote neuro-inclusive spaces.

Acoustics promote concentration – they do not always require absolute silence. In an interview with Kay Sargent, it is stated that individual loud conversations are often more disruptive than steady background noise. Acoustic design that takes different uses into account remains crucial. 

This article explains how clear acoustic guidelines and carefully planned focus zones create the conditions needed to ensure that distracting noises fade into the background: Acoustic guidelines for focus zones: From ‘quiet’ to truly silent.

Possible elements include: 

• sound-absorbing surfaces
• screens
• textile room dividers
• acoustically screened workstations
• clearly separated activity zones
• room-within-a-room solutions
• designated areas for communication

Materials do more than simply fulfil a function. One example illustrates this clearly: wood fibre boards improve acoustics. It is not just the technology that matters, but also how the material looks, feels and comes across. Multisensory design does not mean providing as many stimuli as possible, but rather designing stimuli in a targeted manner.

Sounds of nature can be more than just pleasant background noise: when used correctly, they can alter the way we perceive spaces and help us to work with greater concentration. This article explains how soundscapes can help to promote focus and well-being in the workplace: Biophilic Soundscaping: Concentration through the Sounds of Nature.

People experience their surroundings differently. What one person finds pleasant may disturb or stress another. Neuro-inclusive office planning therefore avoids the notion of a single ‘ideal’ space. Instead, it offers alternatives and removes barriers. Kay Sargent lists the following design elements, amongst others: 

• different workspaces
• quiet rooms · retreat areas
• adjustable lighting
• natural elements
• ergonomically adjustable furniture
• reduced visual clutter
• screens to block out noise and visual distractions
• clear sightlines
• easily accessible storage space 

These strategies can benefit both neurodivergent and neurotypical people.

People perceive stimuli differently and therefore have different requirements when it comes to their working environment. Read on to find out how inclusive spatial designs can not only facilitate participation but also unlock new potential for businesses: Planning for Neurodiversity: Offices for Diverse Sensory Profiles.

An inclusive working environment does not have to look the same for everyone. Rather, it should give people the opportunity to choose the right place for their current task. Fewer standardised workstations. More suitable workspaces.

In LOOKBOOK N° 03, March and White Design (MAWD) describes how hotels, lounges and so-called ‘third places’ are changing expectations of traditional workspaces. These spaces combine flexibility, comfort, hospitality and diverse uses. 

A key concept is that spaces can fulfil multiple roles. 

A lounge can serve as a workplace during the day. Communal areas can encourage interaction. Flexible spaces can adapt to different situations. 

The office thus increasingly becomes a landscape offering a variety of possibilities.

‘The Social Hub’ and ‘Townplace West Kowloon’, also featured in LOOKBOOK N° 03, demonstrate how different uses can be spatially integrated. ‘Townplace West Kowloon’ combines work, leisure and residential areas with co-working spaces, meeting rooms, fitness facilities and communal zones. This raises a key question for office planning: what qualities does a place need so that people enjoy working there and can find the right space for every task?

Materials, too, will shape the working world of tomorrow. Materiality never stands alone. What matters is the interplay of origin, research, design, function and environmental responsibility. The ‘se:hive’ example shows how a traditional building product can be integrated into a new design context. Here, wood fibre boards have been further developed to serve as spatial and acoustic elements. 

This makes the choice of material a planning decision on several levels: 

• aesthetically – What effect does a space have?
• haptically – How does it feel?
• functionally – What does the material achieve?
• acoustically – How does it influence the spatial effect?
• ecologically – How does it fit into a responsible material cycle?

Five overarching principles can be derived from the various chapters. 

1. Focus requires choice 
Not every person and not every task requires the same workspace. 

2. Zoning provides orientation 
Spaces should intuitively convey what is possible and desirable there. 

3. Retreat has a place in open-plan working environments 
Openness and privacy are not opposites. Good planning combines both. 

4. Incorporate the senses into the design 
Light, acoustics, materials and visual stimuli should be considered together. 

5. Inclusion means choice 
The more varied the ways in which people perceive and work, the more important it is to have different settings.

This article shows how greater flexibility in choosing where to work can promote concentration, personal responsibility and productivity: Choice as a Driver of Productivity.

Space 

• Are there clearly identifiable focus areas?
• Can quiet spaces be used spontaneously?
• Are walkways sensibly separated from focused workstations? 

Acoustics

• Can conversations take place in communication zones?
• Are there acoustically shielded workstations?
• Are disruptive individual noises reduced? 

Light 

• Is there sufficient natural light?
• Can the lighting be adjusted to suit different activities?
• Are focus areas clearly distinguishable visually? 

Perception

• Are visual stimuli used deliberately?
• Are there different material and atmospheric qualities?
• Can people influence their personal level of stimulation? 

Neuroinclusion

• Are there different types of workstations?
• Can staff choose their work location depending on the situation?
• Are there areas with low stimulus density?
• Have the need for privacy, movement and different ways of working been taken into account?

Flexibility

• Can areas be adapted to new requirements?
• Can furniture and room dividers support different scenarios?
• Do spaces function effectively even with changing team sizes and working models?