IT SERVICES HUNGARY DESIGN FOR ENHANCED WELL-BEING PARAMETERIZED COMFORT RESEARCH GROUP
RESEARCH GROUP Dr. BORSOS Ágnes, Associate Professor Research Group Leader Prof. Dr. MEDVEGY Gabriella, University Professor, Dean Dr. ZOLTÁN Erzsébet Szeréna, Associate Professor Pine Forest - Alpine Village Lounge Snowy Meadows - Ice Cubes Lounge Snowy Fields - Creative Lounge Creative Ideas - Design - Project management: GAZDAG Gábor, BSc student NOORI Pooya, MSc student RAMOS GONZALEZ, Nicolas DLA student Booth lounge E-sport and phone booth lounge Sports Lounge HENDRIX Thimea DLA student LOVIG Dalma DLA student SADOUD Nesma PHD student Creating and Scamp Designing: GAZDAG Gábor, BSc student RAMOS GONZALEZ, Nicolas DLA student VR Simulations: KOVÁCS Attila MSC
Contents INTRODUCTION BACKGROUND THE ALPINE VILLAGE..........................................................................................................................................................................................06 THE ICE CUBES..........................................................................................................................................................................................................16 THE CREATIVE LOUNGE....................................................................................................................................................................................26 BOOTH LOUNGE........................................................................................................................................................................................................36 E-SPORT AND PHONE BOOTH LOUNGE..................................................................................................................................................46 SPORTS LOUNGE.....................................................................................................................................................................................................55
Introduction
Background
The aim of the Parametrized Comfort and Wellbeing Research group is to determine how interior working spaces can affect the health of humans and propose alternative solutions. Therefore, according to an existing collaboration between the Faculty and IT Services Hungary Headquarters in Budapest, the Group had the opportunity to examine office workplaces to analyse the employees’ physical conditions. Parametrized analyses were conducted in situ and a questionnaire was answered by approximately 200 hundred employees.
The company IT Services Hungary has specialized in a wide range of IT and telecommunication services. The firm focuses on innovation and the development of system integration. The building is located in Budapest, and the first impression of the group was that the employees were working in a comfortable atmosphere and they had access to everything that high technology could offer in an office building nowadays. However, after the architects began to examine and explore the facilities, they recognised that the comfort conditions were not as good as it had been expected. For example, it could be seen that nobody was using the leisure spaces, it could be realised that some of them did not have comfortable furniture that invited the employees to enjoy the space. On the other hand, the lighting conditions were not appropriate for relaxation since they were too strong. In consequence, the group could immediately figure out that there were interesting opportunities in these spaces, and it was a perfect place for new ideas.
Consequently, the Research Group redesigned these underused spaces and their ideas and concepts will be presented in this paper.
THE PINE FOREST
THE ALPINE VILLAGE
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Taking the floor’s theme as a reference inspired by an Alpine little village located in the middle of the woods, comfortable “cottage” phone booths were designed for relaxation and private calls.
The picture taken in Bohinjssko jezero in Slovenia by Nicolás Ramos González
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Function: Focus room, Private phone calls and private conversations. Square meters: 10,90 m2
Floor plan
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Sketches
Each “cottage” was built with a timber structure covered with plywood. This material is made from wood layers and they are bonded together. As it is well known, wood is a renewable resource, so plywood is an environmentally friendly product.
Last but not least, the brightness of illumination regarding every cottage can be controlled by each user within a light dimmer switch, according to their demands. Therefore, if employees want to read, they can choose a high light intensity.
In addition, inside the booths, a comfortable and soft upholstery of polyurethane foam can be found, which gives a feeling of cosiness. In consequence, this finishing provides an excellent absorption of sounds and noises.
According to the description below and the attached graphics, the main aim is to provide the maximum level of comfort. This idea is going to be presented through the resolution that the group gave considering the thermal, acoustic, lighting and well-being issues.
Technically speaking, the phone booths are provided with a cooling – heating system where each user can adjust the conditions according to their needs. This technical requirement gives much more comfort to users. All of the booths were designed with USB connection as well.
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01 - carpet
02 - plywood
03 - polyurethane foam
04 - fabric
B-B Section
A-A Section
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Box
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Sketch and analysis
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Pieces
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THE SNOWY MEADOWS
THE ICE CUBES
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The picture taken in Vogel ski center in Slovenia by Nicolás Ramos González
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Function: Focus room, Private phone calls and private conversations. Square meters: 22 m2
Floor plan
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Sketches
Sketches
Snowy meadows and cold winters were the motives for designing this lounge. Hence, this space is composed with icy cubes floating inside. Employees can use each box or “cube” as they desire. For example, one can have a private call in one of the boxes, meanwhile another user can enjoy reading in another box. Alternatively, spontaneous meetings can take place according to their needs. This variety of activities can be placed because of the orientation and disposition of the boxes in this space.
In addition, the exteriors are constituted with translucent polycarbonate, which creates privacy, and at the same time a possibility to open the box and integrate it into the given space. In consequence, the skin gives the possibility to have a visual connection between the interior and exterior.
