Technology is oftentimes the source of great change and upheaval in society. It creates both opportunity and chaos in ways that are often unpredictable. Ultimately technology demands adaptability to survive or more critically to thrive within a new context.

Rethinking The Future Awards 2023
Third Award | Office building (Concept)

©Renderings by Form4 Architecture / Teapot Collective

Nature can also produce transformation at a grand scale.  This recent pandemic has brought profound upheaval and change, but with it an opportunity to experiment in ways that would be inconceivable without an external condition to force us to consider options to mitigate the limitations that a global virus can impose.  One of the most provocative experiments has come in the form of working from home.

©Renderings by Form4 Architecture / Teapot Collective

The concept of working from home has historically been considered to be an indulgence that would result in greatly diminished efficiency and four-day weekends.  The past two years have proven that remote work can be a sustainable option for many companies, and in many cases increases productivity.

©Renderings by Form4 Architecture / Teapot Collective

After two years of experimenting with remote working, most Silicon Valley technology companies remain committed to in person collaboration. The area is faced with a contemporary, post-covid conundrum that asks, “How do you motivate people to come back into the office?” One set of answers lies in creating environments that people want to be in, where they feel welcome, hopeful, and where the elegance of the space provides an advantage over their home environment.