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Office Design

Biophilic Design: What is it and Why is it Popular?

You may or may not have heard the term, “biophilic design,” but you’ve probably seen it without knowing its name. And you’re likely to see more biophilic spaces in the future.

So what is biophilic design? Wikipedia defines it this way:

Biophilic design is a concept used within the building industry to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions.

To that we would add, “Not just the building industry but interior design as well.”

The theory behind biophilic design is that as the world becomes more urbanized it’s more and more important that we stay connected to the outdoors, and proponents of the trend point out some very real benefits. The term itself is several decades old and translates to “love of life or living systems,” the idea being that we all subconsciously need to connect with other living things.

In real terms as it applies to commercial design, that means any number of things, but think lots of wood, plants as an architectural feature, indoor waterfalls and so forth. Definitions vary as to exactly what does and does not constitute biophilic design, but consider this: an atrium with full-size trees and waterfalls, simulating an exterior setting, is definitely biophilic. A ficus tree in your cubicle, not so much.

And there’s a huge middle ground, of course, but however you define it, there’s a marked trend towards bringing the outdoors to indoor spaces.

Why? Well, if you’ve ever gone for a hike in the woods to clear your mind, or if you’re a camping enthusiast, you understand the positive effects being in the outdoors can have on your psyche. In a commercial setting, proper use of biophilic elements translates to reduced stress, improved cognitive function, better moods and greater creativity. And any business could use some of that, right?

Does that mean you have to tear up your whole building and plant a forest in the lobby? No (although that would be pretty cool!). There are many ways, large and small, to incorporate biophilic design elements into the workplace.

Want to know more? Contact our design professionals.

Baby Got Backless…Seating

By now you’ve heard the phrase “sitting is the new smoking,” and you’ve probably seen more than a few people using stand-up desks in an effort to improve their posture and overall health. All of that is great, but the reality is that for many of us, standing up for a full workday isn’t practical. Long hours in a standing position can also lead to lower back pain and even leg or foot issues.

So is there a compromise between standing up and sitting like a lump in your office chair? There is, and it’s called backless seating. The name is self-explanatory, and the idea is to stop letting the back of your office chair do the work your core muscles are supposed to be doing. Perhaps you’ve seen one or more adventurous co-workers using an exercise ball as a chair … same idea here, but with a lower risk of falling off (exercise balls have fallen out of favor as seating options in any event as experts have determined that they may actually place additional pressure on the spine).

Probably the most common form factor for backless seating is the saddle stool. Picture the thing your doctor or dentist scoots around on sometimes and you’ll get the idea. Most have wheels, some don’t, and many will adjust from a standard desk height to more of a barstool elevation.

There are a number of benefits: the saddle shape of the seat is designed to encourage a forward tilt in your pelvis, which in turn maintains the natural lumbar curve of the spine. The inability to lean back keeps your core engaged, and the wheels on most stools keep you from slouching forward, because if you lean too far you’ll suddenly find you don’t have a stool beneath you anymore.

Like stand-up desks, you’ll probably find you don’t want to go backless for eight hours at a time, especially right off the bat. Your muscles will need time to adjust, and you may find spending a full day on a backless seat uncomfortable.

In any event, the ideal solution is a combination of positions: sitting, standing and perhaps most importantly, moving around the office on a regular basis, all have a place in your workday and should be used in combination. For the sitting portions of your day, though, consider going backless.

Five Overlooked Areas When Designing Office Space

Office Space Design

When designing a new office space, it can be exciting and frustrating at the same time. There are plans, budgets, and purchases to make, and it seems there’s always one thing that’s forgotten.

Office design is important to the health of any business, as you’re creating a space where employees will spend a majority of their time. Douron can help you with all your office design needs. Contact us for an appointment with a design consultant.

There are things one would normally consider when buying office furniture, such as costs and budget. However, there are other things to consider when making such vital purchases, including:

Functionality and Flexibility

See if the desks you’re buying have drawers for file storage. The more versatile your furniture, the more you’re getting out of your investment. Also, check that your employees will be comfortable at their new desks.

Size

New furniture may look nice, but if it’s too big for the space, it’s useless. Work spaces should allow for fluid traffic and movement.

Aesthetic Value and Your Brand’s Identity

Smart office design can lighten the mood, ease stress, and increase productivity. Color psychology can help produce the right atmosphere, which may depend on your industry and what atmosphere you want to create for your clients. Find inspiration from logo colors or business cards to create continuity in your brand identity.

Wish list

There are some pieces of furniture that would be nice but often don’t make the budget. Regardless, consider the wish list as you create the place where employees will spend the majority of their time. Eating areas, brainstorming centers, research libraries, or recreation rooms for clients may help create a productive office atmosphere.

