The power of connection: How to create a magnetic workspace
What makes a workspace worth visiting today? It can’t be just any office. The outdated ideas about Taco Tuesdays and fresh fruit don’t cut it anymore. Companies need to offer something better than the convenience of working from home, with its flexible schedule and zero commute time. Something that will allow people to immerse into their tasks, individually or with colleagues, safe from distractions.
Two main components of workspaces that people prefer to home office are:
- Thoughtful, ergonomic design that supports unique and evolving team needs, with spaces for meetings and focused work
- Opportunities for meaningful face-to-face collaboration with colleagues
These are the trends that future-of-work professionals and experts in physical workplaces are discussing today. In a recent Forbes article “The Priority For Underused Offices In 2025: Reattach, Not Just Return”, Ryan Anderson makes a compelling point about workplace transformation. Companies won’t be able to get people back to the office long-term unless they help them emotionally re-connect with their workspace.
Anderson introduces the concept of "Place Attachment" which explains how people naturally form emotional bonds with specific places, from a favorite café to their preferred seat at the dinner table. People return to such spots repeatedly because they make them feel safe, connected, comfortable, and in tune with themselves and the space. And the same can be true for the office. Most people want to spend time in the office to connect with coworkers and build relationships. But when they get there, they often end up doing the same solo work they could do at home, making the office visit feel pointless. This is why thoughtful workplace design is crucial - it should create spaces that actually support the connection and collaboration people are seeking when they choose to come in.
We have observed this workspace magnetism effect in our several years of designing and building work environments for progressive companies around Belgium. Consider what happens in such a collaborative space: ideas flow more freely, spontaneous conversations spark innovations, and team members build the kind of trust that's difficult to develop through screens alone. This isn’t just a feeling: recent research by the universities of Oxford and Pittsburgh shows that teams working physically together are 27% more likely to produce groundbreaking insights. While digital tools are essential, they can't fully replace the chemistry of in-person collaboration. You can dig into the topic of lasting (work) relationships beyond the 9 to 5 in the expert article by our designer Esha Jalal.
Anderson's article also points to a crucial insight into the future of workspaces in the age of AI. As artificial intelligence takes over more routine tasks, our offices will need to optimize for uniquely human activities – creative problem-solving, mentoring, strategic thinking, and cooperation. Ping-pong tables or beanbags won’t do the trick (at least, not for every culture and team). Different teams need different environments and collaboration happens in both planned and spontaneous ways. Every workspace needs to reflect the company’s unique culture, values, needs, and aspirations for growth.
How can such workspaces look like? Anderson suggests “workshop and project spaces, team neighborhoods, cafés, event areas, and casual conversation zones”. Our experience with clients confirms this: the social and creative spaces, often personalized to the company culture, are the teams’ favorite across the board. For example, Keyrock’s large kitchen is a hub for daily team lunches, cozy gatherings over board games, and fun after-work aperos. Icapp’s multifunctional dark blue room with a bar, a tribune, and a projection screen is great for company meetings, movie nights, and celebrations. BECI’s entrance resembles a café to attract members and visitors, and their entire ground floor is dedicated to events and networking for the larger entrepreneurial community.
We don't need to mandate attendance when we design offices that truly support collaboration and creativity. People come because they find value in being there.
Would you like to discuss your future magnetic office?
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