Change in the property market is slow to respond to how many businesses now operate today, with flexible contracts and varied headcounts. Why? Well the property market assumes ‘quirky’ offices are a fashion statement relevant primarily to the tech industry and concentrated in a few hot spots like East London’s Tech City.
Advice on what to build to satisfy the rental market is dominated by traditional valuation based assessment by men in blue suits using formulas that are as much out of date as their choice of uniform.
Price per square foot returns has led to the architectural world producing office buildings that neither aspire or inspire; indeed aside from fancy external cladding on the odd crazy high rise, their role appears to be limited to conspiring with the construction industry to produce bland and predictably soulless buildings. The experience of working in such office buildings is not improved by funky reception furniture and free tea and coffee either. Comparing images recording the transitional stages of offices over the last 100 years raises the question: how much better is the experience today?