Plants have a positive effect on work ergonomics - they moisturise and purify the air, improve room acoustics. Nature also works on employees by reducing their stress. This is certain and scientifically proven. But is it enough to insert 2 pots into the room to feel the beneficial effects of vegetation on humans? What are the feelings and needs of employees? We have decided to check and verify how much we can bring nature to employees in the office.
We have studied the impact of plants on people in office spaces together with experts from the Silesian University of Technology and the Polish Green Building Council (PLGBC). Our goal is to thoroughly examine the impact of plants in offices and to understand the needs and preferences of users.
We are conducting the analysis in ten large companies, including IKEA, SKANSKA, WSP POLAND, VASTINT, KELLER WILLIAMS POLAND, JLL, HB REAVIS and at the Faculty of Energy and Environmental Engineering at the Silesian University of Technology. We have put mobile walls with plant modules into the office space of the listed companies. We set them in various places and distances from employees. Most were installed as double-sided walls dividing the open-space. Using sensors, we examine how the environmental parameters change in the office (among others: temperature, air humidity). In addition, we analyse the subjective feelings of employees - we ask them how they assess air quality, acoustics, aesthetics of the environment and how their well-being and work efficiency have changed.
We already have first opinions from satisfied employees but we will have to wait for the official report prepared by PLGBC together with the Silesian University of Technology. The results will be published in the spring.
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The described research is part of a larger research and development project, the effect of which is to design a unique line of furniture for commercial spaces with an integrated vertical garden system. The work schedule is divided into four stages, and the introduction of a new product line is planned for 2020.
The project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Regional Development Fund under the Smart Growth Operational Programme 2014-2020, Priority 1: Support for conducting R&D works, Measure 2.1: "Sectoral R&D programmes", Sectoral programme: "WoodINN", where the National Centre for Research and Development is the intermediary body.
