An office is so much more than just four walls and a floor: its inhabitants spend most of their waking hours there and this needs to be reflected in the lay-out and design.
Getting as much natural light into your workplace is essential on two counts. Not only is natural light known to make people feel happier but it also increases their productivity. In a 2012 study conducted by scientist Mirjam Muench a direct link was found between the two. The study compared two groups of people, one being exposed to daylight, the other to artificial light over the course of several work days. People who had DL (Daylight) were found to be significantly more alert at the beginning of the evening, and subjects who were exposed to AL (Artificial light) were significantly sleepier at the end of the evening. On top of “sleepiness”, which most of us could probably deal with is the fact that our cortisol levels drop significantly under artificial or poor lighting conditions. That means that we’ll be more stressed, and have less ability to stabilise our energy levels.
Open-plan office space has obvious attractions when it comes to maximising the light coming into a building, while glass walls are a practical solution for private offices. Hand in hand with light comes space. Informal break-out areas are all the rage in offices at the moment as they encourage people to get away from their confined work stations and interact with colleagues. Freedom of movement around an office can be encouraged by having corridors that are wide enough and clear of clutter.
If you'd like to discuss office design and hear about our recent refurbishment projects, please give me a call on 07913 406467
