Do Offices Shape Cities? How a Place Can Influence Work and Lifestyle
An office’s location isn’t just a dot on the map—it defines how people work, interact, and live. It’s the epicentre of daily routines, a hub for networking, talent attraction, and company culture.
And its position within the city? It matters. Oh, it seriously matters. Because there’s a world of difference between working in a glass tower a stone’s throw from the financial district and spending your days with hoodie-clad startuppers in a converted factory-slash-creative hub.
Let’s not kid ourselves: it’s not the city that sets the tone. It’s the neighbourhood.
And while there’s no right or wrong, it’s essential to understand that choosing where to open an office isn’t just a real estate decision—it’s a strategic one. From Milan to Rome to Lisbon, there are neighbourhoods rewriting the rules of work. Let’s take a look.
“Milan l'è un gran Milan” (which roughly means: “Milan is truly a great Milan”)
Working in Milan can mean a lot of different things. It could be a daily obstacle course of traffic jams, espresso-fuelled meetings, and high-speed lunches among the skyscrapers of Porta Nuova. Or it could mean a slower pace among urban parks and high-tech offices along the Navigli.
The city is a patchwork of work cultures defined by its neighbourhoods: Chinatown, for example, is evolving into a melting pot of offices (and dumpling incubators), while Lorenteggio is shedding its industrial past and embracing a new kind of business energy.
Case in point: Niterra’s headquarters at the L Building, Lorenteggio Business Center (link). Once a gritty industrial zone, the area is now a strategic hub for businesses looking for smart spaces, solid transport connections, and flexible infrastructure.
The Niterra office is designed to maximise collaboration and employee wellbeing, with adaptable layouts and sustainable solutions. A choice that perfectly reflects the neighbourhood’s transformation—from manufacturing fringe to contemporary business node.
Rome: Where the Office Meets the Grande Bellezza
Rome is many things—but static? Never.
Sure, working from a historic building with a view of the Colosseum has its charm (until you’re blocked by a protest or a film crew). But today, the real action is happening elsewhere.
Neighbourhoods like EUR and Ostiense have become the gravitational centre of Rome’s business scene, thanks to modern infrastructure, next-gen workspaces, and a growing corporate ecosystem.
Just look at JPMS’s office at 23/31 EUR Center (link). A space that fully embraces the EUR identity: corporate, but never dull.
The office is built for maximum operational efficiency, with modular layouts, advanced digital infrastructure, and a functional design that makes it a textbook example of how companies can thrive by aligning with their neighbourhood. For those working here, the future of business has already begun—just with better coffee breaks in Piazza Marconi.
Lisbon: Where Start-Ups, Surf, and Hybrid Offices Coexist
Forget the traditional office: in Lisbon, work happens everywhere—from riverside co-working spaces to former factories reborn as creative hubs.
The city has become Europe’s test lab for flexible work, with start-ups rethinking what a “headquarters” even means and neighbourhoods that make dynamism part of the daily routine.
A prime example? The headquarters of a confidential luxury client at Oriente Green Campus (link). Located in Parque das Nações—a district born from the regeneration of a former industrial area—the office is part of an ecosystem where business, residential life, and green spaces thrive in harmony.
The interior design reflects this vision: hybrid environments, sustainable materials, and layouts built for fluid, modern workstyles. If the future of work is flexible, they’re already living it here.
Right Neighbourhood, Right Culture
The message is clear: cities shape business strategy, sure—but more than that, they shape how we experience work.
So, for companies on the hunt for their next office, the question isn’t just about cost per square metre. It’s: Where do I want my people to show up every day? And just as crucially: What kind of work culture am I trying to build?
Because in the end, the right neighbourhood doesn’t just house an office. It helps shape the people who work on it.
Biophilic Office: Why the Future of Work Has Never Been So Caring
Ever walked into an office and felt… completely drained? Stale air, unforgiving neon lights, and desks crammed together like a conveyor belt. And then we wonder why creativity bolts out the door. Enter biophilic design: a smart (and by now, essential) way of shaping spaces that don’t just function—they breathe. What begins with a token plant or two quickly snowballs into a living, breathing ecosystem that lifts the mood, lowers stress levels, and gives your brain a proper workout. And no, it’s not just a vibe: data collected by NHS Forest shows that nature-rich environments improve sleep quality, lower blood pressure and dramatically reduce anxiety and cortisol levels. Even ten minutes surrounded by greenery can make a tangible difference to how we experience pain and stress. Forget office aromatherapy—this is the real stuff.
More nature, less burnout. Simple, right?
We spend most of our lives indoors, bathed in artificial light and recycled air. So it’s no shocker when we hit that 3pm wall and start blinking at the screen like caffeinated zombies. An office built with natural ventilation, green walls and lighting that aligns with our circadian rhythms isn’t just easy on the eyes—it’s a game-changer for your health. The air’s cleaner, your brain fog lifts, and your eyelids stop trying to slide shut.
But wait—there’s more. Even a sliver of sky or a couple of trees outside your window can work wonders for your wellbeing. The science says so, and your brain agrees (cheers for that). According to the Green Space for Health programme, regular access to green space improves mood and boosts immune function. People feel more connected, more energised, more grounded. And, crucially, less likely to hurl their mouse across the room. And water? Hugely underrated. Fountains and water walls aren’t just there to impress on Instagram—they reduce background noise and make spaces acoustically soothing. What’s more, research shows that they lower cognitive load after intense mental tasks. Like surviving three back-to-back Zoom calls without throwing your laptop out the window.
Less plastic, more brain cells firing
Biophilic design isn’t just about looking good. It’s (first and foremost) about sustainability. Solid wood, recycled materials, energy-efficient systems—choosing this path means lowering your carbon footprint and improving the everyday lives of your people. Which, just to be clear, should be non-negotiable. The real revolution? Flexibility. A biophilic office is never static—it flexes, morphs, evolves. Modular spaces that change function throughout the day. Quiet corners that turn into impromptu meeting spots. Relaxation zones that double as creative launchpads. And then there’s touch. Literally. The brain responds better to natural materials—raw wood, stone, organic textiles. It’s carved in stone: less plastic, more honest texture. And the bonus? According to the Community Forest Trust (NHS Forest’s partner), regular contact with natural materials stimulates neuroplasticity, improves short-term memory, and boosts mental adaptability. Not bad for a humble wooden desk, right?
Productivity, engagement, relationships—the space we work in shapes it all. It influences how we think, how we communicate, even how we relate to each other. A biophilic office isn’t just “nicer to look at”—it’s a place where people actually want to be. A space where ideas flow, connections spark, and collaboration happens naturally. The future of office design isn’t about cramming in more desks per square metre. It’s about building environments where people feel good, not just present. In hospitals, patients with a view of nature heal faster and need less medication. Now imagine what a rooftop garden could do for your finance team at year-end.
And if that means knocking down a few cubicles to make space for an indoor jungle… well, we’ve just found the perfect set for the next happy hour.
