WHAT'S UP Blog

In a world constantly competing for our attention, focus has become one of our scarcest resources. Notifications, conversations, visual stimuli - everything demands our awareness at the same time. And this is precisely where a new perspective on workplace design begins: not with the space, but with the human being.

More specifically: with the peripersonal space.

Working in green surroundings: The ‘biophilic design’ principle uses plants to create a pleasant office environment that protects against noise and poor air quality and helps improve concentration.

At the end of March, we had the opportunity - together with our partner ULISCHUH GmbH & Co. KG - to experience the keynote speech by Dr. Steffi Burkhardt. What she brought to the stage that evening was far more than just an impulse. Under the title “Mindset. Skillset. Toolset.”, she made key future topics such as artificial intelligence, generational change, and the transformation of work tangible - clear, direct, and relatable rather than abstract or theoretical.

Her core message resonates deeply: it is not the speed of change that matters most, but our mindset toward it. And that is where things became personal. Because the conversation shifted away from “the future out there” to a much more immediate question: how we as organisations, leaders, and designers of work environments must act today to remain relevant tomorrow.

Following the event, we had the opportunity to continue the conversation with her.

At the recent TrendOfis Summit in Istanbul, one idea stood out: the office is no longer just somewhere to work. It is becoming a place that needs to welcome, support and engage people in a much more intentional way. In this blog post, Sinem Beaujean, Global Engagement Strategist at Sedus and panel moderator at the summit, shares her insights.

Open-plan workplaces promote transparency, interaction, and dynamic exchange. Yet the more open they become, the clearer the need for retreat emerges - not as an opposite, but as a necessary complement.

Sustained focus cannot thrive amid constant noise. With digital stimuli and conversations competing for attention, every interruption carries a cognitive cost, making deep concentration harder to regain - especially in open environments.

The question, then, is no longer whether retreat is needed, but how it can be designed without compromising openness.

It often begins inconspicuously: with a cup of coffee, a brief exchange, a spontaneous thought. Yet it is precisely in these moments that the potential of a space becomes clear - one that offers far more than a mere pause. The work café is no longer a peripheral feature; it is evolving into a central component of contemporary work environments. A place where interaction and concentration are not in opposition, but actively reinforce one another.

Office trends for 2026 clearly show that the office has long been more than just a place to work. It is becoming a strategic tool for businesses – a space that combines culture, innovation and well-being. At the heart of this are New Work trends that combine flexibility, sustainability and new spatial concepts, thereby redefining the future of work.

The office is currently undergoing a fundamental transformation. For a long time, openness was considered the guiding principle of modern workplaces: communication, interaction and transparency defined spatial design. Yet with the growing density of digital stimuli and the rise of hybrid working, a different priority is coming into focus – the ability to concentrate.

In an environment shaped by constant connectivity, the office is becoming one of the few places where focused work can be deliberately supported. However, this challenge can no longer be addressed with standardised layouts. Instead, it requires a more nuanced and differentiated approach to space.

Collaboration in the office has undergone a fundamental transformation in recent years. Rigid workplace structures are increasingly giving way to flexible concepts that promote communication, creativity and productivity. At the heart of this development are collaborative spaces, which are specifically designed to foster teamwork and facilitate interaction between employees.

Contemporary workplaces are defined by openness, interaction and fluid collaboration. Yet wherever communication thrives, so too does the need for retreat, concentration and mental clarity. Productivity today no longer resides solely at the traditional desk. It emerges from a thoughtful interplay between focused work, informal exchange and restorative pauses.

This is precisely where se:hive comes into its own: a modular retreat that unites spatial generosity, comfort and acoustic performance in one coherent design concept.

Hybrid work models have redefined the office. For years, openness, interaction and collaboration dominated spatial design. Yet alongside this evolution, another equally decisive dimension has moved into focus: the ability to concentrate. The latest edition of Sedus INSIGHTS No. 20/2025 “Focus in the Office” makes it clear that attention is not a given resource — it is fragile, cyclical and profoundly shaped by its environment . Anyone designing workplaces today is, inevitably, designing attention. And this is precisely where neuroinclusion begins.

Berlin is energy, culture, movement. At the same time, it is a city where the transformation of the working world has become especially visible: co-working spaces, cafés, creative meeting points – “third places” are part of everyday life here.

It is precisely within this environment that the Sedus Hub Berlin was created: as a showroom, as an inspiring meeting place, and as a vibrant space where modern work culture is not only presented, but truly lived.

The Sedus Hub Berlin is not a traditional exhibition space. It is a place that makes the spirit of Sedus tangible – inviting visitors to experience, explore and rethink contemporary work environments.

New Work has long been more than just a buzzword – it has become the strategic model for modern companies. In 2026, the New Work trends are clearer than ever: flexible working models, a stronger focus on well-being, new forms of collaboration, innovative space concepts and sustainable solutions are having a lasting impact on the office world.

The world of work is changing. Hybrid working, agile teams and project-based collaboration are shaping everyday office life. Traditional rows of desks are increasingly being replaced by flexible room concepts. Lounge furniture plays a central role in this, not only offering comfort but also enabling new forms of communication, creativity and relaxation.

What will the workplace of tomorrow look like – and what kind of space will it require? This question concerns not only us at Sedus, but also Stefan Rief, Head of the Research Unit for Organizational Development and Work Design at the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO in Stuttgart. As one of the leading experts in organisational and workplace design, he has spent many years researching at the intersection of people, technology, and space. We spoke with him about how work is evolving – and what places like the Work Café will need to offer in the future.

In hybrid working environments, digital and physical forms of work merge into a dynamic whole – with constantly changing requirements for spaces, users and tasks. "Focused work as a scarce resource" has become a central issue: according to Sedus INSIGHTS N° 20, modern working environments must not only promote interaction and exchange, but above all enable targeted concentration. Open-plan spaces need differentiated zones that help employees choose the right place for their respective tasks. This means less rigid departments and more sensory and functionally coordinated zoning of the space.

For decades, workplaces were designed around the idea of an “average” user. In the age of hybrid work, it has become increasingly clear: such an average does not exist. People differ not only in their tasks and working styles, but also in how they perceive, process, and regulate stimuli. This is precisely where the concept of neurodiversity comes into play — and why it has become a central planning consideration for modern offices.

Sedus INSIGHTS N° 20 demonstrates why concentration, well-being, and performance are closely linked to sensory perception — and why work environments must increasingly respond to diverse sensory sensitivities.

With se:cove, Sedus expands its portfolio with a sculptural lounge chair that combines retreat, comfort and sustainable construction. We spoke with industrial designer Konstantin Thomas about the development process, the design ambition and the structural principles behind the product.

For a long time, the office was primarily seen as a place of encounter: open, communicative, and creative. Collaboration was the guiding principle of office design – with open-plan layouts, community tables and informal meeting zones. Yet the reality of hybrid work is making one thing increasingly clear: collaboration alone is not enough. People come to the office not only to exchange ideas, but above all to find the right conditions for focused, concentrated work.

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.