Workspace changes: a challenge for flexible design

In the business world, the most important revolution to which modern man has witnessed, is the action that caused the gradual transition from an agricultural society to a society based on industrialized production of goods and products. This "jump" has transformed the Western countries, has led to an increase in employment and dissemination of models of life-oriented "consumption"; but, above all, has transformed many large cities, because of the rapid urbanization determined by the lure of big business . The same evolutionary leap is what characterizes the transition from a “service society” to an “information and knowledge society”; this, according to many observers, will lead to a substantial change in the concept of work. It is knowledge, no longer work, the source of social wealth. The growth of the countries is now determined by productivity and innovation, or the ability to translate knowledge into products, technical innovations and organizational changes, able to generate profit. The new workers, according to this view, then, are "intellectual workers". In this scenario, the work, production and cooperation are free from a specific location. There are two elements mainly resulting from the scenario corresponding to the "knowledge society", with regard to buildings and spaces: the first is connected to an overall transformation of all sectors and the progressive elimination of the distinction between goods and services, the second one is represented by what sociology calls "despatialization of work". According to the evolutionary model proposed by the company's knowledge, no productive sector in particular draws reasons and opportunities for growth, but all alike are influenced to a cross; design, production, management, distribution and consumption of a product are constantly connected, eliminating the concept of "workplace".