The boxes were designed to provide the maximum level of comfort for the users. Each one is composed of soft seating areas (made by upholstery fabric sheets) and surrounded by tensile fabrics, which can adapt to the user’s positions. These fabrics can help to absorb the sounds and noises that are produced inside the box.
The lighting is provided with LED stripes located inside the boxes. Therefore, the boxes are illuminating as lanterns in the whole space, thus creating a magical atmosphere.
The loadbearing structure is composed by hollow steel tubes. This solution creates the lightest possible structure and easier connections among the elements.
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01 - carpet
02 - wall surface painted
03 - plywood
B-B Section
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A-A Section
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etc Sk
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THE SNOWY FIELDS
THE CREATIVE LOUNGE
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The picture taken in Vogel ski center in Slovenia by Nicolás Ramos González
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Function: Meeting Room, relaxing space, innovation and technology room. Square meters: 24,10 m2
Floor plan
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Vitra hair from
Sketches
Tip Ton c
The team got the inspiration regarding the design of the lounge on some snowy fields (as a theme of the floor) Consequently, the image of soft curves, meadows and snowy trees are represented in the concept.
The organically shaped rotating walls can be used in different levels, thus encouraging relaxation and communication. Their structure is made of plywood and the upholstery is constructed of polyurethane foam.
In addition, the group remarked the particular conditions of the location considering the lounge. Having bright sunshine during afternoons and nice views towards the courtyard of the building.
The group also included hammock chairs hanging from the “trees branches” and the Tip Ton chair, which allows its users to swing within the space, hence changing the position in a playful way. The Tip Ton chair shows dual sitting postures that, according to studies from ETH Zurich in 2010, straightens the pelvis and spine and thus improves circulation in the abdominal and back muscles.
The main idea of the group is to provide as much flexibility in the possible usage of the space as possible, according to the needs of the employees. For that reason, a rotating “wall” was designed, which will provide the integration of the whole space. It allows the users to scatter the furniture around the whole leisure area and enjoy the whole space. However, if the space is required for a meeting, the walls can be close it.
The tree concept related to the nature of the fields, is presented in the design as a net of branches hanging from the ceiling where it helps to incorporate some suspended furniture and lighting as well.
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01 - carpet
02 - ice blue twill
03 - light oak
04 - soft light power-coated - metal
A-A Section
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B-B Section
Lighting – smart lighting
Rotating walls:
The lounge itself was planned to include the high technology gadgets which could be used by employees. For example, the walls have smart screens, which are connected with the organic shaped table and it is possible to link personal devices as well as mobile phones with them. Giving the users the smart flexibility as the technology can offer nowadays.
The plan is to have them in three different colours. Exactly the same colour as of the three couches on the left side of the picture (light blue, turquoise and light green). It will create a frozen nature of the interior space.
An automatic curtain system is also included in the project. The plan is to have three modes: manual mode, wireless remote control and automatic light sensor mode. As it is written below, one of the particularities of this lounge is strong light in the afternoon. Consequently, users can move the shades according to their needs. The shades can be operated with tablets, smartphones or a remote control.
The pictures represent the atmosphere that is desired in the lounge.
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PHONE BOOTHS
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Function: Phone booth, focus space, relaxation zone Square meters: 17,69 m2
Floor plan
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Sketches
The most important point of the design process was creating a space that best supports our chosen function. The small, windowless space has walls surrounding it on two sides and corridors on the other two. This open space is located between the building’s vertical axis - the offices and the canteen, so transit traffic here is major; our goal was creating a lounge that can be separated from the noise of the corridors, but that doesn’t become a „closed space” in the process. Taking Professor Stephen Kaplan’s design waypoints into consideration, we created a space that, by design, is effective in disrupting the worker from the workinduced stress and giving the worker an opportunity of mental refreshment; making work performance and effectiveness better and reducing the risk of stressinduced health problems. The lounge is separated into three parts by function: semi-closed, closed and group space. The private spaces are phone booth-like drywall structures, which function as phone booths and focus cabins. These spaces - with one exception - are structurally open ones, acoustic isolation was solved with soundproofing wall tiles and the curve of the wall. The structurally closed booth’s isolation is solved with a glass sliding door, ventilation is taken care of by the building’s ventilation system. Materials used in the private zones are uniform: the structure is painted white and the acoustic panels have yellow upholstery.
The group space is different from the booths in both design and building materials. The zone is bounded - with perforated wood and furniture that can accommodate live plants - from the corridors, but open towards the inside of the lounge. The location of this space was determined by it’s function: this zone is the area of informal meetings and hanging out. An important point of designing the lounges was to create a space that differs in major ways from the working area in design and materials used. The psychological effects of the used yellow color is creativity and communication boost, with a load of energy, while white is a clean and relaxing effect. Using natural elements - in the wood and the live plants in the furniture - is done to achieve a feeling of being closer to nature in a windowless room. Taking into consideration that the offices are shared among many people, creating silent, peaceful private spaces - visually and acoustically - was of high priority; also was - by allowing the user to moderate the light and move the mobile furniture the ability to fit the space to the user’s preferences and needs.
