Why your office should have an outdoor space

Designing an outdoor connection with the previous five points in mind can facilitate and encourage organic interactions between colleagues in a space that resonates with them, driving productivity and growing overall business.

Create a green space close by, such as a deck or balcony as a dedicated workspace where employees can hold meetings outside to enhance employee and client engagement. Furniture and other components will be decided according to the surrounding environment, including what type of work will employees perform outside.

5 Reasons to Include an Outside Space

1. Reduce Stress: Stress can hinder employees health and job performance. Encourage colleagues to spend more time outside to reduce work-related stress. An enjoyable outdoor space will increase concentration and focus while enjoying fresh air.
2. Improve Creativity: Design an inspiring space where everybody can recharge and improve their creativity, showing appreciation to employees and team members. A good designed space will attract great talent.
3. Be Sustainable: A garden, patio or balcony are a perfect space to create a natural oasis with plants that will attract and increase bees and butterflies.
4. Increase Happiness: Keep your employees happy and engage with a space where they can decompress and engage with each other. According to The New York Times “ 86 percent of indoor workers would like to spend more time outdoors during the workday.”
5. Improve Creativity: Working outside engages different senses, switching up your view and workspace can enable new mental processes and a new take on different solutions.

Tips to Keep in Mind When Designing an Outdoor Space

• Flexible Seating: The outdoor area must be flexible with easy to move furniture that can be reconfigured into a group meeting or an individual work environment. Provide a workspace design for work and create social spaces. Choose tables and chairs that are easy to clean and wipe off. Think about furniture with electrical outlets built in.
• Wi-Fi: These days we are all connected all day to our laptops, cellphones, and other wireless devices. Be sure internet connectivity is available to create a space where people can either take a break away from their desks or turn the space into a productive meeting.
• Privacy: Use furniture and plants to block off sound when working outside, from a busy pedestrian walkways and high-traffic areas of the commercial property. Create a special space for more personal meetings.

If the office does not have an outdoor area you can emulate to have the same impact on wellbeing as any other patio or balcony. Incorporate faux grass and circular benches to create an area where team members are encouraged to use this breakout space to relax or meet away from their desks.

If you are designing for an inside or outside space create different areas for a relaxed group work, a focused solo work, or an oasis for collaboration. Use movable walls to create different layouts within the office to diminish the distractions of working indoors in an open plan office. A well-designed outdoor workspace can help to reduce distractions and improve performance.