Dezeen Magazine

Watch our talk with TP Bennett on the design of post-pandemic office spaces

Dezeen teamed up with architecture firm TP Bennett for a talk exploring how the rise of home working has revealed a need for better-designed office spaces.

Since the coronavirus crisis was declared a global pandemic in March 2020, huge numbers of workers around the world have been forced to work from home. Companies have had to rapidly develop new ways for employees to connect with each other, blurring the boundaries between work and home.

With mass vaccination drives and easing of lockdowns likely to spark a return to the office for many, this panel discussion explored what the rise of home working can teach architects about designing better office spaces.

Cristiano Testo, principal director of TP Bennett
Cristiano Testo, principal director of TP Bennett

Moderated by Dezeen's founder and editor-in-chief Marcus Fairs, the panel featured TP Bennett principal director Cristiano Testi and Sonya Simmonds, head of Workplace, Design and Build at Spotify.

The panel discussed how workspace design can be improved for a post-pandemic future, how architects can help to design inclusive and accessible offices, and the importance of designing comfortable office spaces for the wellbeing of workers.

The panel also discussed how design can help to reflect a company's identity and culture, and empower workers to reach their goals.

Sonya Simmonds, head of Workplace, Design and Build at Spotify
Sonya Simmonds, head of Workplace, Design and Build at Spotify

TP Bennett is a British architecture firm with offices in London and Manchester. Founded in 1921, the firm is celebrating its centenary this year.

The firm has designed several office spaces including Windmill Green, a derelict 1970s office building in Manchester that the firm refurbished into an "ultra sustainable" mixed-use office building.

Having already designed Spotify's London, Amsterdam, Boston and Dubai offices, TP Bennett is currently designing the company's Berlin workspaces.

This talk was produced by Dezeen for TP Bennett as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.