Office 3.0 will put an end to the ‘thermostat wars’

THIS office of the future has been hailed as “straight out of science fiction”, with technology aimed at putting an end to one annoying gripe.

The Agnelli Foundation headquarters in Turin, Italy. Picture: Beppe Giardino.

AN ITALIAN design firm has unveiled its vision for the “office of the future”, vowing to put and end to the “thermostat wars” once and for all.

Carlo Ratti Association, in partnership with Fiat Chrysler, transformed the headquarters of the Agnelli Foundation, a not-for-profit research institute based in Turin, into “Office 3.0”, an app-controlled structure which uses internet-of-things technology to adapt in real-time to users’ needs.

Mobile technology company Siemens collaborated with the firm to equip the 100-year-old building with hundreds of Wi-Fi connected sensors that monitor different sets of data, including the location of occupants, temperature, CO2 concentration, and the availability of meeting rooms.

Each office worker downloads the Building Management System app, and sets their preferred temperature and illumination settings. They can also use the app to check in to work, interact with co-workers, book meeting rooms and shared desks.

The BMS responds accordingly, adjusting levels of lighting, heating and air conditioning as the user moves around the building, creating a personalised “environmental bubble”. When an occupant leaves, the room returns to “standby mode” to save energy.

The Wall Street Journal described the “Office 3.0” concept as “straight out of science fiction”, while design magazine Dezeen called it “one of the top 10 visions for the future”.

Picture: Beppe Giardino.

Picture: Beppe Giardino.

Picture: Beppe Giardino

Picture: Beppe Giardino.

Picture: Beppe Giardino

Picture: Beppe Giardino

“As work has become increasingly digital, why should be bothered to go into the office?” Carlo Ratti Association founder Carlo Ratti said in a statement.

“The key answer to that question lies in human interaction. The central idea behind the Agnelli Foudnation project is that by seamlessly integrating digital technologies within the physical space, we can forge better relationships between people and with the building they inhabit, ultimately fostering interaction and creativity.

“This is what we call Office 3.0. It’s a vision that overcomes the limitations of the pre-internet spaces as well as the alienating isolation of teleworking.”

The 6500 square metre building, which is focused around a 3000 square metre co-working space, was officially opened at an event on Thursday featuring Italian president Sergio Mattarella and former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg.

The co-working space, operated by Talent Garden, will house up to 350 workers. The building, which Agnelli Foundation says will become a cultural centre for the city, will host under the same roof creative professionals working at shared desks, venture capital investors, researchers for a philanthropic institution and teachers involved in experimental programs.

“Such a progressive mix of professionals of all ages, backgrounds and responsibilities — from students to C-level executives of Fortune 500 companies — would have never happened just a few years ago,” said Mr Ratti.

The renowned designer, who also heads the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Senseable City Lab, last year created a prototype of the supermarket of the future, featuring robot arms and self-restocking shelves.

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Originally published as Office 3.0 will put an end to the ‘thermostat wars’