Architects Datafile (ADF) – June 2019

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The outside inside
Healthy living is a consideration we always
take into account when designing buildings
at gpad. As an example, One Cathedral
Square in Bristol was a tired office building
we transformed. It now has huge amounts
of natural light, spacious reception areas
and internal terracing to encourage
movement. Further than that, there are
showers, changing areas and enough
storage for 50 bicycles.
The centrepiece is a naturally lit atrium,
surrounded by large, open floorplates. This
is also home to a vast living wall extending
13 metres high. It offers an impressive, lush
focal point, and draws the eye upwards
into the atrium. This naturally connects the
building users to the outside and blends the
boundaries between outside and inside.

Biophilic design
Research shows that biophilic design can be
powerfully beneficial on productivity and
wellbeing by lowering stress levels. The
CBRE’s 2016 report ‘The Snowball Effects
of Healthy Offices’, suggested that exposure
to nature murals and live – or artificial –
plants resulted in people perceiving their

performance to be 10 per cent better. 65 per

cent said they felt healthier, 76 per cent

more energised and 78 per cent happier.

Floor-to-ceiling glazing is clearly

benefitting workers on the upper levels at

One Cathedral Square. It gives stimulating

views across the foyer and the natural wall,

as well as maximising the natural light

entering the space. While the greenery is a

statement, it is also a calming natural

backdrop allowing relief away from the

desk and screen.

Conclusion

Research shows how good design is a

tangible way to improve happiness and

productivity – Competing budgets, such as

training; management development and

benefits have a more easily quantifiable,

reliable return on investment, which

complicates things.

We need to find ways to show exactly by

how much good design helps. Studies such

as Bill Browning’s ‘The Economics of

Biophilia’ (2015) already show how

relatively small investments incorporating

biophilic design in workspaces can

significantly reduce company costs by

minimising absenteeism and savings in

healthcare costs.

Inspiring spaces can make a major

difference to worker health, happiness and

productivity. Designing workspace today is

also about creating an environment that

can evolve as our working methods evolve.

It’s about constantly striving for the best

possible environments for wellbeing, while

future proofing the spaces we’re creating.

Charles Bettes is managing director of gpad

Making the physical

workplace more appealing

to workers is beneficial to

developers and agents

alike. There are numerous

ways to achieve this; some

offices install anything

from bars and cafes to

slides and mini golf

© Peter Savage

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