Benefits of the traditional office
Despite the global trend towards flexible working hours and the popularity of working remotely, there is a growing awareness that the traditional office retains many of its merits and that it still holds tremendous benefits for employers and employees alike.
The blurring of lines between work space and personal or home space provides a lot of freedom to work when and where it suits you, the downside is the effect of being “always on” whereby you’re never really offline and never really stop working.
This could, of course, also apply to office workers who don’t stop working once they leave the office. However, for many people, this separation – the physical change of scenery between work and home – helps them to switch off mentally, and be present once they get home. Quality time truly becomes quality time, as opposed to merely being home.
Psychologically, this compartmentalisation makes you more resilient because you have a greater sense of control, with work not seeping into every sphere of your life. Conversely, if you live more reactively, you feel less in control, and more stressed and anxious. Over time, this strips your life of healthy routines and structure, it erodes your health and happiness, and chips away at your general wellbeing.
There is also a social aspect to bear in mind. Working remotely, or working from home, could make you feel isolated and disconnected. It’s difficult to stay motivated and keep going when you’re not engaging with others on a regular basis. Even if you’re staying in touch via voice or video calls, there’s no substitute for face-to-face human interaction. The value of old-fashioned daily contact and interaction is undeniable.
While open-plan offices have been berated for making it difficult to concentrate, working remotely can be just as distracting. For example, the surroundings in a coffee shop or other public place are hardly less stimulating to the senses than an open-plan office – on the contrary, there’s a lot more going on in terms of noises, smells, movement and activity, etc. This is another reason why the traditional office setup is being viewed in a more positive light.
These are some of the reasons why the Amdec Group includes commercial office space in its mixed-use developments. The latest of these, The Yacht Club in Cape Town, is a prime example and so too the group’s flagship property, Melrose Arch in Johannesburg.
Located on the banks of the Roggebaai Canal near the entrance to the Waterfront, The Yacht Club gives commercial tenants a choice between the ground and first floors. There is also the benefit of not having to budget for additional space for meetings, video conferencing, or to host clients. Because renting office space at The Yacht Club comes with the added value of having Africa’s first AC Hotel by Marriott on-site. Marriott International is the world’s largest hotel group and their latest South African venture, in collaboration with the Amdec Group, gives office tenants the option of using meeting rooms, boardrooms and video conferencing facilities at the hotel.
In terms of the physical office spaces, you can expect everything from large windows that let in lots of natural light, to two levels of basement parking and state-of-the-art security.
An office at The Yacht Club is good for people and good for business.
