by Brianna Crandall — March 13, 2020 — International interior landscaping company Ambius recently released its annual report highlighting the top trends in office design for 2020 and beyond. The new year will see a continued evolution in the understanding of the human-centric workplace with designs that improve employee performance and well-being, integrate innovative technologies, offer multi-functional capabilities, and facilitate an inspiring and engaging environment for top talent, says Ambius.
The office design report shows trends toward human-centric, environmentally conscious workplaces that reconnect the building’s occupants with the natural world. Image courtesy Ambius
A look at the 2020 trends shows designers working to create authentic workplaces that elevate the human experience and reconnect the building’s occupants with the natural world.
Macro trends
Macro trends for the coming year include dynamic, community-oriented spaces. Workplace designers are focused on incorporating flexible amenities to create multifunctional spaces that adapt to real-time business needs. Biophilic elements such as wood and plants are seamlessly incorporated as work environments shift towards human-centric, environmentally conscious spaces.
Ambius’ experts also foresee hospitality-inspired coworking spaces that are reimagined for impactful experiences spearheaded by innovation, incorporating features such as restaurants, relaxation spaces, and social hubs that inspire occupants and encourage social interaction.
Another macro trend Ambius experts expect in 2020 is the next wave of wellness-inspired sustainable design focused on designing a harmonious relationship between nature, buildings and the people that inhabit them.
Micro trends
Among the micro trends detailed in the report is hanging foliage, a fresh trend to keep an eye on in 2020. This statement design breathes life and creativity into a space with plants and greenery while leaving the floor space open for other features.
Innovative modular furniture with ergonomic, multipurpose capabilities is expected to grow in popularity as it enhances flexibility, community, and wellness, making it highly compatible with the macro trends outlined in the report.
Laura Burns-Lambert, sensory designer for Ambius, remarked:
As the job market grows more competitive for employers, companies are recognizing the advantages that creating a modern workplace environment provides in attracting and retaining talent. Incorporating biophilic design and prioritizing a connection with nature unites many of the broader trends our team foresees in the coming years.
Plants have long been recognized as valuable design features that add beauty and aesthetic power to a business in addition to boosting overall employee well-being. Modern research increasingly shows that biophilic commercial spaces, those designed to connect humans with nature, also have dramatic health and wellness benefits, providing the business with advantages through improved employee health and attendance, job satisfaction, and more.
To view the complete 2020 Office Design Trends report or the “Office Futures: The Office Design Trends of 2020” Featured Article, an in-depth analysis that dives even further into each trend, visit the Ambius website. A division of Rentokil Initial, Ambius takes a consultative approach to design, install and service “consistently superior” experiences, offering a broad range of services for interior and exterior landscapes including green walls, holiday décor and blooming programs.
