Optimizing Home Workspaces with Biophilic Design
Mentor Information
Atsuko Sakai (Judy Genshaft Honors College)
Description
The impact of COVID-19 has caused many changes to social practices to accommodate necessary precautions that minimize the spread of COVID-19. One change is the shift to remote work, which has increased the amount of time spent inside homes. Due to this increased amount of time working from home it is important to investigate how these residential turned quasi-commercial areas are affecting individuals. The purpose of this study is to provide design recommendations for optimizing the home workspace to reduce stress, minimize fatigue, and increase quality of life through a review of literature regarding environmental psychology and biophilia. Environmental psychology research has established a general consensus that design influences occupants’ health and well-being. This study focuses on the effects of biophilic design, which entails the benefits of human-nature interaction. Biophilia poses that humans greatly benefit from incorporating natural elements into modern built environments. To construct these biophilic design recommendations for home workspaces, individuals working from home will be assessed. A survey will examine how an individual’s environment impacts their overall well- being while working from home. A questionnaire will be used for design feedback which focuses on rating current workspace, selecting an ideal prototype office, biggest stressors from remote work, and preferences in design elements. The expected outcome of this study is a design guideline to help individuals elicit positive effects as it relates to working remotely by promoting a myriad of benefits including reduced stress, increased productivity, and increased attentional restoration.
Optimizing Home Workspaces with Biophilic Design
The impact of COVID-19 has caused many changes to social practices to accommodate necessary precautions that minimize the spread of COVID-19. One change is the shift to remote work, which has increased the amount of time spent inside homes. Due to this increased amount of time working from home it is important to investigate how these residential turned quasi-commercial areas are affecting individuals. The purpose of this study is to provide design recommendations for optimizing the home workspace to reduce stress, minimize fatigue, and increase quality of life through a review of literature regarding environmental psychology and biophilia. Environmental psychology research has established a general consensus that design influences occupants’ health and well-being. This study focuses on the effects of biophilic design, which entails the benefits of human-nature interaction. Biophilia poses that humans greatly benefit from incorporating natural elements into modern built environments. To construct these biophilic design recommendations for home workspaces, individuals working from home will be assessed. A survey will examine how an individual’s environment impacts their overall well- being while working from home. A questionnaire will be used for design feedback which focuses on rating current workspace, selecting an ideal prototype office, biggest stressors from remote work, and preferences in design elements. The expected outcome of this study is a design guideline to help individuals elicit positive effects as it relates to working remotely by promoting a myriad of benefits including reduced stress, increased productivity, and increased attentional restoration.
