Amsterdam's RAI exhibition centre will host over 150 international exhibitors this November as the Workspace Design Show returns with a focus on multi-sensory office environments, presenting significant opportunities for developers eyeing the post-pandemic workplace revolution.
The two-day event, running 5-6 November at RAI Amsterdam Hall 5, will showcase innovations from global brands including Vepa, Pedrali, Kvadrat, Interface, Tarkett, and Humanscale, with installations created by M Moser Associates, Biophilic Design Academy, Casper Schwarz Architects, UNS, Mecanoo, and Tank Design.
For property developers and investors, the show highlights a critical shift in tenant demands. The European flexible workspace market, valued at approximately €4bn, continues to expand as corporates like Amazon, Booking.com, Adidas, and ABN AMRO reimagine their property portfolios. With office vacancy rates in Amsterdam hovering near 12%, landlords are under pressure to deliver multi-sensory environments that justify premium rents and attract quality tenants in an increasingly competitive market.
Tarkett will present Lino Materiale, a linoleum collection crafted from 96% natural ingredients, whilst Dutch manufacturer Vepa collaborates with designer Ineke Hans on Wireworks, a modular room-in-room solution. Interface introduces their LVT collection "In The Mix", responding to demand for terrazzo-inspired flooring, and Nowy Styl launches SPIX acoustic office pods designed for focus work.
The conference programme will feature over 140 speakers from UNS, OMA, MVRDV, Gensler, and Arcadis, alongside the FRAME Awards celebrating design excellence. "With Wireworks, we introduce a striking and contemporary workspace solution offering calmness and flexibility in open office spaces," according to show materials describing the Vepa collaboration.
Humanscale marks 25 years of its Freedom Chair with a limited-edition release honouring designer Niels Diffrient, featuring reclaimed ocean plastic models. The show's "Activate the Senses" theme reflects growing evidence that sensory-rich environments boost productivity by up to 15%, a metric increasingly important to institutional investors evaluating workplace asset performance.
People mentioned:
- Ineke Hans, Designer
- Niels Diffrient, Designer (Freedom Chair)
Companies mentioned:
- Workspace Design Show, Exhibition organiser
- RAI Amsterdam, Venue
- Vepa, Sustainable furniture manufacturer
- Tarkett, Flooring solutions
- Interface, Flooring manufacturer
- Nowy Styl, Office furniture manufacturer
- Kvadrat, Textile and acoustic solutions
- Humanscale, Ergonomic furniture manufacturer
- Pedrali, Furniture manufacturer
- M Moser Associates, Workplace design consultancy
- Biophilic Design Academy, Design consultancy
- Casper Schwarz Architects, Architecture firm
- UNS, Architecture and design studio
- Mecanoo, Architecture firm
- Tank Design, Design studio
- OMA, Architecture firm
- MVRDV, Architecture firm
- Gensler, Architecture and design firm
- Arcadis, Design and consultancy firm
- Amazon, Technology company
- Booking.com, Travel technology company
- Adidas, Sportswear company
- ABN AMRO, Banking institution
- FRAME Awards, Design awards programme
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