By Mercedes Quintanilla.
To maintain employee engagement, the design should be created to maintain identifiable visual collision points within office spaces and these should encourage employees to share ideas, collaborate and meet while reflecting the behaviors of their home neighborhoods. .
One company that takes the neighborhood design approach is Airbnb. Workstations are collective spaces without individual desks, a central multipurpose staircase connects the space, and visual connections help employees and guests navigate. With “home”-inspired design touches in every space, Airbnb is leveraging the neighborhood approach to connect its team with its customers and the overall brand proposition.
Nature in the neighborhood.
Many studies have shown the value of biophilic design in supporting employee engagement. In Human Space’s study of the global impact of biophilic design in the workplace, respondents noted increased creativity, productivity, and well-being if they had exposure to natural elements such as sunlight and greenery.
Another example is the e-commerce company Etsy and its partner Gensler, recently designed a workspace in New York that showcases technology, craftsmanship and a regenerative ecosystem inspired by nature. The use of natural materials identifies different neighborhoods, ensuring that the employee community can navigate, collaborate and use the space to best meet their needs.
Employees want a workplace that inspires them, connects them with nature, and gives them a sense of community.
For architects and designers, the neighborhood design principle offers a wealth of possibilities to create smart, multifunctional spaces using wellness-focused materials to inspire the workforce of tomorrow.
References
•Bill Browning. (2015). The Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the Workplace. HUMAN SPACES. https://greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Human-Spaces-Report-Biophilic-Global_Impact_Biophilic_Design.pdf
• Biophilic Office Design – Bringing Nature Into The Workplace | K2Space. (2020b, October 29). K2space. https://k2space.co.uk/knowledge/biophilic-office-design/
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