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Wall - Views Phone booth
01 - dark oak
02 - sound-proof textile
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E-SPORT AND PHONE BOOTH LOUNGE 46
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Function: E-sport room, movie room, phone booth, public space Square meters: 30,75 m2
Floor plan
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Sketches
Sketches
From the early stages of creating our concept, we had a goal of creating a multifunctional space that is fit for e-sport- and cinema themed activities, group meeting and, if needed, working together. The midsized space accommodating the lounge has two big windows looking over the inner garden space surrounded by the building. The space is bounded on two sides by walls and on the other two by frequently used corridors; in the planning process, it was a key point to make the space separate acoustically and visually, while not entirely closing it down.
walls. The phone booths’ and the curved surfaces’ used materials are solid and thinned wood; the wood as wall surface is only used on the outer surfaces of the lounge, signifying that behind those walls is a room with unconventional function. The inner walls of the e-sport lounge are covered with „pyramid-shaped” soundproofing foam tiles.
Creating the concept, we separated the lounge into two spaces: the e-sport lounge, which accommodates the group activities, and the phone booth lounge, suitable for more private tasks and activities. Planning the e-sport room it was a key point to make way for flexible use of space, so seating was done with mainly mobile solutions: bean bag chairs. The fixed furniture are a large sized, convertible couch and a curved separating panel; this panel was also used as surface for the main element of the lounge, the large curved screen. It was important to make use of digital advancements in creating a fun-to-use environment. The private spaces’ separation is done with drywall structures. The booths - in an attempt to try making the group activities in the e-sport space uninterrupted - are accessible from the corridors; acoustic isolation was solved with soundproofing wall tiles and curved
The shaping and colors used in the lounge differ strongly from the surrounding spaces. The planned space stands in contrast with the workspaces; while the latter is dominated by bright colors, glass, metal and laminated surfaces, the lounge has dark colors, carpeted surfaces and wood for the highest contrast. This was a conscious decision: we - honoring Stephen Kaplan’s 2nd point of planning - created a space where the high contrast based off the workspace is used to refresh the worker’s mental state. The white ceiling and the bright floor create more perceived inner height; the bright ceiling promotes a clean, relaxed feel, while the bright wood floor creates an airy and uplifting environment. The black sidewalls - and the rounding of them - create an enclosed, cocooned environment.
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01 - dark oak
03 - black plaster
02 - sound-proof textile
04 - soundproof foam acoustic panel absorption
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Wall - Views E-sport
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SPORT LOUNGE 55
Function: Relaxation room, sport room, public space Square meters: 34,86 m2
Floor plan
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Sketches
By choosing this function, we tried to create a space where workplace stress can be released, and where workers can battle the harmful effects of a sitting job on their bodies. The middle-sized room is bounded with walls on two sides, a line of windows on one other and a corridor on the side. Because of our function, closing the corridor-side with a wall was essential; we chose to use enhanced sound dampening septums for this, with sliding elements made out of multiwall/hollow polycarbonate bridge plate. The sporting equipment placed in the lounge can be used in various ways. The system could be interpreted and used as a circuit, with the elements being: a balancing cylinder, a stretching wall, a horizontal ladder for pullups and climbing, a ball pool, a trampoline and a basketball backboard. The climbing system has a sideline, with a box bag, gymnast rings and TRX suspension trainer attached. The remaining space is suitable for doing yoga and meditation practices. The ball pool and the trampoline can also act as alternative sitting surfaces. The fact that this lounge is only one space can help the forming of spontaneous group activities. On the outer wall surface, we placed a scoreboard, with the intent of inducing a bit of healthy competition between the users of the lounge. Competition might even be encouraging for ones who did not plan to use the lounge originally.
During the planning process, we integrated Stephen Kaplan’s ART (Attention Restoration Theory) point 2 and 4: a spot with a different function and design can relax and refresh the mind in breaks, leading to stress relief and better concentration. The lounge’s simple layout and reachability allows the user to more easily concentrate on completing the desired exercise or meditation practice. In planning, we concentrated on making the space straightforward and simple, avoiding distracting decorations. Color and material choices were based on Kaplan research’s 2nd point: we wanted to create a space distinctly different from their work environment, so that it helps the user change their mindset in this new and contrasting lounge. Apart from the black colored climbing bars, most of the rooms surfaces and furniture are brighter colors; because of this, the lounge fills cleaner, more relaxing and spacious.
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01 - dark oak
02 - mirror
03 - black plaster
Wall - Views Sport lounge
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A kutatás a Pécsi Tudományegyetem ‘Tématerületei Kiválósági Program 2019 - Biomedical Engineering Projekt’ keretén belül valósult meg (TUDFO/51757-1/2019-ITM) / The research project is conducted at the University of Pécs, Hungary, within the framework of the Biomedical Engineering Project of the Thematic Excellence Programme 2019 (TUDFO/517571/2019-ITM) ‘Well Being Kutatóinkubátor’ Kutatócsoport / Research Group ‘Well Being Research Incubator’ Műszaki és Informatikai Kar / Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology Pécsi Tudományegyetem / University of Pécs, Hungary
