How can commercial interiors promote resilience and adaptation?

> Acknowledge their attachment, listen to their stories, and identify cherished elements they want preserved. > Show respect for their emotional connection while gently highlighting limitations. > Propose improvements that build upon existing elements, offering solutions that enhance functionality and aesthetics while honoring their emotional investment.

Commercial interiors can promote resilience and adaptation by integrating flexible design elements. This includes modular furniture arrangements, movable partitions, and adaptable lighting schemes. Spaces can be designed to accommodate changing needs, such as collaborative areas that can easily convert to individual workstations. Natural elements like plants and biophilic design can improve well-being and productivity, fostering adaptability. Additionally, incorporating technology for remote work and virtual collaboration can enhance resilience by enabling seamless transitions between physical and digital work environments.

As designers it's our responsibility to create spaces that promote sustainability and support healthy and vital environments for the present and future. Secondhand and circular economy is one way and a growing trend in the retail world. Some of the biggest brands are incorporating circular fashion in their retail stores, and we can use this approach in other sectors as well. For example, a client who bought an existing restaurant and is looking to renovate to fit the space to his new dining concept. As designers we can review the existing space and what is left behind, assess the condition of the flooring, millwork, furniture etc. and recommend which can be salvaged and refurbished instead of purchasing or producing new.

Among the factors mentioned in this article, I believe this one is the most important. Due to the Corona pandemic, the distance between humans has increased. As an architect, we can reduce it and bring people together again. A simple space that is designed in my neighborhood to improve social contact is adding a cafe to each function.

Our team would challenge ourselves to integrate all the different design styles and create a harmony and balance if possible