Workplace Views

We all know what we see affects our mindset, but which views are best and why?

Elzeyadi’s research focused on preferred workplace views but his findings can be applied in other contexts.

He reports that “Results suggest that the current classification of views into two types: views of nature versus urban views is misleading and does not realistically represent the typical content of the views.

Instead, a scaled dimension and metric to evaluate views based on their composition and content of their attributes is more accurate. . . .

Positive attributes are sky cover, trees, shrubs, soft ground, plants, and pedestrians; while negative attributes are paved areas, street networks, parking lots, and cars. . . .

The fact that preferred views and viewsheds were correlated with 60-70% fewer SBS [sick building syndrome] symptoms reported is not trivial when one considers productivity and health insurance costs.”

An important takeaway from this study:  seeing other people is OK with us. Also this supports the Biophilic Design practice of incorporating views of nature to help improve productivity and wellbeing.

Ihab Elzeyadi. 2021.  “Performative Views in Architecture:  Preference, Composition, and Occupant’s Wellbeing.”  Proceedings of ARCC 2021,https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350771615_Performative_Views_in…