What Do We Want From Our Spaces?

HUR TABLE GUESTS

Nov 8

What Do We Want From Our Spaces?

With Cristina Poelk, Nasim Köerting and Sonia Tomic

By HURS Team

Our concept of space has been overhauled. Where we used to separate spaces by function, all collided into one during the pandemic: our home. And since then – even though we’ve ‘returned to normal’ – the cultural shift around space has remained. For the first time, we question the spaces we live our lives in and the value they add with it. Am I more productive working from home or at the office? What value does my gym add vs. doing a work out class at home? What’s important to me when it comes to space, design and interior? We’re considerate of the time we spend in spaces and reconstruct our actions accordingly. But spaces must do more than merely adapt to our newfound needs. They need to elevate our current experiences and most importantly connect with us on an emotional as much as a practical level. With this collective mindset shift, the one billion dollar global architecture and interior design market has to rethink the meaning of space, and how it fits into the lives of those who utilize it.

CRISTINA POELK
Cristina Poelk is the Art Director at Swedish furniture brand Hem. Hem collaborates with cutting edge designers and renowned European manufacturers to deliver durable and well-designed furniture. Besides focusing on Hem’s branding and marketing, Cristina has been creating all physical spaces for the brand for over 6 years.

NASIM KÖERTING
Nasim Köerting is the Head of Design at The Office Group. The group provides over 50 flexible design-led workspaces across the UK and Germany. Köerting leads a team of in-house architects and designers overseeing all creative projects. Prior to joining The Office Group, Köerting founded and ran London-based design practice Studio Köerting and worked for award winning practices including HASSELL and Softroom.

SONIA TOMIC
Sonia Tomic is Creative Director at London-based architecture and interior design practice Universal Design Studio. Tomic has collaborated on prominent projects including the public spaces of At Six Hotel in Stockholm, The Ace Hotel in London, the award-winning Fortnum & Mason bar and store at The Royal Exchange, and luxury retail departments for Selfridges in Manchester and Birmingham. Her design practice is driven by the human experience of interior spaces, how we inhabit environments, and how well-designed spaces can meaningfully support and improve our everyday lives.

We asked three industry insiders about how the approach to how spaces are designed has changed, trends and the most important element to create a well-designed space.