In his book, The Great Good Place, the urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg wrote about the importance of third places—the informal “public places on neutral ground where people can gather and interact.”

Via smartceo.com

Silicon Valley is not too cool for school. The best example rests in its glitzy corporate campuses which fully comply with the valley’s famous “think different mantra.” Here, employees work (and play) in headquarters that rock in design and culture—boasting glass-walls, lush courtyards, gourmet cafeterias, herculean gyms, family-friendly policies, and fun, fun, fun. Apple’s solar-paneled mothership comes on line this April. But these youthful companies don’t flinch on productivity—they’re changing the world, proving a happy, well-designed environment is a more efficient one. Here’s a tour of inspired “think different” corporate world headquarters (in and beyond the valley). This is the future—cubicles be damned.

Via forbes.com 

A new flexible office solution has arrived: the hybrid model. Finally, a solution that allows growing businesses to take the space they need on terms that suit their growth plans. What we need is the space for this new model to expand.

I’m not talking about space for start-ups. Cities are just about providing enough spaces for entrepreneurs and teams in their infancy.

I’m talking about established businesses, perhaps three to five years old, looking for 50 to 100 desks or more. They are still rapidly scaling so don’t want to take a traditional five- or 10-year lease, but they’ve moved beyond taking a few desks in a co-working space.

Via propertyweek.com 

It’s a fascinating moment for workplace design. There are so many interesting developments on the right track doing some great things, but so many workplaces are still pulling the wrong levers. Coming out of the 20th century, capitalist society has been trained to create value based on competition and business success. Rationality is celebrated leaving emotional, mental, and spiritual aspects. Architects and designers, basically humanists, now design workplaces for the wellbeing of the individual who is spending most of his or her life in this environment.

Via metropolismag.com