Transforming workspaces: between domestic comfort and professional requirements

Workspaces are no longer just places of production: they are becoming vectors of identity, well-being and corporate culture. For several years, companies have been rethinking their offices by integrating elements from the hotel and housing industries. This evolution is illustrated in particular by two major trends: residential and hotel accommodation. These new codes, influenced by the expectations of employees in search of meaning and comfort, are profoundly transforming the design of tertiary environments.

Résimercial: when the office is inspired by the house

“Resimercial” design, a contraction of residential and commercial, blurs the boundaries between office and home. There are soft sofas, textured rugs, soft lighting, shared kitchens... The objective is to create a warmer, less formal work environment, conducive to concentration but also to informal exchange.

This trend, long perceived as marginal, is now becoming a standard. It meets a growing demand for comfort, aesthetics and the appropriation of places by employees, especially in organizations that have adopted hybrid work.

This type of layout also responds to a cultural evolution: new generations (millennials, generation Z) attach importance to work experience, ergonomics, and quality of life. An office that is too formal is now seen as a barrier to creativity and commitment.

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Hotelification: a premium employee experience

The other facet of this transformation is the hotel industry. Inspired by the hotel sector, this trend aims to offer a careful and high-end work experience. This is reflected in tailor-made services (concierge, quality catering, fitness room, wellness areas), particular care given to interior design, or even the regular animation of the premises. We recently saw this trend in our latest project at our client for Eiffage Construction.

This trend not only increases workforce productivity and creativity, but also reduces absenteeism. The idea is clear: to bring employees back to the office, you need to offer them much more than a workstation.

Hotel management is also based on a change in managerial posture. It implies considering employees as “internal customers” who must be retained. In a tense job market, especially in sectors with a shortage of talent, this type of differentiation can play a key role in the attractiveness of a company.

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Towards flexible, modular and sustainable spaces

Resmercialization and hotels are just symptoms of a more global change: that of a more adaptable, modular and responsible office.

Flexibility has become a major requirement in the design of spaces: we multiply areas with differentiated functions (focus, collaboration, relaxation), we use mobile furniture, we think about the reversibility of layouts. A study conducted by CBRE, the world leader in commercial real estate consultancy, highlights that 71% of large companies plan to increase the proportion of flex offices in their premises by 2025.

Les acoustic booths, quiet and private spaces have become non-negotiable for employees, especially in open spaces.

Sustainability is also at the heart of discussions. The choice of recycled materials, the reduction of the carbon footprint of products, the integration of plants and natural light contribute to creating healthier, more inspiring places that are in line with corporate CSR commitments.

In addition, according to a survey by Gensler, French employees want to find the qualities of remote working in the office: autonomy, comfort, calm, but also more collaboration. A hybrid and human-centered layout is therefore a strategic lever for attracting and retaining talent.

Finally, mental health issues have taken a greater place in post-Covid thinking. Space design is used to support concentration, reduce stress and promote quality social interactions. Returning to the office is no longer seen as a simple return to the norm, but as an opportunity to reinvent human relationships within the company.

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Workspaces have entered an era of profound transformation. More than a place of production, the office is becoming a destination: welcoming, flexible, comfortable, meaningful. Through retail, hotel, flexibility and sustainability trends, businesses are building environments that can federate, inspire and sustainably attract talent.

This evolution of workplaces reflects broader societal changes: the desire for well-being, the search for balance between personal and professional life, the rise of environmental concerns, the transformation of management methods. By adapting to these new realities, tertiary spaces can once again become desirable places, engines of innovation and collective links.

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