Best Workspaces has reinvented itself!

Colliers International is one of the largest real estate companies in the world. During lockdown the company conducted a survey on the challenges and prospects of the current work situation. Based on this data, Colliers can now make some very precise and exciting forecasts. Prof. Hermann Schnell, Managing Director and Head of Architecture & Workplace Consulting, talks about his job and our new world of work.

There is hardly an office that does not have a piece of furniture from USM. USM owes this presence in our workplace culture both to its cutting-edge product developments and the longevity and compatibility of its systems. However, it’s only when you know the company’s history that you can understand the omnipresence of the products. We talked to CEO USM Germany Bernd Wagner and Dr. Thomas Dienes, Group Product Development Director, about trends and traditions.

What is it like to work in an award-winning office? Our series ‘How We Work’ gives a small but personal insight. In the interviews one employer describes how the new design affects the daily workflow.

Not a new location but a new sense of working: Together with TUI Nordic, Reform Architects have transformed the existing office space of a former brewery into a modern workplace that has wellbeing at its core. So thinks our jury and Charlotte WWiebe, HR Director at TUI Nordic. Here she gives us her personal view of the new design.

The presentation of the workspaces and the rating of the independent expert jury already convey quite a comprehensive picture of the new office worlds – but how is it really like to work in one of the award-winning offices? In our new series, ‘How We Work,’ one member of staff from each of the nominated workspaces explains to us how the factors of the jury evaluation affect real office life and how the new design influences his or her way of working. In addition, we’ll hear about some very personal project highlights.

Ladies only: An ambitious new program aims to support female professionals through practical, hands-on training and advice. The ‘Business Riot’ event series takes place in Vienna, attracting an ever-growing number of participants. Elisabeth Großschädl, one of the initiators, told us why networking alone doesn’t work for women – and what does.

Whether it’s vehicles or workplaces – the BMW Group stands for the highest quality in both. In order to secure this quality, the company recently took a major internal step: the implementation of agile working structures in some areas, challenging the idea of conventional hierarchies. Alexandra Eicher, functional developer for highly automated driving, talked to editor Rosa Schaberl about the new team structure, its advantages and spatial requirements.

Flexibility is key when it comes to establishing new contacts and expanding local business, says Peter Schäfer, Senior Associate at architecture and consulting giant Gensler. The company’s newly established German office is currently based in a coworking space – and embraces the chances this has to offer.

The benefits of houseplants go far beyond the aesthetic, making them much more than just some pretty greenery. Studies confirm that plants are good for buildings and for people: They play a vital role in providing a healthy working environment. We had a closer look at some popular varieties, each of them a great addition to your office.

While this has not been an exhaustive review, we do believe it is possible to derive some general principles for the design of work and learning spaces that are conducive to creativity and innovation. These principles are as important for users of space—and those who commission such spaces—as they are for the designers of the spaces.