WHAT'S UP Blog

Every brain processes information and emotions differently. People with cognitive differences such as autism or ADHD often have a unique emotional world. They may process information differently and have distinct needs when it comes to their work environment. Although around 20 % of people are considered neurodivergent, many work spaces are still not designed to be neuroinclusive. Far too many employees are affected by workplace conditions that do not suit their needs.

With changing travel and work behaviour, the hospitality factor has to change as well. When thinking about that shift, one buzzword comes to everyone’s mind: hybrid hospitality. It is a growing trend, and for good reason. Hybrid hospitality allows accommodations like hotels to expand their offerings, bring underutilised spaces to life, connect guests to a local community, and attract a whole new demographic. But not only do hotels have to change the way they welcome different communities – coworking spaces and offices have to rethink their spaces as well.

In a working world increasingly characterised by mobility, flexibility and hybrid working models, office spaces face a major challenge: they must be places where people not only work, but also enjoy spending time – places that facilitate focus, exchange, inspiration and community. This is precisely where a concept that originated in the hotel industry but has long since crossed the boundaries into new work comes in: hybrid hospitality.

Whether wood, metal, plastic or textiles – materials not only shape the aesthetics, feel and functionality of furniture, they are also a decisive factor in its ecological footprint. In times of climate change and dwindling resources, designers, manufacturers and developers are faced with the challenge of rethinking materials: moving away from linear processes towards circular value chains. This raises the question of how alternative materials can contribute to more sustainable, resource-efficient and innovative designs.

Materiality is much more than just feel and appearance. It is a design element that can make responsibility and innovation visible and tangible. The journey from natural raw materials through research and craftsmanship to the finished product shows how closely sustainability, design and user experience are intertwined. It also highlights the contribution that new, responsible materials make to a functional and atmospheric working environment.

The world of work is in motion - and the office is evolving with it. What once served primarily as a place of “presence” has become a space that must accommodate a wide range of needs simultaneously: focused work, spontaneous exchange, retreat, regeneration and, not least, sustainable decision-making. Hybrid working models, new forms of collaboration and rising expectations around wellbeing are reshaping not only how space is used, but also what we expect from design.

With LOOKBOOK No. 03, we offer insights into precisely this transformation. It is not a catalogue, but a curated collection of inspiration around materials, spatial typologies and work environments - making visible how workplaces are evolving: in projects, in organisations and in everyday experience.

Designing a chair is often regarded as one of the most exciting yet challenging tasks for many designers. A chair does not just have to fulfil a function: It must also look good in the room when it is not in use. When designing the new se:café wooden chair, Konstantin Thomas prioritised one key aspect alongside the aesthetics: the materials and workmanship had to be durable and comfortable to use.

Choosing the right fabrics and materials is a mammoth task. In addition to the look, many factors play an important role: feel, care and durability are just three key characteristics.

Wherever people come together, exchange ideas, network and work together, places of social and cultural diversity are created. In large cities, where anonymity often dominates everyday life, such meeting places are fundamental to provide space for creativity, encounters and social cohesion. In Riyadh, the Cosmo Work Café is such an anchor point for many remote workers and artists.

Together with her husband and two children, Carlotta Berta lives in an unconventional home where living and working mix and coexist.

As one of the most famous coffee brands in the world, Lavazza looks back on an eventful history, growing from a corner shop to a coffee empire. The family business is now in its fourth generation, and with the Nuvola Lavazza headquarters in Turin, a place has been created that represents both the legacy and the future of the world-famous coffee brand. Antonio Curlante, Property and Facility Director of the Lavazza Group, takes us behind the scenes of Nuvola Lavazza.

As part of the Sedus Lookbook No. 2, we have visited inspiring creatives and their favourite ‘Great Good Places’. One such exceptional location is Jame’s Studio in Vienna. It has been designed with great sensitivity to both aesthetics and functionality, by photographer Melanie Prusa.

Libraries preserve the world’s knowledge. The first libraries were established more than 5000 years ago. Since then, they have evolved from places of peace and solitude to genuine community
spaces where people come together to learn, exchange ideas and work. They have become an integral part of “Great Good Places” – somewhere strangers can become friends. The Norwegian transdisciplinary architecture and design studio Snøhetta recently planned and realised the world’s largest library in Beijing. We spoke to Kjetil Trædal Thorsen about the evolution of libraries.

This blog post sheds light on how libraries are constantly reinventing themselves as ‘cathedrals of the mind’ and what role they play in today's flexible working and living environment.

It's all in the mix! Not only when choosing the perfect coffee beans, but also in the workplace. While employees used to have a fixed workplace either in the office or at home, more and more 'Third Places' are now becoming the focus of modern working culture. The new issue of the Sedus LOOKBOOK sheds light on the various facets of this change.

How do colours, light and sensory impressions influence our well-being in interior spaces? This question was the focus for an exciting episode of the SEDUS Corporate Podcast, in which interior consultant and design blogger Carlotta Berta shared her experiences and perspectives.

The concept of living on water is centuries old. In international metropolises such as Amsterdam, London or Seattle, entire residential districts have been floating on the water for years.

A place to work, be creative and productive – at first glance you wouldn’t guess that desks, team workstations and meeting rooms are hidden away here. Take a second look and the “digitalCHURCH” in Aachen reveals an innovative concept and plenty of space for an inspiring work experience. Managing Director Iris Wilhelmi from “digitalHUB Aachen” provides an insight.

What would you expect when visiting the home of a trend expert in Stockholm? Light wood, simple, functional furniture and reduced shades? Not at Stefan Nilsson’s home. His home office is bursting with strong colour accents, unusual shapes and creative individual pieces. He explains in this interview how the work in his home office inspires his job as a trend expert and journalist every day.

What are hybrid hotels? And what impact will such models have on the way we live and work in the future? Veerle Donders, Concept & Brand Director of Zoku, provides the answers.

When an interior designer and an architect renovated their first house together, it wasn’t going to be easy. The ideas and approaches sometimes could not be more different. But not so with Elisabetta Rizzato and Denis Stoppiglia.