3 minute read
Daylighting in post-lockdown office environments
Rob Hamblen, Sales & Marketing Director at Whitesales, considers how daylighting solutions can enhance working environments, promoting wellbeing for occupants – and the relevance in today’s changing office landscape.
We are living in unprecedented times. That cannot be overlooked at the moment. What the future holds seems more uncertain than ever. With regard to the work environment there is much talk centred on the future of offices and workplaces.
Will large majorities of companies transition their employees to permanent work from home scenarios? What will this mean for office buildings and the communal workspaces we have all become so accustomed to.
Humans are naturally sociable creatures and have evolved our socially constructed environments to meet the needs of 21st century requirements in terms of working together, communicating effectively, and collaborating in teams.
However, today’s working environments can also often be cramped and poorly ventilated spaces, where occupants find their output compromised through less-than-ideal physical conditions. Rapid re-structuring of the work environment is taking place to ensure employee health and safety – obviously the number one priority. But, in the longer term will we start to look at the wider aesthetic of working environments?
For many office workers they have been experiencing a new way of working over the last couple of months. For some WFH ‘converts’ this has meant Zoom meetings from their sunlit garden or enjoying the sound of the birds and an abundance of fresh air with their home-office window open. What will happen to employee morale and productivity upon their return to dreary office environments? – whether that’s on a flexi-basis or other proposed new working schedules.
Too little daylight is proven to have a detrimental effect on health and wellbeing. Poor exposure to natural lighting can affect eyesight, create headaches and reduce motivation, productivity, energy and wellbeing. The same is true for poor air quality.
Modern architects and designers currently benefit from extensive choices in terms of innovative lighting solutions, some seemingly replicating ‘real daylight’. However, there is no question that natural daylight is always the best option when considering construction design.
Roof glazing, having evolved far beyond being a utilitarian source of light, has become a much sought-after connection to nature. Eye-catching and architectural, stylish roof glazing delivers outstanding aesthetics and creativity to buildings – and can bring balance between modern technology and the natural world. Incorporating natural ventilation further extends this connection.
The breath-taking aesthetics of the extensive glass ridgelight make Brintons Carpets HQ case study an ideal reference point for highlighting the intrinsic qualities of natural light.
The former headquarters of this renowned Kidderminster carpet manufacturer offers a stunning example of architectural glazing. The Exchange Street building became empty at the end of 2011 and much speculation surrounded what would become of the 31,275 sq. ft, three-storey, Grade II listed building. It’s now occupied by West Midlands Merchants Group, including luxury jewellery retailer, T.H. Baker.
A bespoke Em-Glaze hip-ended ridgelight takes pride of place in the central atrium. Flooding the multi-function space with daylight, the installation also features integrated natural smoke control and comfort ventilation.
The recently refurbished Brintons Carpets HQ, Kidderminster.
The rooflight provides a dramatic lighting scheme and enhances the beautifully refurbished environment. Occupants moving between internal office suites, or utilising the open area on the ground floor, will surely benefit from the stunning aesthetics – with their eyes drawn upwards to the sunlight, connecting them to the outside world.
What will the future hold for working environments – who can say? We’ll all be adjusting to the ‘new-norm’ for a long time to come it seems. Outside of the requirement for safe working conditions, let’s hope that inspiring, daylit spaces become a part of that norm, delivering a brighter experience for their occupants.
