THE FUTURE OF WORKSPACES: 5 TRENDS SHAPING HOW (AND WHERE) WE WORK
WHAT TOMORROW’S PEOPLE EXPECT FROM TODAY’S WORKSPACES
The way we work has shifted, and the spaces we work in need to reflect that.
The future of the office isn’t about squeezing people into desks or maximising floorplates. It’s about designing spaces that support focus, spark creativity, and simply feel good to be in.
At AGC BTR, we craft workspaces with intention, blending sustainability, story, and spatial intelligence to meet what modern teams actually need.
Here are five trends we’re designing for right now, and what they mean for the future of workspaces.
1. Flexibility with Feeling
Work patterns have changed. Teams aren’t sitting in one place all day, and our spaces need to reflect that.
From quiet corners for deep focus to open tables for quick collaboration, today’s office has to support different ways of working throughout the day. But that doesn’t mean soulless hotdesking. It means thoughtful zoning, modular layouts, and the freedom to choose how and where you work.
2. Calm Spaces for Clear Thinking
The most productive workspaces are the ones that don’t feel like offices at all.
Natural light, tactile finishes, soft acoustics, and intuitive flow, these are the elements that create calm environments where people can concentrate, recharge, and stay mentally clear.
It’s about designing for how people actually feel in a space, not just what they’re meant to do in it. When a workspace supports wellbeing, the work naturally improves too.
3. Purposeful Sustainability
Designing with care for the environment and community isn’t a trend, it’s a responsibility.
Every element, from low-energy systems to responsibly sourced materials and eco-conscious furniture, is chosen with long-term impact in mind. It’s about creating spaces that work well, age well, and do good in the process.
As part of AGC, a certified B Corp™, we hold ourselves to high standards, not just in how our spaces look, but in how they’re made and what they stand for.
4. Character That Works
There’s a shift away from anonymous, one-size-fits-all offices. Teams want to work somewhere that reflects who they are and what they value. That’s where character comes in, found in retained brickwork, original staircases, handcrafted finishes, or simply a layout that respects the building’s past while serving its present.
Designing with character isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about creating depth, identity, and a sense of belonging.
5. Designed for the Human Brain (Not Just the Job Title)
People don’t do their best thinking under harsh lights or in rigid layouts.
Real productivity comes from movement, variation, and moments of pause, the kind of flow that lets ideas surface naturally. That’s why the in-between spaces matter just as much as the desks: the corridor where a thought is shared, the lounge where a breakthrough happens, the quiet spot no one’s told you to use. A workspace design that gives them room to think, move, and connect on their own terms.
Our Workspaces in Action
We bring these principles to life across a range of considered, human-focused projects:
DOLPHIN SQUARE
A layered workspace with quiet zones, shared lounges, and soft design details that support both focus and informal interaction.
THE WALPOLE TOWNHOUSE
Now home to Walpole’s headquarters, this Georgian property blends heritage character with calm, contemporary interiors made for thoughtful work.
AUTHOR KING’S CROSS
Designed with flexibility in mind, the communal areas here act as natural extensions of the workspace, offering places to meet, think, or simply reset.
If you're planning your next workspace, let’s create something that works, not just for the business, but for the people in it.
Get in touch with the team to discuss your own project.