Photography: Tom Donald
Natural selection
Workspace specialist Mitie plants the seeds for a mindful set-up and well workers
When one of London’s bigest providers of serviced
oice space moved into its own new HQ, it set out to
study the beneits of a wellness-focused environment.
Mitie is based on the 12th loor of the Shard in
London Bridge, where a team of 200 oversee oices for
inance, retail and manufacturing clients across the UK
and Europe. ‘When we knew we were moving here we
saw an opportunity to do something diferent,’ says
James Reynoldson, Mitie’s head of workplace wellbeing.
Enter the architect DaeWha Kang, a former key
stafer at Zaha Hadid Architects. Based in east London,
DaeWha Kang Design has a special focus on the
relationship between wellbeing and environment,
aiming to create intricate, organic spaces that are
also human-friendly. ‘We’re wired for certain things;
stability, security in space,’ Kang says. ‘This maps
directly on the physical environment. People want to
see who’s coming and have a sense of shelter. They
want a visual richness. These are physiological needs.’
At Mitie, Kang and his team have set up a full-
scale lab experiment with two new ‘wellness areas’incorporated into the workplace to provide real
alternatives to regular desks. For Reynoldson, it’s a
chance to explore practice over theory. ‘Obviously
we’d like to know how we can use this as a launchpad
for further conversations with clients,’ he says.
‘Our work is about measurably improving things
through design, beauty and innovation,’ says Kang.
‘Architecture isn’t just about large-scale sculpture.
Creating a more productive working environment is
more important.’ Set in the building’s winter garden,
Mitie’s Living Lab is elegant but also functional, an
alternative oice space enveloped by a wooden cocoon
and featuring bamboo desks with built-in planters.
The lighting follows a circadian cycle, but can also be
overridden – ‘Control is a real balancing act,’ says
Reynoldson, ‘it’s working out what works best on a
larger scale’ – while a bunch of environmental sensors
feeds data back to the team.
In addition, there are Regeneration Pods, two
carved wooden niches with the city skyline set outbefore them. These dedicated spots for 15 minutes of (^) »
ABOVE, DESIGNED FOLLOWING
A ‘BIOPHILIC’ APPROACH
(MIMICKING NATURE), MITIE’S
LIVING LAB AT ITS LONDON
HQ INCLUDES A BAMBOO AND
BRASS COCOON, BAMBOO
DESKS, AND LIGHTING BASED
ON THE CIRCADIAN CYCLE.
WORKERS’ WELLBEING IS
MONITORED AND COMPARED
WITH THAT OF STAFF IN A
MORE CONVENTIONAL SPACE
WITHIN THE MAIN OFFICE
WRITER: JONATHAN BELL
Officepaper*
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