HOW PANDEMIC EVOLVED DESIGN OF CORPORATE OFFICES

The world has realised that a sustainable future can only be brought about by not making anything so large that it goes beyond your own means to sustain if any catastrophe happens; opines Architect ANURADHA GUGLANI Principal Architect and Multidisciplinary Design Professional.

The changing trends over decades have seen a massive evolution of design for corporate office spaces, both internally and externally. It all started with very tiny offices and minimum staff, eventually expanding into large claustrophobic spaces accommodating many working desks whenever a company grew. Sitting in a closed, artificially lit, and conditioned space throughout the day led to mental stress—caused not by work pressure alone, but by the unhealthy, enclosed environment itself.

Realizing these spaces were not conducive to productivity or the mental well-being of employees, companies began tweaking interiors by adding artificial plants, artwork, and color to alter the mood and relax the mind. Good interiors became a bonus—used to attract more employees and create a better impression on visitors and prospective clients. After all, if you look after your employees, you are seen as a more ethical businessman.

It helped, but only superficially. The real need was to de-stress the mind for better productivity. The next trend that evolved was providing employees with recreational activities within the office premises—like gyms, yoga sessions, walking paths, and green areas for a breath of fresh air. This, in turn, led to the addition of changing and shower rooms so employees could freshen up quickly and get back to work. Cafeterias became hubs for casual interaction, fostering a more community-like work culture.

As a result, employees began to feel completely at home in their workplaces and didn’t mind spending long hours there. This balanced environment of “work and play” led to positive development and greater work output. However, this style of working demanded larger spaces. Bigger parcels of land with a focus on landscaping and recreational amenities became the new norm. Thousands of employees would commute from various parts of the city—by driving, carpooling, or company buses—and spend most of their day at these workplace campuses, which eventually began to resemble mini-cities with everything in-house.

That’s how the design of corporate offices evolved—until the pandemic hit. Suddenly, people had to work from the confines of their homes, which were never designed for regular office work. A few months indoors might have seemed manageable, but an entire year brought new challenges. People found themselves trapped inside spaces that either resembled showrooms or served solely as a gathering place for dinner and sleep.

They are those homes that became the most inhabited space by each and every member of the house, the working and the non-working, including children and the pets! Everyone needed their own space to work, which was sound-insulated, clean and organized enough to become the backdrop for their zoom and Google meets.

Then another epidemic hit, this time it was not any disease, it was depression which was caused by not getting enough fresh natural light and air. After spending a whole day in front of the computer, there is no place to escape or unwind. This was not a very good time for all those who never ever really thought how their homes should be. Even the housing trend has evolved with the pandemic. People want to live in villas and independent homes rather than flats and apartments. Sharing amenities, which was the key reason that led to the success of flats and societies, eventually became the very reason for its failure. No one wanted to share any common facilities with each other during the pandemic, not even lifts, leave alone swimming pools!

To have your own little garden and place to step out, some space to be able to work out within the house, and lots of balconies, verandas, and areas that interact with nature now became more desirable than apartments. By tweaking their existing home interiors, moving into new houses, or even taking up villas on long-term rentals, people managed to work from home and successfully delivered their work with even better output. This was possible because the travel time got used for something more productive. Lives became more sustainable. People started becoming more self-sufficient.

Lots of small-scale industries sprouted and small businesses grew—larger, but not large enough to collapse under their own weight again. People understood that ‘small scale is the key.’ Bigger corporations found it not only unaffordable to hold on to their large offices but also realized that those overheads were unnecessary when people could work better remotely from their own little environments or from within their own neighborhoods. Smaller satellite offices for big corporations are the new future of our corporate world.

With fewer vehicles plying during office hours and a resulting lower consumption of fossil fuels, the environment became cleaner. With more time on hand, family time increased. All this led to better mental health and not just a more sustainable, but a more stable world.

The world has realized that a sustainable future can only be brought about by not making anything so large that it becomes unsustainable during a catastrophe. Small damages are easier to handle. Larger ones can shake you up and pull the ground from beneath your feet.

So here we are—back to the age-old concept of small neighborhoods, something we all once had in the past, but had to go through the whole cycle to return to square one. Yes indeed, life is a cycle!

About the Author

Anuradha is an artist, sculptor, furniture designer, and architect. She creates artworks, sculptures, furniture, lampshades, and mosaics as a hobby and occasionally holds exhibitions to showcase her creations. She is the principal architect of a creative architectural, interior, and landscape design firm.

Anuradha specializes in the renovation and adaptive reuse of dilapidated Indo-Portuguese houses. Her work emphasizes sustainability by using locally sourced materials and working with waste. She believes that true sustainability lies in minimizing what you discard and using as little of new resources as possible.

