Ah, the office.

Once upon a time, it was the place where work happened. People stumbled in every morning, parked themselves at desks, and stayed put until it was socially acceptable to leave.

It didn't matter if you actually got anything done - as long as you were there, that counted for something.  

Then came the pandemic, and suddenly, the illusion shattered.

Turns out, work can happen anywhere. And now, as companies desperately try to lure employees back, the biggest question remains:

‍Why should we come back at all? I have written about this many times now.  

It's not enough to just have an office anymore. It needs to be worth the commute. If an office is just a glorified laptop stand with bad coffee, why wouldn't people stay home? The office has to change - not just as a place to work, but as a place to connect, create, and actually enjoy being in. Otherwise, the future of the office isn't looking too bright.  

The Office Can't Just Be a Desk Factory Anymore 

Here's a reality check: The office is competing with home.

And home has some serious perks. A comfy chair, your preferred coffee, and a commute that consists of walking from the bed to the desk (or let's be honest, staying in bed with a laptop).  

 So, if the office is just a sea of desks and fluorescent lights, why would anyone willingly choose it over their cozy, noise-controlled home setup?

Offices need to earn their keep by offering something better than home.  

That means:  

Collaboration spaces – Not just rooms with big tables, but environments designed for actual creative thinking and impromptu idea-sharing.   

Social areas – Lounges, cafés, and terraces that make it easier to bump into colleagues and have the casual conversations that don't happen on Zoom.   

Quiet zones – Because not everyone thrives in an open-plan layout with a symphony of keyboard tapping and background calls.   

Well-being amenities – Natural light, ergonomic furniture, plants, and spaces where people can recharge, rather than just exist.   

The office can't just be a place where work happens. It has to be a place where people want to work. Interesting plot twist?

Offices Should Be Places People Want to Be  

Here's a thought: what if offices weren't just places to work but places people actually enjoyed spending time in?   

For too long, offices have been designed with efficiency in mind - optimised for output but not for experience. But if companies expect people to choose the office over the comfort of home, they need to make it worth the trip. That means rethinking not just the space itself but what it allows people to do.   

A great office is more than about good design - it's about what happens inside it.

The most beautifully curated workspace won't matter if the culture is rigid, uninspiring, or stuck in outdated ways of working.

An office is only as valuable as the experience it creates, and that's a leadership question, not a design one.  

So, what does an office that people actually want to be in look like?  

Spaces beyond the desk; Cozy lounges, library-style reading nooks, café-inspired seating—places that make work feel less like a fixed location and more like a flow between focus, collaboration, and social connection. But these spaces only work if leaders normalise using them. If sitting anywhere but your desk is still seen as slacking off, what's the point?

(See my article The Workplace of the Future – Designed for People, Driven by Leaders, where I explore why flexibility in space is meaningless without flexibility in leadership.)  

Choice over conformity; Not everyone works best in the same way. Some thrive in quiet zones, others need the energy of a collaborative space.

Design that supports how people actually work; Thoughtful lighting, acoustics, and furniture that aren't just for aesthetics but for function. But again, the question is: Are people given the freedom to use these spaces as they need, or are they still expected to "look busy" at a desk?  

At the end of the day, an office is more than just walls and furniture - it's a tool. And like any tool, its value depends on how well it's used.

Leadership shapes the culture, and culture shapes how a space is experienced. The best office in the world will fail if the way people are expected to behave inside it doesn't match what the space was designed for.  

A well-designed office isn't an obligation - it's an opportunity.

The goal shouldn't be to bring people back just to fill seats but to create a place where good work happens naturally and where people feel like they actually belong. Is this even possible to create?

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The Rise of Mixed-Use Developments - Work Meets Life

Now, let's talk about something even bigger than office interiors - where these offices are located and how they fit into the rest of life.

For decades, cities have been planned with a work/life divide:  

“Here's where you work” – A grey, soulless business district that empties out after 6PM.  

“Here's where you live” – A totally separate area that requires a long commute.   

That model doesn't make sense anymore.

No one wants to commute to an area that feels dead after work hours, and companies don't want to lease buildings that sit empty most of the time.  

Enter mixed-use developments - where office spaces are designed as part of a larger network of retail, restaurants, housing, and green spaces. Instead of isolated office towers, we're seeing workplaces integrated into the fabric of daily life.  

The perks?  

- Vibrant communities – Offices in areas that feel alive throughout the day and night rather than deserted after 5 PM.  

- Less commuting, more convenience – Employees can grab coffee downstairs, fit in a gym session between meetings, or even live within walking distance.  

- A better balance between work and daily life – Green spaces, bike-friendly infrastructure, and a layout that supports well-being rather than stress.  

 All of this is about making work fit into the rest of life.  

Let's Wrap This Up - It's About Purpose, Not Presence 

Here's the bottom line: People will go where it makes sense to go.

If offices are uninspiring, rigid, and feel like a relic of a past era, people won't show up. And forcing them won't work long-term - it just leads to disengagement, resentment, and eventual turnover.   

But if offices serve a clear purpose, if they offer something that remote work can't, then people will naturally gravitate back.   

Spaces that enhance collaboration, creativity, and connection.

Workplaces that prioritise experience and well-being over rigid attendance policies.

Environments that are integrated into daily life rather than existing in isolation.

We're not going back to the office culture of the past. And we can create workplaces that actually matter - where people aren't just showing up, but actually thriving.   

And isn't that the whole point?

This is part two in my series about Workspace Transformation. Find part one here.

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