TRENDING RIGHT NOW

Tétris is a full-service design, fit-out and refurbishment specialist. It provides services to office, retail, industrial and hotel occupiers. Robyn Bailey, a Tétris director, gives us the heads-up on seven trends.

The rise of cross-work spaces

Cross-working takes the trend of coworking to the next level. It’s all about the power of community. So where co-working encourages collaboration through shared physical spaces and amenities, cross-working offers the same in a more deliberate way.

It involves the purposeful placement of certain types of businesses together to take advantage of combined strengths.

Appropriate arrangement

Minimalism, maximalism — which way to go? “Lagom” is a Swedish concept that means “not too little, not too much; just right”.

In the interiors space, this speaks to more thoughtful, functional design.

This indicates that clients are opting for quality over quantity in terms of furniture and art.

A new level of green

While all new builds these days promote their green credentials, we’re noticing that sustainability efforts are becoming a core consideration. It goes beyond simply installing a living wall. It speaks to the real nuts and bolts of sustainability, even down to locally sourced food and beverages. It’s about making choices that are good

for the planet and our communities. Companies are changing their behaviour: with reducing the use of plastic bottles, for example, opting rather for water dispensers. However, the SA market has been slow to adopt all of this.

Taking note of the ‘body clock’

In biological terms, it’s referred to as our circadian rhythm — a cycle that tells us when to eat, sleep and rise, set by levels of light. Progressive workplace technology includes indoor lighting that mimics the effects of natural light to influence mood and productivity. This trend has been popular globally, and we have seen changes in clients’ perspectives in SA, but there are limitations, because these elements come with a hefty price tag.

Ceilings that say ‘wow’

The “fifth wall” had employees looking up in 2018.

With the trend of using texture and colour to add interest to spaces, the “statement ceiling” came into its own, whether that was through paint, wallpaper, exposed beams or graphic patterns, as clients as well as designers ditched the tired ceiling grid.

Spa-inspired bathrooms

There’s a home trend to turn the bathroom into a personal sanctuary, and the office restroom is following suit. It’s in keeping with the blurred lines between work and play, and a focus on comfort. Some companies even try to add showers for their staff. This, of course, comes with the rise of running or cycling to work. za.tetris-db.com