FLAVIA AGNES—renowned women’s rights lawyer, activist, and founder of Majlis—has spent decades navigating the deeply gendered structures of law and society. In this compelling conversation, she sheds light on the evolving landscape of women’s empowerment and the profound yet often overlooked power of property ownership. Her words, grounded in experience and rich in insight, guide us toward a more equitable and inclusive future.

Independence is Not Liberation

“Yes, women are more independent today—but they’re still not free.” Flavia begins with a striking observation. While we celebrate the increased visibility of women in public life—leading companies, managing homes, pursuing higher education— she invites us to look deeper.

“Women today can manage their finances, balance careers and homes, and take on multiple responsibilities.

Yet, we must ask—has that truly liberated them? I believe not. The societal systems that govern us have not evolved at the same pace as women’s aspirations. Structures of patriarchy remain deeply entrenched.”

She points out that even in progressive societies, the burden of expectations, traditions, and social roles continues to weigh heavily on women.

“Independence is progress, no doubt. But liberation means being free of dependency, free from societal control, and having the power to choose without fear or restriction. That remains a distant goal for many women—both in India and across the world.”

The Power of Property

“Property ownership is not just an asset—it’s a tool of transformation.” When asked about a tangible route to empowerment, Flavia is unequivocal in her response: property ownership.

“When a woman owns property, she gains more than land or a roof—she gains security, confidence, and autonomy. Without property, women remain vulnerable—especially in situations of domestic violence or financial dependency.”

Traditionally, property has been the domain of men—passed down through fathers, controlled by husbands, managed by brothers. Flavia believes it’s time this changes.

“Women must learn not just to inherit, but to invest, manage, and protect property. This isn’t just about economics—it’s about agency. When a woman has property in her name, she has bargaining power, she can walk out of abuse, she can make choices.”

She calls for a national shift in mindset—through education, policy support, and legal empowerment.

Feminism Beyond Symbols

“Feminism is not defined by what you wear—it’s about how you live.” In an era where feminism is often projected through fashion, hashtags, or lifestyle choices, Flavia urges a return to the roots.

“There’s a version of feminism that revolves around symbolic gestures—clothes, smoking, or cosmetic freedom. While such expressions have their place, they’re not the core of liberation.”

Real empowerment, she insists, is rooted in economic freedom, legal rights, and the ability to live life on one’s own terms.

“A woman might wear traditional clothes, avoid public protests, or lead a quiet life—and still be deeply empowered. If she can think independently, control her income, and confront abuse—that is feminism in action.”

Evolving Roles, Enduring Expectations

“The more things change, the more they remain the same.” Flavia acknowledges the changing roles of women in society—but also highlights the enduring expectations that accompany them.

“Yes, women are earning. They’re visible across professions. But what hasn’t changed significantly is the domestic burden.

From childcare to eldercare to running households, women remain the default caretakers.” This dual responsibility—professional and domestic—exhausts many women and often limits their personal growth.

“Even when women are financially independent, they may not have control over how that money is used. Much of it is still funnelled back into male-dominated household structures, where decisions are not theirs to make.”

She notes that single women often enjoy more freedom—not because of their status alone, but because they’re not trapped in traditional household roles. “It’s not about marital status—it’s about the power dynamics within the household.”

Redefining the Dream Home

“A dream home should be a woman’s own—not just her responsibility.”

For many women, a “dream home” remains a symbol of comfort, safety, and achievement. But Flavia challenges us to look beyond the metaphor.

“For too long, a woman’s relationship with a home has been about maintaining it—cleaning, cooking, nurturing. But what about owning it?”

She emphasizes the need to transition from caretakers of homes to owners of them. “A woman’s dream home should not only be the space she nurtures, but the space she owns. When she holds the title deed, she holds power—literal and symbolic. It gives her freedom to make choices, to walk away from toxicity, to stand on her own.”

A Step Toward Change

As our conversation draws to a close, Flavia reflects on the event that framed this dialogue—an initiative aimed at raising awareness about women’s property rights. “I think it’s a powerful initiative— one that strikes at the very root of inequality. We rarely talk about women and property in the same breath. But without ownership, there can be no real empowerment.”

She praises the platform for spotlighting the need for structural change. “I’m honoured to be part of this movement. If we can encourage just one woman to claim her right to property, we set off a ripple effect. Because when a woman owns her home, she reclaims her future.”

Final Thoughts

Flavia Agnes offers no sugar-coated promises—only clarity, courage, and conviction. Through her words, we are reminded that empowerment doesn’t arrive through slogans or social media trends—but through real tools like education, legal literacy, and property
ownership.

Because at the end of the day, true liberation is when a woman can stand tall—not just within her home, but because it is hers.