Over a period of years, workspaces have developed in a variety of ways. From cubicle to open floor, and from outsourced mass production canteen to inhouse barista’s. We have seen trends coming and going. However, throughout the years there also has been a constant factor: the impact of office space on the well-being of the people.

So, you might ask yourself “why should I care?”

Let me explain...

It has been proven over and over that good interior architecture leads to increased productivity, efficiency and collaboration and decreases absenteeism and friction.

The importance of office design for employee well-being is supported by the international “WELL Building Standard (WELL)”, administered by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBITM). The standard takes into account seven factors: quality of air, availability of drinking water, food, light, fitness, comfort and mind.

However…

Although these standards definitely improve employee well-being it still is a “one-fits-all” approach. A small example: opening more windows (in most cases) leads to fresher air but it can also lead to more noise. For some people, background noise is preferred but for some people, it might not be the case. Therefore, we like to take workplace design one step further and really include the preferences of every individual into account. Like we did at Proactive Marketing* for example.

Currently, due to the appearance of hybrid workspaces, it is relevant to further embrace the control, privacy and flexibility gained by individuals working remotely, and how it is shaping new ways of working.

People are at the core of any business, therefore it is greatly important to take the function of the workplace design (office and/or home) into consideration. Modern workspaces should adapt to facilitate the preferences of the people, not the other way around.

WAW’s business model is shaped around the vision that workspaces should serve the people. Learn more about WAW here.