Columnists
June 6, 2025
Milan proves to be the perfect setting for an optimistic BCO conference
by Anna King • Comment, Property
If anyone was asked to think of where to find the best examples of an office, I doubt very many people would reply ‘Milan’ but that may just be the reason that this year’s BCO conference was a resounding success. With Milan and its layers of history, culture, design and the vital ‘caffè’, we are […]
June 5, 2025
The enduring allure of workplace bullshit
by Mark Eltringham • Comment, Wellbeing, Workplace design
Although the legend of Faust is one of the Germanic world’s foundational narratives, its archetypes and themes were already established by the time Goethe codified them in his 1808 play. They have since become universal. The idea that somebody would sell their soul to the Devil to gain something or rid themselves of unhappiness is […]
May 28, 2025
The amenity trap: why more isn’t always better
by James Mohsen • Comment, Property
Over the past decade, amenity has evolved from a ‘nice to have’ to a key part of any office building strategy. In a competitive market with a growing focus on employee experience, landlords are under pressure to differentiate their buildings, and amenity is often the tool of choice. But more isn’t always better. The most […]
May 12, 2025
The shattering of self-image can be a very serious matter
by Mark Eltringham • Comment
It’s always fascinating to watch somebody deal with information that challenges their view on an issue. Doubly so when it’s somebody really, really smart. And when it’s information that challenges one of their core beliefs, or some notion they hold about themselves such as their self-image, the multiplying factors of cognitive dissonance can really start […]
May 12, 2025
Is anyone really thinking about the future beyond what happens next?
by Stephanie Fitzgerald • Comment, SF, Technology, Wellbeing
The conversations around AI at the moment are interesting. Academic. Thought-provoking. Posts on LinkedIn discuss job changes and what the future may look like in theoretical terms. The words ‘streamlined’ and ‘automated’ litter the chats between Executives and CEOs. But that seems to be where consideration ends. We are talking about the future, but the […]
May 9, 2025
Ping pong, perks, pizza and beanbags won’t get you a better workplace culture
by Daniel Snell • Comment, Flexible working, Wellbeing, Workplace, Workplace design
Business has taken a wrong turn. Since the 2008 financial crisis, best practice has led companies to believe that the route to driving greater productivity and performance is to establish a workplace culture that prioritises purpose, meaning, and how people feel. As a result, organisations have become increasingly inward-looking, preoccupied more with symbolic purpose statements […]
May 5, 2025
Office design and the office market are not what you might be led to believe
by Mark Eltringham • Comment, Workplace design
Over the weekend The Times published an article headlined “The ‘super-prime’ offices designed to lure WFH staff back in”. It described how firms are reshaping offices in the image of upmarket hotels, with enticing features such as gyms, childcare, cinemas, climbing walls, lounges and restaurants (run by Gordon Ramsay natch). These are luxury spaces to […]
April 30, 2025
The world needs amazing leaders like never before. But where are they?
by Dana Maor • Business, Comment, Workplace
Demand for integrity and strength in leadership has never been greater. A wave of quickly evolving AI technologies, combined with geopolitics and other pressures, is increasing this need at an unprecedented pace. The rapid changes in today’s environment can put even the best leaders under immense strain and cause ripple effects within the organisation. In […]
April 30, 2025
Co-working spaces bring a whole range of benefits for employees and communities
by Mariachiara Barzotto • Comment, Flexible working, Property, Workplace design
When you think of co-working spaces – where workers from different industries come together to share a convenient workplace – you might picture a group of young freelancers hunched over laptops. But today’s co-working spaces have evolved into something more powerful – particularly in a world still reshuffling office work practices in the wake of […]
April 23, 2025
What kind of change leader do you want to be?
by Jennifer Bryan • Business, Comment, JB
Change is inevitable. Whether in business, communities, or our personal lives, change is a constant—and in every instance, someone is leading it. Leadership during change is not limited to formal positions or job titles. Every day, in countless ways, individuals step into roles that influence, guide, and support others through transition. The question is: what […]
April 10, 2025
Far from lightening the load, could AI lead to burnout?
by Stephanie Fitzgerald • AI, Comment, SF, Wellbeing
When speaking to leaders about the integration of AI into their businesses, one positive repeated to me in every conversation is ‘AI will lighten the load’. Workplace wellbeing is a recognised priority, with most businesses and organisations seeking to minimise stress and burnout and, ultimately, reduce costly sickness absence. The idea of AI being able […]
June 9, 2025
Rise of AI gives us a chance to rediscover a world beyond the screen
by Anthony Brown • AI, Comment, Workplace design
Over the past three decades monitors have colonised desks in workplaces, homes and in public spaces, with the presence of a screen often signalling that something productive is taking place. This assumption may now be under quiet revision with implications for technology, management, and workplace culture. The growing maturity of artificial intelligence agents is having […]