Looking at lighting design as part of the bigger picture, Marketa Rypacek, Managing Director at Industville Ltd, understands that office lighting plays a vital role in improving the employee and customer experience.
The past few years have truly transformed what we’ve come to expect from office spaces and their design. As the needs of office workers change, so too must the approach to workplace design. Office interiors still call for functionality at their core, but increasingly, designers are now incorporating more elements of comfort and features that facilitate improved employee wellbeing. With the mood of employees having such a significant impact on the results of a company, it’s not surprising that employers are keen to design offices that motivate and stimulate their workforce. In recent years it has become clear that lighting has a big effect on people’s wellbeing, alertness and productivity at work. In the past, lighting design has often focused on lighting specific tasks, such as reading or looking at computer screens, which has been at the expense of how light affects the person. To strike the right balance, we need to light not just the task, but also the space and the person, so people can feel comfortable when carrying out their work.
Our natural circadian rhythm is vital in ensuring general wellbeing, affecting everything from our all-important sleep patterns to the molecular clocks that regulate the timing of our cellular activities. Keeping this rhythm in check, means we not only feel better but also perform better too, hence companies and organisations are keen to ensure they provide the right environment for their workers, with the correct lighting playing a big part in this. Biophilic design is becoming more than a trend; it is a scientifically proven philosophy of our innate connection with nature and natural elements. Modern humans spend about 90% of their time indoors, which has resulted in an outcry for a deeper connection with nature. This has affected the lighting aspect of office space design immensely, demanding greater amounts of natural light, as well as softer lighting, instead of windowless cubicles under fluorescent lighting.
Workplaces must install confidence with social distancing measures and safety guidelines whilst creating a sociable environment in which employees and visitors can relax and enjoy each other’s company once more. The key here is to maintain the brand concept of your company. Lighting should be used to create a welcoming feel, resulting in a place your employees will thrive, and visitors will want to spend time in and return to. To achieve this, lighting should be approached in a layered manner. Embrace the whole range of lighting sources available from pendant lights, recessed lights and chandeliers, to track lighting, lamps and spot lighting. I often advise customers to vary the lighting in a room to create little pockets and pools of light. Accent lighting can then be used to highlight a piece of artwork, plants or architectural features in the workplace. At Industville, our exclusive finishes are available in an array of lighting options, making it easy to mix and match different lights to create a layered yet coordinated scheme throughout your space. Incorporating zones of decorative lighting will help to make the workplace feel more homely and cosy, also creating a happier work environment. With flexible working hours, the lines between work, home and social lives are blurred and therefore having a more homely vibe in the workplace will help staff to stay focused and keep creative juices flowing.
Here at Industville, we’ve been lucky enough to collaborate with numerous talented designers that work on both residential and commercial projects. A recent project of note was St Katherine’s Dock with Kinetic Workplace, who are experts in the realm of office interior creation and design. This project involved a 18,000 sq ft Design & Build fitout of Devon House for new London headquarters for Gain Capital (Now Stone X) office in St Katherine’s Dock. This project called on every aspect of Kinetic Workplace’s expertise to pull off, mainly because Covid-19 started during the middle of it. This project ticks every box and the attention to detail is second to none. Kinetic Workplace have designed flawless communal social spaces, individual work bays, as well as modern larger workspaces for numerous employees to enjoy. The furniture, lighting, decorative accessories, and greenery all work harmoniously together to create a workspace that is sure to increase productively and wellness in their employees.
Your lighting should reflect your company’s brand story and hence you will want to use lighting made from the highest quality materials. Not only will this enhance the overall atmosphere, but it can also improve perceptions of your brand, giving it individual flair. At Industville all our lights are handcrafted from quality materials such as pure brass or copper. Investing in quality also means the lights will last longer and with energy consumption levels likely to be high in office workspaces, this is something to bear in mind. Industville bulbs utilise eco-friendly, cost-effective LED technology making them both practical and stylish.
Marketa Rypacek
Managing Director, Industville Ltd
020 7971 7871 | www.industville.co.uk
