Trade Fair
Dialog architecture
by Annett
– what does it mean?
If you enter the term dialog architecture into Google, you get a manageable list of entries. Strange, really, given that the willingness to engage in dialog has never been so high. But in connection with the word “architecture”, the term is still not very familiar. We think it's a great fit, because architecture has secured a prominent place in transformative corporate strategies in the new work movement. In the past, architecture was primarily for aesthetes. For aesthetes. For people who didn't seem to know what to do with their money. At least in the eyes of the pragmatists. Today we know that people spend more time and feel more comfortable in consciously and sensitively designed environments. And that this also increases the willingness to engage in dialog.
We see an increased desire for face2face exchange as the antithesis of digitalization. Informing, comparing, learning and sharing knowledge - all this is easily possible digitally. Participation in virtual communities provides access to inspiration and exchange within the realms of possibility. But the experience of face-to-face discussions, the joint development of ideas and solutions, the dynamics of an emotional exchange, the certainty of a lasting commitment, the development of a shared understanding of an issue - digital tools or chats cannot really provide all of this.
These considerations are not only worthwhile for permanent spaces, but should also be taken into account for temporary buildings in particular. At events and trade fairs, for example, the focus is increasingly on interaction and less on downloads. This is because it can be staged much better digitally. Where people meet in real life, the valuable time should be used to achieve what people are made for: using their creative and emotional intelligence to develop sustainable solutions.
Dialogue architecture thus fills a gap that supports precisely these processes through space-creating measures and the use of suitable furniture. And in an agile way. After all, needs often change in the course of exchanges. If you start with a larger group, you suddenly need several zones for small group discussions. After an emotional discussion, you suddenly need areas to visualize possible solutions. And since everyone knows that the most important flashes of inspiration often come during breaks, this area should also be designed and structured with sensitivity.
