ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book describes the role of offices in cities, their contribution to the economy, the people who build and own them, the organisations that occupy and manage them, and the nature of the space itself as a place of work. It aims to give a full account of the history, offering the reader an illuminating, interesting and comprehensive perspective on the office – a hugely important influence on modern life. The book seeks to redress the neglect of office activity by shedding a beam of light across its history to explain how the office has evolved over time. It seeks to blend technical discussion with historic anecdote to tell the story of the office, to provide the reader with a broad and deep perspective on the emergence of the office as a function of the economy and its impact on all our lives.
