ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on participant observation in the main office of JFC in London during seven weeks at the end of 1999. JFC is an international architecture and consulting firm with headquarters in England and other offices in Europe, North America, and Australia. It shows that what might seem to be a variety of different design aspects in fact converges into two distinct and fairly coherent design narratives. Seen from the intent of the designers but also from the reality of office use, one can distinguish two competing visions of work that informed JFC’s office design and shaped the office and the way it worked. Technology played a central part in their own office, both visible as computing, communication devices, invisible as part of an advanced infrastructure. A related line of inquiry explored the close relation between space, technology, and social forms. The design not only provided space for travelers and visitors, it made it easy for them to blend in with the full-time employees of the London office.
