“The physical environment is the embodiment of a company’s culture and values,” says Rachel Basha, Founder and CEO of Basha-Franklin, the architecture and design studio behind the workplace fit-out concepts for Dockside Canada Water. Using the vision created for One and Two Dockside by BIG and HWKN, respectively, her studio’s work has helped support the office agent need for dynamic leasing requirements.
“The design of your office has never been more important,” she says. “It plays a vital role in how people feel about belonging to your organisation and the meaning they derive from coming together in person.”
“When people come to the office, they need to feel a genuine sense of connection and loyalty, and to experience a relationship that is a two-way exchange between the employer and the employee. It should be healthy, balanced and based on mutual value. Design can play a major role in communicating and delivering this.”
The right workplace design can reinforce and elevate company culture. According to Basha, it can help attract and retain talent, increase motivation and performance, enhance reputation with clients and partners, and provide stability and clarity during times of change.
“Company culture matters and so does bringing it into the design of the space, so it communicates what is unique about that organisation. Many companies today have strong sustainability values or want to enable the progression of their people. Those commitments need to be visible and experienced in a meaningful way, so there is clear evidence to employees, clients and customers.”
When thoughtfully designed, the office becomes a silent but powerful driver of behaviour. “It sets a mindset that does not need enforcing,” she says. “It becomes an intuitive part of how people show up and how they work together that can build a powerful momentum.”
