By KATY OLSON AND MELISSA STUDACH
If you haven’t done the math, take our word for it: Residential plus commercial equals resimercial, or interior design for commercial spaces that embraces the qualities of the home. It’s a trend that’s poised to change the industry for designers and manufacturers alike, and one that will make its next appearance at NEOCON, over June 11 to 13 in Chicago.
Whether you credit hyper-chicly designed CO-WORKING SPACES, the PINTEREST-fueled expectations of MILLENNIALS, or residential interior design’s own shining all-stars with fueling the demand for home-away-from-home design, the resimercial trend is one that’s gaining increasing steam. NeoCon hosts 500 companies and 50,000 design pros this week, and we checked in with some of the attending experts for their take on the latest category of design.
Byron Morton, vice president of leasing at NeoCon, shares his take: “It’s not so much about bringing a residential flare to the workplace, it’s about providing different types of spaces for different kinds of work. The showrooms and exhibitors at NeoCon are offering more seating for collaboration spaces as well as hospitality areas.” To that end, he says, “More and more companies are offering ancillary products for the ‘softer side’ of the workplace.” He attributes the onset of the trend to “the advent of the activity-based workplace”—the strategy that offers workers different settings like collaborative workspaces, shared desks, and private spaces as opposed to the designated desks, corner offices and cubicles of yesteryear.
Creating a softer side within commercial projects can take many forms. In a recent design project for the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, Gensler principal and design director Anne Gibson was tasked with creating a Leadership Lounge, envisioned as a casual gathering space to welcome staff and visitors to the executive wing of the rehab hospital. In order to soften the space, Gibson says, “We used elements of domestic architecture alongside carefully curated art, accessories and furnishings to evoke a comfort level and familiarity and a peek into the unique personality of the organization and its leadership.”
Design Mobility
HUMANSCALE’s director of industrial design, Mesve Vardar, affirms that commercial consumer demands are becoming more similar to traditionally residential consumer demands. It’s a sign of a shifting work environment. “The demand for resimercial office spaces has two main drivers,” Vardar says. “First, the rapid advance of mobile technology and the increased acceptance of remote working. Employees can choose where to work, and understandably prefer to work in more comfortable environments rather than the traditional office desk or cubicle.” Changing workplace mores also play a role; companies are competing to hold on to top employees, and environment is a factor for many. “Second,” she continues, “the shift toward task-based, collaborative working has led to companies designing offices to allow for different work modes: incorporating more soft seating, meeting pods, and touchdown areas. As a result, companies are now creating office spaces that employees want to be in, with a softer, more comfortable feel, in order to attract and retain the best talent.”