Transforming the norm: the future of workspaces. Designing for post-pandemic well-being

Abstract

The pandemic undoubtedly disrupted people’s lives worldwide, causing rapid shifts in work typologies and proving that humans are inherently social beings who require some degree of interaction.

The following project is aimed at investigating how interior architectural design can be implemented within workspaces to allow for user well-being and flourishing, particularly within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The project entails transforming an underutilised commercial building, 1157 Francis Baard Street in Hatfield, into a community workspace that fosters connections amongst people of a diverse community. The project becomes an interconnected workspace with a permeable, publicly accessible ground floor offering a range of flexible and adaptable spaces that allow users to appropriate the space to best suit their needs.

The design is intended to make knowledge and opportunities more accessible to the diverse and multi-generational Hatfield community, thereby supporting continual learning, interaction, and development. Social connections and knowledge transfer are encouraged by bridging a workspace and community space, thereby facilitating positive interactions and ultimately human flourishing.

The project is intended to further contribute to the ongoing interior architectural discourse related to well-being and flourishing in design through translating theoretical guidelines into a conceptual physical manifestation. The resultant proposal is grounded in theory and addresses well-being across various scales, including personal, workplace, and community health and flourishing.