In recent years, the design of workspaces has undergone significant evolution. Technological advances have altered the tools required for a standard workstation, primarily reducing the size of computers, while the pandemic has accelerated the adoption of remote work.
At the same time, the notion of “corporate space” has moved away from standardization, seeking instead to make work environments more appealing for daily use and increasingly personalized. The following five projects, each born from very different design approaches, exemplify functional and innovative solutions.
Tokyo, Japan
Interior design studio Symbolplus renovated its office using natural materials such as red earth plaster from Ishikawa and Japanese Tosa Washi paper, in dialogue with the original timber structure.
By avoiding synthetic materials, the project achieves a “quiet integration” of past and present, emphasizing reuse, tradition, and functionality. The result is a sober, sustainable space that honors the building’s history and embodies lasting architecture.
Bochum, Germany
Zeller & Moye designed the 500 m² office for Pradtke, a company active in the health and social sectors, incorporating plants, natural materials, and a flexible felt-module area for activities ranging from relaxation to meetings.
The environment offers zones for individual, collaborative, and restorative work, including an indoor garden. Wood, linoleum, and felt create a calm, sustainable atmosphere, promoting well-being, creativity, flexibility, spontaneous encounters, and out-of-the-box thinking.
Ajman, UAE
Roar, the studio led by Pallavi Dean, designed the Ajman Ruler’s Court, combining traditional Emirati elements with contemporary design. Inspired by the local geography and the fluidity of sand dunes, the project integrates natural materials, geometric forms, and earthy tones.
Central to the design is a modern reinterpretation of the majlis, the traditional Arab gathering space, fostering dialogue and collaboration. Roar thus delivers an elegant institutional building in harmony with Ajman’s cultural identity.
Stockholm, Sweden
Creative studio The Great Exhibition installed The Frontal Lobe, proudly billed as “the world’s first office rollercoaster,” in its Stockholm office. Sixty meters long, it winds through communal areas, kitchen, and bar, embodying the studio’s philosophy in the field of communication and design.
Constructed in red steel with a mirrored single-passenger car, this unexpected feature celebrates human spontaneity and creativity in contrast to the predictability of an algorithm-driven era.
Antwerp, Belgium
Universal Design Studio, in collaboration with Ono Architectuur, transformed a 1960s police station into M127, the headquarters of law firm Schoups. The project integrates a café, garden, and event spaces, combining professional functionality with civic generosity.
The building balances rigor and openness: the original concrete structure is enhanced by double-height spaces that, like natural plazas, encourage communication and exchange, while curtains and tapestries introduce bold, unconventional artistic touches that define more private areas.
