Why human-centered design is an integral part of a modern workspace

As work becomes not just an integral part of our identity but a major part of our lived lives, the future of workplace must address our humanity by meeting both our physical and emotional needs. It must inspire and connect. And it must find ways to enhance our productivity and well-being while comforting and delighting us—without being a distraction.

“Digitalization has dissolved the workplace as it used to exist,” says architect Sevil Peach, co-founder of London-based studio SevilPeach Architecture + Design. “For employees to emotionally connect to a company,

a workplace—much like a home—needs carefully selected pieces that create real atmospheres and a sense of belonging”, Peach continues.

With a wide range of experiences, the design studio has developed an expertise in workplace design, working with clients who wish to recast their work environments to better support their business goals, organization and employees, and to develop new working patterns and relationships. In collaboration with Carl Hansen & Søn, SevilPeach has dived into our collection of modern furniture designs and considered the iconic pieces for the workspace.

Carl Hansen & Søn’s timeless furniture perfectly matches the needs of the modern workspace, as human-centered design thinking is integral to the functionalistic approach of Danish Modern. The range of designers represented brings different aesthetic approaches forth and are united by the history and tradition of outstanding design and high quality materials.  

Kaare Klint, often considered the founding father of modern Danish design, was one of the first designers to put functionalism and the practical study of architecture and furniture design principles above style. He created “human furniture” based on studies of the human body and was aware of the relationship between design and its environment, insisting his pieces never dominate a space, but rather unite form and function for a greater whole.

A recent addition to the Carl Hansen & Søn family, American designer Brad Ascalon also designs pieces that offer solutions for a wide variety of office, hospitality or residential environments as he puts the human body and its needs at the center of his work.  

Sevil Peach says of the workspace-related praxis of the design studio: “Analyzing, respecting and enhancing urban, architectural or structural context is an essential element of our work. We often work with existing building structures, adapting the design approach to the given context. However, when selecting furniture pieces, we focus mainly on quality, comfort, character and design.” Diving deep into the Carl Hansen & Søn collection, they find furniture an essential part of the design of the office of today.

“In the world of corporate furniture, design often lacks sophistication and appears exchangeable. The Carl Hansen & Søn collection has been developed over decades and consists of meticulously crafted, timeless pieces. Using furniture with history is both sustainable and a good long-term investment,” Peach notes.

“The use of high-quality furniture reflects a company’s focus on its employees’ well-being and comfort, and also demonstrates a clear interest in supporting sustainability, heritage and design,” the architect continues,

with a nod to the timeless aesthetic of the iconic Carl Hansen & Søn furniture, designed by masters like Hans J. Wegner, Børge Mogensen, Kaare Klint and Poul Kjærholm.

As such, architecture and design reflects notions and values of modern day companies, at a time where employees, management, clients and consumers have increasing demands to companies, offices, and the quality of the workspace.