January 13, 2017
- Viktoria Dekany
- Jan 13, 2017
- 3 min read
PREPARING FOR MY DEGREE PROJECT
RESEARCH INTO BIOPHILIA & CO-WORKSPACES
I was blessed with a childhood full of outdoor play along green parks and vast woodlands in Hungary. There were hours spent in the beautiful woods. Days alone riding my bike from the tow path of the Tisa Canal; a childhood with limited TV, limited technology. We watched wild flowers in the woods close upon sunset as fireflies lit the sky.
Research Methods
The initial questions that were posed at the beginning of this extended research were included the exploration of the current issues and demands in the work environments, the key factors in the development of effective and successful workspaces as well the facilities that have a positive impact on office workers health, well-being and productivity.
To help analyse my theme, I have attempted to demonstrate my advanced level of investigative capabilities by selecting a range of particular research methods which I believe to be the most appropriate way of finding the information I need to progress the study of my chosen topic in as much relevant detail as possible. My journal culminates in a detailed design brief specification which informed by my conclusions and findings within the investigation mentioned above. As part of the brief I was able to outline a concept to form the basis of a design project which, I will follow up in the Negotiated Major Project module.
The Issue
Conducting this research has opened my eyes to the wider problem of the uncomfortable workplaces not only in the UK but worldwide, and the issues that drive it from generation to generation. The studies I have read have helped me to understand that the design of workplaces is a multifaceted and wide-reaching field and therefore it should receive a responsive action.
The Solution
There are options available to help improve people lives, such as the incorporation of biophilic design and the offering of creative environments where workers are able to flourish. The concept of biophilia highlights an innate connection between humans and nature, which more recently has been recognized as a key consideration when designing and developing workspaces. The idea of incorporating nature into the built environment through biophilic design is an economic investment into employees’ health, well-being and performance. Biophilic design could also be a powerful gateway to greater engagement with less accessible sustainability issues and considerations like carbon footprints and resource life-cycles in the built environment.
In addition, internationally respected authorities such as the World Health Organization, suggest that a well-designed built environment with green space can positively shape the social, psychological, and behavioral patterns of society, leading to improved health and well-being (WHO, 2013). According to the research materials, I assert that bringing elements of nature into the workplace, whether real or artificial, is beneficial in terms of employee outcomes. As such, when thinking about office design and its impact on employees, designers should take serious consideration of the amount of nature contact provided in the workspace in order to both maintain positive levels of well-being amongst employees but to also keep employee performance at an optimal level.
Equally, the design quality of the built environment is shown to be critical to our ability to manage stress. I believe that embracing a people-centered and strategic approach to design is a powerful way to face the constant change and challenges at work, optimize results, and reward efforts with success, satisfaction, and joy.
What's next?
My research into the strategic design of workplaces has covered a number of issues and it need to be addressed by designers with extensive first-hand knowledge and experience of it themselves. I believe that I have gained the suitable knowledge of the subject by reviewing the works of the most famous design experts, as well as visiting an existing award-winning successful co-workspace, furthermore I am also able to take advantage in the form of personal experiences. I would like to proliferate these human focused ideas to the wider design community and building users to ensure that health and well-being becomes a priority that also underpins sustainable design. Therefore, the brief for my next project - Negotiated Major Project - will derive from the problems in this research that I believe I can address.
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