The number of people working from home has grown exponentially over last 5 years. The digital revolution has thrown aside all barriers that, earlier would have hindered communication. From using heavy telephones and paying hefty bills to now using mobile phones with free voice calls, we’ve clearly moved towards a more convenient life.

It very common for married couples to split the housework down to the center, with both partners working now more than before. Hence there is a need for flexible work timings.

There has been a rapid rise in coworking spaces . A country like ours is dependent on a young working population which is leaning towards an office free life. But is an office free environment really that beneficial? Are we really that efficient when we’re given so much of flexibility? To understand this better let's take a look at why fully furnished office spaces were significant in the first and why they continue to be?

To begin with, a physical space is the heart of a culture. If you don’t have a physical space for your organization's culture to live and breath in, it can very easily be lost.

While many feel that office spaces are unnecessary in today's digital age, arguments can be made against it. Physical office spaces can create random and unexpected interactions between people, sparking discussions that lead to new ideas and work relationships. The phenomenon is based on urban planning's notion of "nodes." For instance in a city people move in all different directions. Sometimes their paths intersect at crosswalks, sometimes at a local coffee shop. These intersections are nodes and they are just as important for creating a vibrant culture in cities as they are for creating a lively office environment. It's the intangibles that make up for the city culture and not just infrastructure.

Steve Jobs during his time was notorious for putting his employees in situations that would bring out the best in them. Jobs during his time at Pixar had installed all the restrooms in the exact center of the campus, forcing employees to walk. His goal was to stimulate conversation between two individuals who normally not actively talk to each other. As extreme had this method sounds, it can be great way for employees from different departments to interact. Even simply having an area that has a softer seating arrangement does the job. It acts as a place for people to unwind for a while and touchdown as they’re moving from one place to another.

Online video chatting services Skype and Facetime are great for planned meetings, but the element of randomness will a be missed, that is exclusive to only physical spaces. Also the role of technology will always change but the value and need for face to face conversations can be never overlooked.