Visualizing the future office
3 teams of architecture students from the Universidad de Las Américas Puebla, advised by the Cafeína team, had the challenge of proposing positive solutions to solve the space problem that we are facing today with buildings that have gradually been vacated.
THE CHALLENGE
What kind of offices are we looking for?
Nobody likes working in a place that is a constant reminder of a depressing global crisis. We have solutions to stay safe, but positive at the same time.
CAFEÍNA WAY
We design for a better future because we believe that the places where you live are important. So important, they can influence your mood, health, and general well-being.
There can be no future without innovation, which is why we are creating the next generation of workspaces.
We will transform old open office boxes into safe, inspiring and collaborative areas where people feel encouraged and nurtured.
SAFE RETURN
Reoccupation mitigation measures
CORRECT RESIZING
Adaptation needed for companies that have chosen to reduce office space
ADAPTATIVE REUSE
Creative solutions for empty offices
Students proposals
We have created 3 different solutions for the same problem, each one of them tackled from a very distinctive approach, with the aim to inspire corporations to think creatively outside the box. These solutions take place at the emblematic Seagram Building in Midtown Manhattan, but could be implemented at mostly any existing building
TEAM 1
Members: Otli Campos, Sofia Cuahuizo, Alberto Adduci
Project Direction: Leonardo Neve, Angel Valerio, Diego Vilatela
FEEL LIKE HOME EXPERIENCE
This proposal explores how it would be like to work at an office that doesn’t look like one. The main idea is to bring all the benefits of working from home, combined with the benefits you can only have at an office. In addition, the proposal can adapt to different floor plan densities, and promotes a safe but personal work environment.
TEAM 2
WINNER TEAM
Members: Max Pasquel, Carlos A. Morales, Marcial Zapata
Project Direction: Leonardo Neve, Angel Valerio, Diego Vilatela
ESCAPE, EXTEND AND CONNECT
This proposal approaches the new workplace as an extended space of the user’s home office to use as an escape from isolation and embrace a hybrid lifestyle, where virtual connection is as important as physical. The main idea is to provide a healthy environment were users can escape from the negative effects of the pandemic, extend their virtual working environment into a physical atmosphere, and connect physically and virtually with their colleges, providing a resilient environment that is responsive, mindful and flexible.
TEAM 3
Members: Jesús Amezcua, David Alejandro
Project Direction: Leonardo Neve, Angel Valerio, Diego Vilatela
FLEXIBILITY, THE NEW FREEDOM
This project approach, tackles freedom as the magnet for talent, envisioning how providing maximum flexibility at a workspace could generate dynamism and members connection within an office space. The main idea is to design a flexible super-furniture module, that combined with many others, could customize the space based on the need of users, allowing changes to occur easily if necessary, incorporating ludic modules such as reading module, gaming module, or a garden module in between the workstations, allowing diversity, creativity and providing workers with a reason to want to go back to the office.
