BCO Ideas Project | Highly Commended | Flexi-Space by Carl Heintz

By BCO Media

September 23, 2022

In his design for the ideal future workplace, Carl Heintz brings together his wealth of experience to offer something different. His background in architecture, business management, and running a company gives him a unique insight into how an effective office operates. Carl’s proposal for the BCO Ideas Project, ’Flexi-Space,’ aims to achieve what its title suggests — creating a modern work environment with an emphasis on positive social impact.

Flexi-Space

Sustainability should be a guiding force for any modern construction, and genuine impact starts by addressing the issue of occupancy. Current data collected by Freespace Index suggests that the average office occupancy for a week in central London now sits at just 31% — half of pre-pandemic figures. This seems at odds with the exorbitant price tag associated with renting those same office and events spaces, leaving the gate wide open to alternatives. Flexi-Space proposes a viable solution: introducing part time rents and transforming offices into spaces that can house several tenants within a day, with space for evening and weekend functions. As a practical example an established company could rent Tuesday-Thursday while a startup could rent Monday and Friday while the evenings and weekends would be full of leisure events and activities.

Flexi-Space explores pre-existing potential, avoiding ‘asset waste’ and benefitting companies that effectively use a pay-as-you-go system for office rental. Technology has enabled easy and efficient remote booking, which Flexi-Space will make use of. Companies will be able to rent as many days a week in an office as they want to, simply by using an app. Smart key cards, tables and lockers will be similarly accessible, creating a seamless process. Office equipment will also be shared, ensuring ready availability and quick setup for all inhabitants.

Four blocks of time will be available to rent daily, ranging from early morning until late evening, and will include desk zones and meeting rooms. Each company will be billed weekly, according to their reservations.

The pandemic paved the way for alternative work patterns, bringing a new wave of flexibility to the workplace. While most of these changes have been positive and long overdue, the sense of company culture that many businesses rely on has arguably suffered. This in turn affects the social experience of employees, who miss out on daily in-person collaboration. Increasing building occupancy, as Flexi-Space aims to, will create the potential for more connection between people, which we know to have a positive impact on mental health.

In short, Flexi-Space adapts to the needs of its tenants, addressing the issue of under-occupation and encouraging more leisure activities, that uses the power of technology to automate away the admin work of such a system.

Written By Eilidh Tuckett.

Attend the BCO Ideas Project Final Showcase Evening on 29 September where the selected finalists will be sharing their 10-minute TED Talk style pitches. Visit bco.org.uk to book.