-
The design of Spotify's regional hub for Sub-Saharan Africa serves as a compelling example of sustainable design thinking. The hub was designed in alignment with Green Star principles, with local procurement forming a key component of the design strategy. -
For the office of this leading international financial institution, Trend Group's role encompassed the complete design and build process – delivering a space that reflected the client's commitment to a greater cause and their mission to foster growth within their industry and invest in a sustainable future. -
Natural timber, soft lighting and quirky wall art foster a sense of well-being and creativity in this office design for South 32. The space is designed to be multifunctional, with a versatile breakout area, wellness and parents' rooms, and a range of meeting spaces – all tailored to support a flexible and collaborative work style. -
The Guild commercial fit-out brings together a restaurant and a range of flexible coworking and workspace areas, with Paragon Interface leading the design and Trend Group managing the build. Underpinned by a warm, neutral palette, luxurious textures and bespoke joinery, the space feels both welcoming and sophisticated. -
The PPS headquarters in Cape Town is designed to respond to the varied ways people use the office throughout the day. Distinct, zoned environments cater to a range of needs – from focused work and private client meetings to collaboration, wellness and social connection.
Function and feeling are not opposites. The most effective workplaces are built on the understanding that both matter equally.
The most human-centric offices share a common architecture of beliefs. From the materials chosen to the way space flows, each decision contributes to an environment that puts people first.
For Trend Group, office interior design-and-build specialists with studios in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, London, Dubai and Cairo, creating spaces that work for people is both philosophy and practice.
Trend Group brings design and delivery together, giving clients the flexibility to engage the studio for a complete Design and Build solution or to work alongside their own Design Team. Either way, clients receive one accountable team and a dedicated single point of contact from first conversation to final handover. Working alongside architects, interior designers and professional teams, the studio functions as the trusted delivery partner behind some of Africa’s most considered workspaces – managing the complexity of project coordination, construction and fit-out to carry the vision through from concept to completion.
Four key principles help define a working environment that people genuinely want to spend time in:
Sustainability
Sustainable thinking starts at the design stage, with decisions around orientation, natural light, energy use, material selection and the efficient adaptation of existing space. It then carries through into the build, from responsibly sourced, durable construction materials to waste reduction during installation and careful consideration of how the space can evolve. Sustainability is not a final layer added to a project, but something embedded in the thinking from the outset.
Culture
Brand culture is expressed through the way a space feels, functions and brings people together – from the materials and spatial hierarchy to the environments created for collaboration, focus and connection. A thoughtfully executed design reflects how an organisation actually operates and what it values – and the workplace, in turn, becomes a genuine expression of its culture.
Connection
People need different environments for different tasks throughout the day, which is why people-centred office design prioritises flexible working environments – from café-style spaces that invite collaboration to focus zones that support deep work without interruption. This reflects a broader shift away from corporate minimalism towards a sensory, hospitality-driven aesthetic. As a result, offices are becoming layered, textured and emotionally supportive spaces that feel genuinely comfortable to inhabit.
Atmosphere
One of the most significant shifts in office design is the incorporation of biophilic design principles. Natural light, greenery and acoustic solutions are no longer treated as decorative add-ons or post-design afterthoughts. Working in conjunction, they boost not only staff productivity but also employee well-being.
For Trend Group, this is the purpose behind every workplace it designs and delivers: creating environments that respond to the people who use them, support the way they work and reflect the organisations they represent. Because the best workplaces aren’t simply built for work – they’re built for people. | trendgroup.co.za
