As being a not to old generation X slacker myself, I remember doing high school homework in front of an Amiga 500, with MTV’s 120 minutes playing on the TV at the far end of my room. I don’t know how I learnt anything, but in some weird way I got pretty decent grades. If that count’s as a proof of theory I don’t know, but I do believe that all that 24-7 input made me multi-task the real world – on par with the math books.

For 2013 I am fortunate to have been asked to create a new breed of architect office in Sweden. It’s an exciting task and my plans are to move the office space towards a melting pot blurring the lines between work – play – clients – co-workers – CSR – design – tech – shopping – airport lounge – coffee house – showroom and more. In short, to create an office to spend a warm, fun and rewarding life in. An inviting space that gives back to the co- workers AND to the city.

Rem Koolhaas might have been right about the future of living our lives in airports – he just missed that they are not airports – they are the new breed of office spaces.
Because, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

I have been preaching the same idea for some years now but still (in Sweden at least) it is very difficult to incorporate these ideas into office projects. And that probably has a lot to do with differences between the older and the younger generations.

Our preferences of what “work” is, and how it should be executed, are so different. Just think about how many generation X-Y-Z freelancers that work in bustling coffee shops and hotel lobbies instead of in tiny office cubicles. This at the same time as they are Facebooking friends across the globe, downloading the latest HBO series for the evening romantic friend-date and listening to music in their new Molami headphones.