The Vanguards Corporate of Architecture

In conversation with the trio at DSP Design Associates – Yatin Patel, Bimal Desai and Mehul Shah – the founders of the firm discuss how architecture and design can navigate to engage with the evolving demands and challenges at hand and how the practice is addressing core concerns of workplace design in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak

- RASHMI NAICKER

What are shifts and changes that we can anticipate in workplace design post Covid-19?

Yatin Patel: Although, open floor plans have been a matter of high debate in the fraternity, we are not anticipating the entire concept to be shunned. The challenge is how we, as designers, can envision a newer way of designing floor plans that do not migrate to old school but are countered well enough to be qualifying as physically safe.

On the other hand, occupancy planning and the staggered return will be largely informed by data analytics. A simulation through workspace design and occupancy software lending outputs of varied scenarios to fulfill the precautionary norms and yet optimise the existing space and budget intelligently is going to be the way forward. This technology experiment will also get organisations to be adept at using digitally forward facility management systems to maximise their productive gains from the facility. The use of common amenities and collaboration areas will have to be re-engineered and redesigned to minimise effects of cross-contamination. Pandemic rooms within the workplace will have a dedicated space on the floor plan with much more emphasis on healthcare technologies in the workplace for organisations of all strengths.