A Participatory Interior Design Approach for a Restorative Work Environment: A Research-Intervention

Abstract

Exposure to environmental stressors has physical and psychological consequences. A demanding physical environment involves the allocation of additional attentional resources and an increase in psycho-physical stress. This study illustrates the process of a research-intervention aimed at designing a workplace, using a participatory design approach, and considering the beneficial effect of restorative environments in reducing stressful elements and improving well-being at work. Stressful situations occur daily, compromising proper functioning while causing the occurrence of physiological and/or psychological disorders. To be able to safeguard their psycho-physical well-being, people normally adopt coping strategies, i.e., remedies that allow them to cope and manage situations that generate stress. One of these strategies is the exposure to natural environments, which promotes recovery and sustains psycho-physical well-being. The restorative properties of natural environments have been scientifically proven. However, even built spaces can be thought of as restorative environments, in particular when certain conditions are granted. An applied science, known as biophilic design, provides useful indications from this perspective. This project involved 57 employees of the Italian site of an international non-governmental organization, in the transition from a site no longer adequate to a new site requiring renovation. In a first phase, a survey was conducted, to verify the perceived quality of the current workplace and to detect the unmet workers' needs, and to assess some other important psychological constructs connected with perception of restorativeness and well-being. In a second phase, the findings emerged from the survey was analyzed in depth through a participatory interior design process, together with an interdisciplinary team of architects, technicians of the organization and environmental psychology researchers. The team, together with some representatives of employees, worked together through possible scenarios, adopting a biophilic design approach, to design the new workplace. At the end, the same survey of the first phase was conducted, to detect differences in perceived quality in the new workplace compared to the previous one.

Restorative Effects of Biophilic Workplace and Nature Exposure during Working Time: A Systematic Review

“…Yin et al's study (2020) also observed similar results, particularly concerning physiological stress reaction indicators and creativity. In terms of psychological outcomes, several studies concluded that the relationship with nature positively impacts employees' health and well-being (e.g., [29,53,55]). The same was observed in organizational outcomes, which highlighted job satisfaction, productivity, engagement, and organizational commitment as the most studied variables, all of which benefit from the presence of green elements in the workplace.…”

“…In this context, several studies have pointed to the potential positive effects of biophilic design on urban office workers, such as its association with perceived social benefits and increased job satisfaction [27] as well as the restoration of well-being [23]. Furthermore, empirical and experimental investigations provide evidence that biophilic design in offices is associated with the perception of more pleasant work environments as well as improvements in workers' health, well-being, productivity, and performance (e.g., [28][29][30]). According to a narrative review conducted by Korpela et al (2015), studies show that exposure to nature during work breaks is associated with a lower perception of stress and better perceived health, among other favourable effects.…”

The Restorative Quality of the Work Environments: The Moderation Effect of Environmental Resources between Job Demands and Mindfulness

“…Working remotely can help individuals feel "home". In an interesting research study, Pasini et al (2021) pointed out that built spaces can be restorative environments with effects on well-being similar to those generated by natural environments. This positive effect can be achieved through a participatory interior design process that involves employees.…”

Exploring the restorative benefits of work in smart working structures on vacations in small villages

“…Performance on the job and workplace quality are closely related ( Pasini et al, 2021 ), and productivity is positively impacted in environments where the worker may continuously regenerate physically and psychologically. Environments that support the process of renewing physical, psychological, and social capabilities that have been lost as a result of continual efforts to meet adaptive needs (known as “restoration”) are defined as restorative environments ( Pasini et al, 2021 ). Beyond the physical perception of comfort (indoor air quality, noise, lighting, and thermal comfort; Bluyssen et al, 2011 ), other factors of the surrounding environment significantly affect the individuals.…”