As companies like Amazon announce a full return to the office, with CEO Andy Jassy stating in a detailed letter that early 2025 will mark the return of all employees on-site five days a week, Monica Tricario, co-founder of Piuarch, shares insights on creating collaborative and environmentally conscious work environments. These spaces are designed to adapt to evolving needs and promote community connections.
Monica Tricario: Addressing a large-scale return to the office presents a complex yet stimulating challenge for office space design. In-person work, as opposed to remote work, offers tangible social and relational benefits. It fosters socialization, creates a sense of belonging, and helps build more cohesive work communities. However, we cannot overlook the environmental impact of this change, particularly regarding CO2 emissions. The challenge will be to design work environments that are not only efficient and comfortable but also encourage sustainable transportation options. We must rethink spaces to accommodate a new normal, balancing the need for in-person collaboration with a reduced ecological footprint.
How would you define your overall office design philosophy?
Our vision focuses on creating environments that stimulate innovation through social interaction. We aim to design spaces that go beyond mere workplaces. We strive to conceive offices where functionality intertwines with spaces designed for interaction and the exchange of ideas. It’s important for common areas to be perceived not simply as passageways but as true catalysts for dialogue and creativity. We integrate flexibility, allowing the environment to adapt to the continuously changing needs of workers.
Can you provide some concrete examples of this philosophy in your projects?
One project that fully embodies our philosophy is the Human Technopole. In this case, we have designed an innovative complex that goes beyond its basic functionality as a workplace. The building is designed to integrate laboratories and offices with large open and green spaces, creating an environment that naturally stimulates spontaneous interactions among workers and promotes overall well-being. The idea is to break down barriers between nature and the built environment, creating a harmony that enriches everyday work experiences. Green spaces not only offer pleasant breaks from work but also foster informal encounters, which are crucial for idea exchange and creating new connections.
The design has focused on harmonious integration with the external environment, benefiting not only the workers within the building but also strengthening its connection to the surrounding community. Public areas and pedestrian pathways around the complex have been designed to encourage the flow between the inside and the outside, inviting the community to feel part of this innovative ecosystem.
Another significant example of our design philosophy is the urban regeneration project in the Bicocca district. Here, we took an existing building and radically transformed it to open up to the local context. This is not just an aesthetic improvement; it is an intervention that fosters continuous dialogue between those working inside the building and the neighborhood itself. We have created accessible common spaces that invite both employees and local residents to interact, breaking the monotony of old closed buildings and transforming them into hubs of activity.
The courtyard of the building, for example, has been transformed into a green garden that invites people to gather and participate in events or simply enjoy a moment of relaxation. The facades have been opened up and made more transparent, facilitating visual interaction and contact between the inside and outside. This approach has turned the workplace into a vital center for work life and the social life of the neighborhood, integrating work activities with community activities and creating a vital circuit of interaction and exchange that enriches all who participate.
How do you integrate the aspect of social sustainability into your projects?
Sustainability is central to our design philosophy, with particular attention to the lifecycle of buildings. We plan each phase, from design to construction through management and future refurbishment, to minimize the carbon footprint by adopting innovative and effective strategies.
During the design phase, we employ solutions that maximize energy efficiency, such as advanced technologies for internal climate control, renewable energies, and rainwater reuse systems. These measures enhance efficiency and support long-term sustainability. The choice of materials plays a crucial role in reducing environmental impact. We opt for durable, recyclable, and low-impact materials, supporting local economies. Innovative materials help in thermal and acoustic insulation, improving comfort without sacrificing efficiency.
In construction and maintenance processes, we reduce waste and promote recycling, choosing less invasive methods for the environment, such as dust and noise control. Additionally, we see the regeneration of existing buildings as an opportunity to reduce the use of new resources and lower the impact of demolition and reconstruction. This approach ensures that our projects are sustainable and adaptable to future needs.
In the current context, how has your conception of office spaces changed?
The pandemic has challenged traditional conceptions of workspace, pushing us to redefine what it truly means to design an office. While functionality remains an immutable aspect, we now recognize that spaces must offer flexibility and adapt to new work dynamics. We have seen how essential it is for spaces to facilitate social interactions that might otherwise be overlooked in a remote environment. We design offices that can easily adapt to new work modes, supporting well-being and addressing energy challenges.
What emerging trends do you see in office design, and how are you preparing for the future of work?
In office design, the focus is increasingly shifting towards the well-being of the worker. Sustainable materials, cutting-edge technologies, and hybrid spaces are key elements for the future of work. Companies must prioritize environments that foster social innovation, enabling people to feel part of a dynamic and supportive community. With the return to offices, the emphasis will be on spaces that are operationally efficient but also cultivate a sense of belonging and collaboration. We continue to explore these evolutions to propose design solutions that meet diverse and evolving work needs, maintaining a balance between work and personal well-being.
