WHAT'S UP Blog

What if a workplace didn’t just function—but truly made people feel included and valued?
In The Inclusive Journey, Sedus invited clients and partners to a collaborative experience to explore how furniture and workplace design can actively support inclusion, empower employees, and create work environments where everyone feels they belong.

The Novu Campus at Zurich Airport is a forward-looking workplace that sets new standards for flexibility, collaboration and user experience. Since opening in 2025, the modern working environment at The Circle has offered an inspiring setting for a wide variety of working styles across more than 4,000 m² and three floors – from quiet co-working spaces and dynamic team offices to spacious meeting and event areas for up to 240 people. Around 300 workstations, 200 of which are in dedicated areas and membership-based, are available to users.

At the “Talk Green To Me” panel at the Sedus Hub West in Düsseldorf, the spotlight was on a topic that has long shaped the company’s identity: sustainability as a seamless, integrated part of the entire product lifecycle—from development and tender processes to use, refurbishment and circular return. In conversation with Sedus experts Niklas Flum, Simon Roth and Konstantin Thomas, the panel explored how sustainability is put into practice across the organisation, offering strategic insights, market perspectives and a look into design and product development.

Home office is no longer just a temporary solution. For those who work from home permanently, the demands on their workspace are high – it should be functional, ergonomically designed, and stylishly integrated into the home environment. Furniture that promotes focus, blends harmoniously with living spaces, and impresses with quality.

With its new home office solutions, Sedus brings all these qualities together: ergonomics meets aesthetics, technology meets atmosphere – creating a workspace that feels like a natural part of your home.

How much of the future can be found in a chair?
At first glance, it may sound like a design question – yet it is a strategic one.
Today, anyone speaking about the future of business, work and spatial design is also speaking about sustainability – not as a trend, but as a mindset.

On 22 and 23 October 2025, Frankfurt am Main became the epicentre of economic debate. Under the patronage of Hessian Minister President Boris Rhein, five major business events joined forces to form the Frankfurt Finance & Future Summit – an international gathering bridging the financial and real economies. Listed corporations met start-ups, innovation met tradition, and technology met transformation.

The summit’s goal: to explore the ongoing transformation of business and society – with a focus on geo-economics, technology, artificial intelligence, and the role of the human factor.

As the modern workplace continues to evolve, spaces that are more than merely functional are growing in importance - spaces that inspire, connect and invite people to linger. Work cafés fulfil exactly this role: fostering interaction, offering retreats and encouraging creativity. Yet not every work café is identical. Depending on use and ambience, different spatial typologies - or archetypes - offer guidance for design.

In partnership with the agency Zukunftstil, Sedus has identified four such archetypes: Hub, Club, Library and Garden. Each embodies a distinct atmosphere and addresses specific needs. When combined with suitable furniture, colour palettes and flexible modules, a work café emerges that is not simply visually appealing, but feels like a second home.

When people picture a traditional staff break room, images of a small kitchenette, a coffee machine and perhaps a standing table. Yet forward-thinking organisations have moved well beyond that idea. In today’s increasingly hybrid, flexible, and people-centred working world, new spatial concepts are gaining significance. One in particular is attracting attention: the Work Café.

In the age of hybrid working, the physical workplace is not becoming redundant – on the contrary, it is becoming a valuable resource. However, we need to rethink it. The office has long been more than just a place for concentrated work. It is a space where intellectual, physical and emotional aspects come together, and which reflects the social and cultural DNA of a company.

Hybrid working is no longer the exception but, for many of us, the new standard. The flexibility to work both in the office and from home is undoubtedly a benefit. Yet with this freedom comes a downside: digital fatigue.

Whereas in the past, computer work was clearly bounded, screens are now constant companions – in meetings, during discussions, for presentations, and often even during breaks. This continual digital presence takes its toll: headaches, difficulty concentrating, irritability, or a constant sense of being overwhelmed.

Remote work is here to stay – but after the initial enthusiasm for more freedom and flexibility, a new set of challenges has emerged: fatigue, lack of focus, and nagging back pain. No surprise, really. To stay motivated and productive in the long run, a laptop and Wi-Fi connection just aren't enough.

The good news: Often, it's the small changes that make the biggest difference. With a few smart tweaks to your workspace, routines, and movement habits, you can reclaim energy, focus, and structure. Here are five practical tips to help you transform your home office into a space that supports your work – and your well-being.

