Contact Louise Ma, Interior Design Associate Director
louise.ma@benoy.com
Rethinking the green office experience, our design philosophy at Benoy emphasizes flexibility, collaboration, and innovation. We aim to create workspaces that inspire productivity and well-being, tailored to the dynamic needs of modern work environments.
As leaders in workplace design, we are proud to have Louise Ma, Associate Director of Interior Design, speak at the Design Shanghai LEED conference. Louise shared insightful trends in flexible workspaces, showcasing our recent projects in Singapore and Shanghai.
Return to Future ThinkingThe annual Design Shanghai International Design LEED Conference recently took place at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Convention Centre. Workplace Design Forum, jointly organised by LEED and Design Shanghai, became the industry’s focal point.
Louise Ma, Benoy Associate Director of Interior Design, was invited as a key speaker and delivered a vivid presentation on ‘Emerging Trends in Flexible Workspaces.’
Under the theme of ‘Reinventing Work Experiences by Design – Flexibility, Empathy, Collaboration, Innovation,’ the conference gathered industry experts and professionals to reflect on 20 years of LEED development in China and discuss the future of green building and sustainable workplaces development. The event was opened by Andy To, LEED Managing Director, Northeast Asia.
Louise highlighted new trends in flexible workspaces, using Benoy’s recently completed projects – Benoy Singapore Studio and Shanghai Expo Place Office Complex and Experience Centre – as examples. She provided an in-depth analysis of Benoy’s innovative concepts in workspace design, emphasising the versatility and flexibility of the future workspace. Her presentation showcased how these designs usher in a new era of efficient, comfortable, and environmentally friendly offices.
Post-speech, Louise was interviewed by the industry media, Trends:
Trends (T): In your keynote, you emphasised that flexible workspaces are a future trend. Why is that?
Louise (L): Flexible workspaces will be key in office development due to societal shift towards remote working and flexible work hours becoming increasingly popular. Traditional fixed workspaces can no longer meet these demands, but flexible workspaces provide employees with more freedom in their work environment. From our Studios in London to Shanghai and Hong Kong, Benoy is implementing the concept of flexible workspaces in its offices.
In my speech, I shared Benoy Singapore Studio as an example of how flexible workspaces can be a more efficient use of resources compared to fixed workspaces. Demand-based use of workspaces reduces unused space and increases space utilisation. Flexible workspaces are also more adaptable and scalable than fixed workspaces, thus making them better suited to meet future development needs.
Particularly in the design industry, spaces need to be more creative and inspiring to give employees more freedom and options, allowing them to choose the work style and environment that suits their situation and needs. This helps increase employee satisfaction and efficiency, which in turn improves overall productivity.
T: What changes and developments have you seen in workspace design?
L: Generally speaking, workspace design has shifted from closed to open, from standardised to individualised, and from physical to virtual. These changes reflect the continuous evolution of the office environment in response to changing work models and personnel requirements. Previously, workspace design focused primarily on productivity using standardised layouts that didn’t consider the needs of the employees. Now, there is a greater emphasis on the physical and mental health of employees. This includes incorporating natural elements and leisure facilities to create a comfortable and welcoming work environment.
T: As a designer, what design elements do you think can help transform existing buildings into green buildings?
As a designer, I believe that the following design measures can help transform existing buildings into green buildings:
First, to optimize to energy use. This can be achieved by enhancing natural light and integrating shading systems to minimize reliance on artificial lighting and air conditioning. Improving the building’s insulation, such as upgrading windows, doors, and adding wall insulation, helps reduce energy loss. Adopting energy-efficient appliances like LED lighting and high-efficiency air conditioning systems further boosts energy savings.
Second, implement water recycling. Utilizing rainwater collection systems allows the use of rainwater for non-drinking purposes like irrigation, toilet flushing, or car washing. Installing water-saving fixtures in bathrooms also significantly cuts down water usage.
Lastly, improve indoor environmental quality. This involves optimizing air circulation through adjustable natural ventilation systems, choosing eco-friendly building materials to minimize harmful emissions, and increasing greenery with native plants to create a nature-friendly landscape environment.
Other expert speakers at the conference included Shengjun Cai, Senior Manager of Market Transformation and Development at LEED North Asia; Karen Du, Founder and CEO of R.I.S.E. Sustainable Innovation Platform and Partner of Impact Hub Shanghai; Carol Li, Director of Education and Community Support at LEED North Asia; Kitty Cheung, Marketing and ESG Director at Hines Greater China; and Tianwen Zhou, Senior Associate at Sasaki.
About LEED
LEED is a globally recognised certification system for green building, with more than 110,000 commercial projects in 186 countries and territories achieving LEED certification. A sustainable building reduces its impact on the environment and conserves resources while enhancing the health and well-being of its occupants. LEED’s evaluation system for buildings and cities supports these goals by promoting sustainable development. Notably, China is a leader in green buildings initiatives and one of the largest markets for LEED certification worldwide.
