Breaking down rigid barriers

In 1936, American architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the Johnson Wax Building with the aim of improving employees’ daily working lives and productivity. The building featured a large open workspace organised around shared activity. This marked one of the earliest examples of the open plan office, a concept intended to improve communication by bringing teams closer together. Administrative staff worked in large, shared areas, managers occupied individual offices, and senior executives were allocated more prestigious spaces.

It was not until the 1960s, however, that the open plan office became widespread. Employees were increasingly dissatisfied with rigid, hierarchical layouts. In response, designer Robert Propst introduced the first “mini office” in 1968, more commonly known as the cubicle. These semi enclosed workstations offered flexibility of layout while giving each employee a degree of personal space. When arranged side by side, cubicles maximised floor space at relatively low cost. However, their limitations soon became apparent, particularly in terms of noise, lack of personalisation, and visual distractions.

From open plan offices to flex offices

During the 1980s and 1990s, office work continued to evolve. Teams became more autonomous, information flowed more freely, and the increasing use of IT shaped how offices were organised. This period saw the emergence of the “non territorial” or “combi office”, offering greater flexibility for both organisations and employees.

Workspaces were no longer designed around individuals but around activities such as meetings, printing, or collaboration. Employees moved between different zones throughout the day, and layouts were often dictated by cabling and technical infrastructure rather than comfort or wellbeing.

By the mid 1990s, some organisations began experimenting with unassigned desks, requiring employees to book workstations as needed. This approach laid the foundations for today’s flexible office models.

New workspaces for new ways of working

From the early 2000s onwards, employee expectations shifted again. Meaningful work, wellbeing, and quality of life began to take precedence over hierarchy and status. Offices were expected to be more welcoming, inspiring, and comfortable. The idea of the office as a living space gained momentum, with the introduction of informal furniture, breakout areas, and social spaces.

Around the same time, coworking spaces and so called “third places” began to emerge in the UK and internationally. These shared environments offered freedom, flexibility, and an alternative to traditional office settings, reinforcing the idea that work could take place in a variety of spaces designed around human needs rather than rigid structures.

From workspace to living space

Today, the workplace is undergoing another major transformation, driven by digitalisation, hybrid working, and increased mobility. Working habits have changed significantly, with remote work, collaboration, and flexibility now firmly established. As a result, offices must reinvent themselves to offer adaptable spaces that support both individual focus and collective interaction.

Shared and informal areas are no longer seen as wasted space but as essential components of a successful workplace. While open plan offices remain popular for collaboration, they must now be carefully adapted. The need for privacy, concentration, and effective noise management has become increasingly important, leading to the integration of a variety of dedicated zones.

These include spaces for meetings, phone calls, focused work, and relaxation.

The modern office is now a dynamic environment, a place not only to work but also to connect, collaborate, and spend time. This shift has become particularly evident in light of the limitations of fully remote working. For organisations, treating the office as a living space also strengthens its role as a key asset for attracting and retaining talent.

Dynamic workspaces today often consist of large, open areas where noise can easily become an issue. However, this is not inevitable. With thoughtful design and appropriate acoustic solutions, sound can be effectively managed. When the right choices are made, the office can truly become both a functional workplace and a comfortable living space, a place where people want to be.