Elevate Experience with Senses

In this 2019 Coworking Europe presentation, Philip Vanhoutte of Ozadi considered how sounds, scents and sights of nature could shape the coworking experience. The deck presented nature as a source of relaxation, inspiration and renewed energy, while contrasting it with common workplace conditions. These included prolonged sitting, extensive screen use, few breaks, movement between enclosed spaces, uncertain air quality, and limited access to natural light or views. The presentation associated those conditions with stress, burnout, obesity, presenteeism, musculoskeletal issues, desire for time off and absenteeism. It concluded with a proposed “biophilic make-over” covering home, coworking and office environments, asking participants to identify missing features and plan changes. The visible slides were conceptual rather than quantitative and did not contain numerical findings or charts. They also introduced Vanhoutte as the author of The Smarter Working Manifesto and outlined his background in commercial engineering and marketing. Because only ten pages from the 40-page deck were supplied, the source showed the presentation’s framing and concluding exercise but not the intervening evidence, examples or detailed recommendations.

Key findings

• The deck challenged work patterns centred on sitting, screens, few breaks, enclosed spaces, uncertain air quality, limited natural light and poor views.
• The presentation associated these conditions with stress, burnout, obesity, presenteeism, musculoskeletal issues, desire for time off and absenteeism.
• The closing exercise asked participants to assess nature-related gaps at home, in coworking spaces and in offices, then plan changes.

Presented by Philip Vanhoutte, Ozadi, at Coworking Europe 2019