There is no getting away from the fact that 2020 has been a life/work experiment that no-one could have predicted and it will shape the built environment for years to come.
But this is an evolution, not a revolution. Yes, bricks and mortar retail has had an extremely tough year but it was already struggling in some quarters.
And working from home pre-dates the March lockdown – it just became a necessity rather than an option.
So what lessons can we take from the exceptional circustances of 2020?
We learned the value of the office and the important role it can play.
There are advantages to working from home – for some at least. It can be more productive when you just need to get your head down and concentrate, for example.
It gives time back as there is no commute which can mean a better work-life balance.
Value of interaction
But being forced to work from home has also shown the value of interaction which you get from working in a shared space.
It has highlighted how skills and knowledge can be more easily be built and shared – particularly for those starting out in their career.
Will this affect how office space is used – and ultimately designed? Undoubtedly.
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