A floating office is a wonderful idea. Imagine how much better Monday mornings will be if you know you’re going to spend the week with a view of a river or lake, watching the birds glide by, and seeing lots of trees and other flora.
You’ll be happy to know that the view doesn’t come at a cost to comfort either. Our floating offices come with all the mod cons you’d expect in an ordinary office building - electricity, plumbing, heating and insulation, wifi. But the advantage is that, in a floating office, you’ll be surrounded by nature.
The growing trend towards biophilia
There is currently huge interest in biophilic office design. This is where natural elements are incorporated in the interior design with the addition of plants, living walls, natural light and water features as well as the use of natural colours and materials. There is more and more proof of the well being and health benefits of nature. In the workplace, biophilic design is great for people’s health, well being, motivation and productivity.
The science
In a study reported in the Harvard Business Review, a group of researchers found that even small doses of nature in an office - such as house plants - had positive effects, with results including “higher task performance, increased helping, and enhanced creativity”. Indeed, a recent study by researchers at the Chan School of Public Health in Boston concluded there is “evidence for associations between nature exposure and improved cognitive function, brain activity, blood pressure, mental health, physical activity, and sleep”.
There is also a growing interest in the additional benefits that can be gained by nature in the wild that incorporates movement, such as trees and plants swaying in the wind, light and shadow transitions, or running water. This kind of ‘dynamic nature’ elicits the most positive responses because, for example, watching trees moving in the wind helps improve focus and our ability to concentrate.
The figures
Environmental consulting firm Terrapin Bright Green’s report on The Economics of Biophilia looks at the science that shows how beneficial nature is for office productivity. On average, employees with quality views work 11 hours more than those without a view; those exposed to the sounds of nature had improved cognitive performance; the productivity of employees in biologically designed offices increased 11%; and there was much greater overall job satisfaction.
How we design floating offices to boost creativity and productivity
We have designed and built many floating offices for clients around the UK. They have been sited in a variety of locations - beside rivers and lakes, and in marinas. They are a particularly smart investment for businesses with water-based interests, but also for creative companies, and organisations with a strong connection with nature or sustainable living.
Where floating offices are necessary
One of our floating office projects was the Dockmaster’s Office at Southampton’s MDL Marina. The client needed an office that would have good views of the marina because this is vital to their work, but that would not obscure the views from the drinks terrace of the 5* hotel that overlooks it. The solution was a floating office that is situated on the marina just beneath the terrace, giving marina staff the best visibility without interrupting the views from the hotel.
The office is equipped with environmentally friendly technology including solar panels, heat recovery systems, and grey water recycling. It also has anti-glare glazing enabling the dockmasters to have unobstructed views.
Where floating offices can improve business
One of our clients sells new and used luxury boats from a river-based marina. As a boat business, it made sense to have a floating office to replace their old land-based building that was subject to flooding. Not only does it mean they’re on the river with all the great views that affords, it also means they are more resilient against flooding, and business can continue uninterrupted when their landlocked neighbours are spending their time bailing out.
However, the real wow factor with this office becomes obvious when it comes to sales. Rather than have their customers walk down to where the boat they’re interested in is moored, staff can bring the boat directly to the customer - mooring it to the office itself, enabling them to step on board as soon as they’ve finished their coffee. VIP customer service is therefore assured!
Is it time for your business to take to the water?
Floating offices not only help boost creativity, motivation and productivity, your clients will also be impressed. In these days when a company’s policy on sustainability is a key selling factor, having an office that’s got a much lighter footprint is a distinct advantage.
A floating office is also a great talking point! If you want to stand out from the crowd, this is the way to do it.
If your business would benefit from being afloat, contact us to find out more.
