In 2023, where remote working is the new norm, your office could be anything from a vibrant beach bar to a cosy wood cabin, as long as you have a Wi-Fi connection. But what does a workday look like in another country? With office workers spending nearly one- third of their lives on-site, what do these spaces actually look like?
Office design specialists at Diamond Interiors have the answers. From Japan to Namibia, here are nine examples of office spaces from around the world that will make you want to swap out your beach bar for a traditional office.
1. Jacksonville, Florida, USA
The USA is the land of the American dream, success, and prosperity. If you’re striving to become your “best” self through hard work and initiative, you’re probably based in sunny Jacksonville, aka the “bold new city”, which has the highest job growth levels in the US.
When heading into the office, you’re greeted by a bright and airy space that makes the most of the city’s lovely weather and natural lighting. It is simple but modern. The room lacks colour and furnishings but makes up for it in desk space. The atmosphere is relaxed but corporate, packed with board rooms and meeting spaces, perfect for coworking and meeting client expectations.
2. Sapporo, Japan
Sapporo, meaning “dry, great river”, is built on indigenous Ainu settlements, and although it’s the largest city north of Tokyo, it’s the antithesis of the dense and hectic cities of Japan. The area is made up of natural escapes rather than large tower blocks and crowded skylines.
To reflect its surroundings, your office blends a simple interior with cladded ceilings, open wood beams, and timber desks. Minimalist and functional, the focal point of this office space is the wide single-pane windows that open up to the dramatic views of Mount Moiwa in the distance.
3. Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
The city of eternal spring, which was once one of the most dangerous cities in the world, is now a lively and simmering place flowing with activity and a growing job market. When you step into your office space, you are greeted with a fun, sociable environment that goes hand in hand with the hustle and bustle of the streets below you.
The radio is loudly playing Vallenato, which bounces around the bright walls and open space. When finishing up late, you enjoy looking out at the magical lights from thousands of houses cascading up and down the sharp hills of the surrounding Antioquian countryside.
4. Minsk, Minsk Oblast, Belarus
Minsk, the capital of Belarus, is dubbed the “city that rose from the ashes” after it was entirely rebuilt from the ground up after World War II. The buildings of modern-day Minsk retain a Soviet architectural theme. Your office has an industrial feel with exposed steel beams, simple decor, and harsh lighting, which is counteracted by the brightly coloured walls in other areas to match the city’s many street murals. The compact windows lead to views of the Svislach river, rolling hills, and the many red-roofed buildings dotted around the city.
5. Tunis, Maghreb, Tunisia
Tunis, the Tunisian capital, is the magnificent culmination of centuries of trade and culture, creating rich architecture, old and new, which can be seen all around the city. Your office is situated in the newest part, in a tall building with a distant view of the Gulf of Tunis. Like the capital, the office blends various traditional and modern characteristics: walls adorned with bright yellows, reds, and blues, counteracted by plenty of local art pieces, artisan wall hangings, and handcrafted furniture.
6. Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland, UK
Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, is divided into two architectural types: Mediaeval and Georgian. Your office is a neoclassical mix of both. It has that dark mediaeval grey stone exterior, whereas the Georgian aspect is felt through the rooms’ high vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling sash windows that let the UK’s cloudy sunlight in. The colour scheme is a neutral grey to reflect the smoky Gothic surrounding buildings and the shadow cast by the historic city’s folkloric castle.
7. Windhoek, Khomas, Namibia
Windhoek, Namibia’s capital, is a vibrant city home to around 430,000 people. It’s full of modern infrastructure and has the reputation of being clean and well organised. Building styles are diverse and incorporate different cultures, mainly remnants of German colonial architecture from past times. On your office days, you spend your time working away in a sunny and open space with multicoloured desks and chairs positioned against broad windows, which open you up to the greenery of the distant planes of the surrounding nature reserves.
8. Bangalore, Karnatak, India
Nestled in the southern Karnataka state, you will find the hub of India’s high-tech industry: Bangalore. Over the years, it has earned the reputation of being India’s start-up capital, pushing the city to undergo rapid urban development. After beating the hustle and bustle to your office building, you make your way up to the traditional office space, which offers geometric patterned carpet and a vanilla colour scheme. Tables are grouped together in blocks to encourage communication; the space is busy and hums with lively energy.
9. Busan, Yeongnam, South Korea
Busan, a large port city located at the southern tip of the Korean peninsula, is home to over 3.6 million people and a wealth of beaches, local seafood, and arts and culture festivals. South Korea is known as one of the most technologically advanced economies in the world, and with the nation pushing a strong emphasis on work and career, you can expect any office space to encourage productivity. The interior design is kept minimal with a straight-edged and sharp flair. The office offers plenty of different work areas, from hot desks to co-work areas and meeting rooms, boosting in-team collaboration, adaptability, and creativity.