Cleanliness

Furniture must be thoroughly sanitized before bringing it into the office. Whether it came from a second-hand store or was purchased new, it must be clean before going into the work space. Clean furniture helps maintain a cleaner, healthier working environment, which leads to fewer employee absences from sickness.

The experts at Douron are ready to help you create your ultimate work atmosphere. Contact us to schedule an appointment.

Moving Walls: A Better Choice for Office Flexibility

If you want to maximize space and be more cost-effective, consider movable walls instead of renting a larger space. This solution can provide the space you need without the cost of relocating your business or renovating your current office.

Benefits of Movable Office Walls

There are many benefits to being able to move walls within your work space. Here are a few examples:

  • Simple installation
  • Relocation flexibility
  • Cost-effective
  • Versatile
  • Sustainable

All of these perks are things business owners need to make a company more efficient. Rearranging walls to create a new space is something that was unheard of a few years ago. Now you have to ability to set up a new work space in just a few days.

You can use movable walls to create conference rooms, offices, and work spaces. They’re versatile and easy to install. Movable walls give you privacy but can be moved, changed, or taken away quickly and easily if necessary. If these are things you want for your business, contact us to discuss your options.

Relocating your business can be expensive. Movable walls are a cost-effective alternative, which makes them very appealing to companies looking to grow their enterprises without relocating or renovating. Many companies renovate their office space and have traditional walls put in to create rooms and spaces. But adding traditional walls to an office space can cut into a company’s bottom line since it takes so long to install them. Traditional walls are also labor intensive, which costs more.

Lastly, traditional walls limit your options, since they’re fixed in one position. You can’t move them to create a new space without hiring someone to tear down one wall and install another. You want your office space to work for your business, not against it. Movable walls give your business the flexibility it needs to grow faster without worrying about moving.

Creating a space that can be easily redesigned when needed is invaluable to a growing company. Let Douron help you with your office space needs. Contact us today for more information on movable walls and how they can help your business.

Getting the Most Out of Your Office Furnishing Consultation

The average US employee feels he or she could be 21% more productive given a better working environment. Research also states that poor workplace design costs businesses an estimated $330 billion per year. While office design may not seem like a priority at the moment, it can make a huge impact on your bottom line.

Office design isn’t normally the first thing on an entrepreneur’s priority list. Normally, you’re trying to make payroll, pay off debts, pay your investors, and if you can, begin the office design process. Having a team of office design experts standing by to give you a free consultation is one of the best ways to get started. Contact Douron, the office experts, to prioritize your business productivity needs.

Outside View

The construction of the building itself is one of the first elements to consider. Is it an enclosed area, or does it have an outside view? Research shows that employees who have a view of the outside performed faster and better by a margin of up to 16%. Also, research on call center employees found that those with nice views had a 6% decrease in time required to handle calls.

Temperature

One-third of employees complain about the temperature of their office environments. The ideal temperature is 69-71 degrees. If it’s colder, employees may be more alert but distracted. If it’s warmer, people will feel lethargic and uncomfortable. While this may not technically be a design issue, office design elements can affect the temperature.

Collaboration

Office design plays a key role in collaboration. This is why companies like Google, Yahoo, and Facebook have reinvented their workspaces. At Google, there are no separate cubicles, but there are long desks where employees set up their computers. Google has found this design to be more conducive to collaboration, since you can ask your coworker a question quickly instead of waiting for email responses.

However, if work needs to be completed individually, an open floor plan may actually decrease your productivity due to noise levels. Studies have found that 30% of employees are distracted by their co-workers’ conversations.

Hire a Design Team

This is why having a design expert on your team is so important. Our design experts at Douron are here to make your office design revamp as smooth as possible. Contact us for a free consultation.

Is Your Work Space Efficient?

Efficient Work Space

Douron poses the questions you need to think about when designing your office space. What technology will you need and how much room will it take up? Evaluate your wants versus your needs. How can we make your work space unique to your company? We need to design for daily operations and use up the right amount of space while leaving enough open space for creativity. Feel free to contact us with any questions about space efficiency.

Technology

What kind of technology is important for your business? Do you need large projection screens? How about computers? Multiple monitors? You need to decide what technology will benefit your business and what you can go without. You do not want your space to be cluttered and disorganized. Choose what is absolutely necessary for your business to thrive and forget about the rest.

Uniqueness

Douron will help you design a work space that is unique to your company only. There are so many options out there for your layout, furniture, color schemes, etc. You may even want to add some fun areas that are unique to your company, like a photo booth with props or a game room.

Daily Operations

Think about your day to day. How can we make your daily operations easier? What areas will you be working in the most? These areas will need to be comfortable and organized. You will also need to think about the space and how much stuff is in it. Open space provides room for creativity and new ideas.

Douron can help you with your space efficiency. With over 45 years of experience, we know how to design a stellar layout. Contact us at your earliest convenience in order to design a perfect layout that is functional, unique, and works best for your daily operations.

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