Work has changed dramatically in recent years. Hybrid working is now the norm, blending the best of both worlds: the focus and flexibility of working from home with the social connection and structure of the office. But with this freedom comes a new challenge.

Our days are saturated with digital tools, endless communication channels, and constant stimuli. Always-on availability, long hours in front of screens, and multitasking have become standard. The result? Digital fatigue. Mental strain builds up quietly, showing up as poor concentration, restlessness, and disrupted sleep.

That’s why forward-thinking workplaces are taking a holistic approach to wellbeing – creating spaces that encourage mindfulness, recovery, and movement. The Work Café is more than a spot for coffee. It’s a counterbalance to sensory overload. A place to pause, breathe, and recharge.

Connecting people – this guiding principle lies at the heart of the latest Sedus INSIGHTS. But how can we create true connection in an increasingly hybrid working world? The answer lies in designing spaces that are not only functional but also emotionally and cognitively engaging – natural environments that enhance well-being and foster genuine encounters.

Surrounded by greenery – yet right in the middle of your working day: the Garden Work Café archetype brings nature into the office and opens up new perspectives on productive working. Inspired by biophilic design principles, it strengthens the connection between people and nature – with positive effects on well-being, creativity and concentration. Whether for quiet individual work or informal team meetings, the garden is a versatile space that naturally combines all working modes.

What distinguishes an arena from other hybrid communal spaces – and why is it so valuable for organisational culture?
In today’s world of hybrid working, our expectations of workspaces have changed fundamentally. Where once function alone was the primary concern, modern environments must do more: they must connect, inspire, provide sanctuary – and above all, be adaptable. This is where ductile shared spaces come into play. Three key concepts emerge: the office café, the oasis, and the arena. While all are designed to foster a sense of community and support hybrid working, the arena occupies a unique and impactful position.

Although at first glance it is associated with quiet reading rooms or public libraries, the library has a very unique, contemporary role in the modern office: it is a place of retreat – a place where concentrated work, tranquillity and discretion are the focus. The Work Café archetype 'Library' represents a calm and understated atmosphere that is ideal for all modes of work while offering privacy and structure.

When we talk about organisational culture, we often refer to abstract values: trust, openness, collaboration. Yet culture doesn’t live on paper – it lives in conversations, behaviours, and everyday interactions. The Work Café is the space where these cultural elements become not only visible, but truly tangible.

The crucial point: it’s not just about the space itself, but about what that space makes possible – and how consciously designed furniture enables and amplifies these processes.

In modern office life, places to retreat are just as important as inspiring meeting places. This requires spaces that combine tranquillity, elegance and discretion – exactly where the Work Café archetype 'Club' comes into play. As a versatile room type, it offers a relaxed, stylish environment for all working modes and creates a special atmosphere reminiscent of an exclusive business lounge.

Today’s working world is dynamic, hybrid, and shaped by evolving needs. Companies face the challenge of creating environments that foster both productivity and social interaction. This is exactly where Workcafés come into play – spaces that bridge the gap between coffee kitchens and co-working zones, between exchange and retreat.

With the research report “Workcafé & Co.” and the accompanying brochure “Workcafé & Co. Applications,” Sedus provides concrete answers to how these new spaces can be thoughtfully planned and effectively implemented.

In the modern working world, the boundaries between formal work, social interaction and individual fulfilment are becoming blurred. This is precisely where the Hub Work Café comes in - as a lively meeting point and functional all-rounder, it is the central place in the office where all the threads come together - communicative, collaborative and unconventional. In this article, you will learn more about the Hub archetype and see examples for use in practice.

At Clerkenwell Design Week in May 2025, we had the pleasure of meeting Hannah Nardini – one of the UK’s leading workplace strategists. With her team at WKSpace, she is dedicated to helping organisations create meaningful and future-oriented work environments. Every strategy begins with thorough data analysis and close collaboration with employees across all levels – including workshops to understand priorities, explore cultural readiness for change, and align on a shared vision. Internally, the WKSpace team practises what it preaches: working flexibly from offices, client spaces, cafés and public transport. For Nardini, reliable Wi-Fi, ergonomic furniture, quiet zones and a well-considered design that supports both functionality and wellbeing are essential features of any workspace.