One remedy is the emergence of "collaborative workspaces" or "hubs" in big cities around the world.
The structure, designed by Rem Koolhaas, who did the Guggenheim Las Vegas, is made of glass and folds back on itself, thus maximising natural light.The workspaces are stylish and simple.
But recently a flock of knowledge-intensive industries has settled there, bringing renewed prosperity in its wake.Global Business Network (GBN) is an ideal specimen of the new breed, a spacious collection of "workspaces" that occupy what was once a tractor factory.
At a time when nobody had heard of the world wide web, Lotus Notes already offered "workspaces" not unlike today's wikis.
It lists workspaces on its website, and provides a booking service for venues and prospective renters.
The result, the firm says, is greater focus, accuracy and short-term memory.Open-plan and flexible workspaces are spreading.
Such environments are used to host meetings and to create virtual workspaces for employees who may be part of the same team but spread out over half a dozen countries.
Flexible workspaces now whisk you away from noisy colleagues at the click of a buttonHard to get overTwo distinguished prelates of the Christian world, Pope Francis and Bartholomew I, knelt together in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem on May 25th.
Its ingenious built-in cabinets kept workspaces clear, promoting hygiene in the home.
En route she's unearthed a technicolour parallel universe where workspaces consist of tree-lined boulevards, Marimekko bean bags and relaxation tanks, which she has now brought together in a new book I Wish I Worked There!
It got me thinking about productivity-boosting office-design tricks – but for home workspaces.
