As the year winds down and Christmas lights start twinkling across Amsterdam, it's impossible not to feel the pull of belonging.

For an expat like me, the holidays can be a curious mix. My family is scattered across the globe, and while I love the traditions I grew up with, I've had to get creative about keeping the magic alive.

Thankfully, Amsterdam has a way of filling the gaps - with fellow expats becoming a makeshift family, shared meals turning into new traditions, and a healthy dose of laughter sparkling these moments.

But here's the thing: this need for connection isn't just seasonal. It's something we carry with us all year round. Whether it's a spontaneous chat at a local café, the steady support of friends, or even the friendship we find in our workplaces, community is what keeps us grounded. And let's be honest - our offices play a big part in this as we spend a lot of our waking hours at our workplace.

So, as I sit here in my Amsterdam home with a coffee in hand, looking out on the houseboats and the canals, embracing the Amsterdam winter chill, I'm reflecting on the past year's topic of my writing.

Community.

And as an advocate for community on all levels I am dreaming about how I will bring this topic into the next year.

What's next for our spaces? How can we design offices that builds the platform for connection and community all year round? And will the trend of Co-living grow even bigger as we move further into 2025?

So merry Christmas, come dream along with me.

A Year in Community

Throughout this year, I've written extensively about the importance of community - how it shapes our health, happiness, and sense of purpose. From the neuroscience of belonging to the challenges of flexible work arrangements, my articles have explored what it means to stay connected in an increasingly digital world.

Let's take a moment to revisit some key insights:

The Power of Belonging

Community is one of the most critical factors for well-being and longevity. Drawing inspiration from the Blue Zones, I highlighted how belonging impacts our mentalhealth but also our physical health in more ways than we thought.

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The Neuroscience of Loneliness

I delved into the chemical and neurological effects of loneliness, showing how our brains are wired for connection and how the lack of it can profoundly affect us.

Re-thinking Office Life

Offices should be designed around real work habits, not outdated notions of productivity. It's about creating spaces that adapt to how we truly work and connect.

Reconnecting in the Age of AI

As technology advances, the need for genuine human connection grows stronger. I emphasised the importance of balancing digital tools with physical, face-to-face interaction.

These themes echo strongly as we look to the future. Community is not a nice-to-have! It's a fundamental part of who we are.

And the spaces we design - whether homes, offices, or cities - need to reflect that.

LookingAhead to 2025

So, what does the future hold? As we enter 2025, here are a few trends to watch. And as the new year starts I will dive into some of these trends, so stay tuned for that!

1

‍Hyper-Personalised Workspaces: Offices will cater even more to individual needs, blendingtechnology and neuroscience to create environments that truly support well-being and productivity.

2

‍HybridCommunity Hubs: Expect more localised, smaller office networks that foster a sense of belonging closer to home. How is our whole commercial volume in and around cities affected by this trend?

3

‍Designing for Neurodiversity: Offices will increasingly incorporate features to support neurodiverse employees, ensuring inclusivity and equity. How far can we get during 2025?

4

‍Circular Office Economies: Sustainability will drive innovation, with offices adopting closed-loop systems for energy, materials, and waste.

5

‍Spaces for Rituals: Offices will embrace rituals more - like tech-free mornings or weekly shared meals - to create meaningful moments of connection.

6

‍Sentient Workspaces: Offices equipped with AI and sensory technology will adapt inreal-time to employee needs, whether dimming the lights to reduce stress or playing calming sounds during high-pressure moments.

7

‍Holo-Remote Collaboration: Holographic technology will allow remote team members to participate in meetings as if they were physically present, enhancing collaboration across distances.

8

‍Bio-Integrated Courtyards: Offices will incorporate natural, living elements such as green walls and communal courtyards to promote wellness and social interaction.

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‍Multi-sensory Belonging Rooms: Spaces designed with aromatherapy, tactile materials, and soundscapes will offer employees moments of reprieve and reconnection.

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‍Tech-Free Connection Zones: Offices will set aside dedicated spaces or times for completely tech-free interaction, fostering genuine human connections without digital distractions.

Let's wrap this up

Community has always been close to my heart, not just because of my professional work, but because of my personal journey.

As an expat living far from family, I've experienced firsthand the power of building new connections and creating a sense of belonging in unexpected places.

It's this mix of personal experience and professional curiosity that drives me to write about community - and to explore how our environments can foster it.

As we look ahead to 2025, I'm excited to dive deeper into the role of community in shaping our lives, from how cities and neighbourhoods evolve to how we connect in a world increasingly mediated by technology.

My upcoming articles will continue to explore these themes, shining a light on the spaces, ideas, and innovations that bring us closer together.

Let's design for connection - because it shapes the communities where we grow, share, and belong.

Lots of Love,

Stina

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