Category Archives: Efficiency

positive and negative aspects of this loaded term…

What are WorkVitamins?

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In 2001, Martin van der Linden developed a new architectural methodology while working as an assistant researcher at Tokyo’s Waseda Univeristy. Martin believed that architecture should be a catalyst for change in innovative environments, and his methodology – called WORKVITAMINS – was based on this idea. But designing innovative and inspirational spaces from the inside out is not an easy task: descriptors such as poet, artist and great lover must be earned by the one being described, and the title of innovative workspace is no different. Therefore, Martin crafted a closed-loop system with four distinct steps:

Initiate: setting the tone and direction for the project using a Shared Workplace Vision,

Analyse: Understanding the specific place-related needs of the organisation. Finding the gaps between an organisation’s ideal conditions and its current situation,

Change: Testing creative ideas to address the issues discovered during the analysis,

Implement: the realisation of steps 1 through 3 and the design and construction of a truly innovative workplace.

Architecture is space created for human activity. The role of an architect designing a workspace is to provide the users with a variety of spatial choices that will accommodate their changing work needs. Architecture that starts with WorkVitamins encourages authentic experiences at work.

 

TV space

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Here are some images of the interiors used in the tv series Girls
The set design is not particularly interesting except for maybe the space of the room of the character Charlie. In the series he complains to his girlfriend (forgot her name, just Google it yourself) that she never has shown any interest in where he lives. It seems that until the second season she has not even been to his room (probably due to production costs most of the characters are kept in one room). But then we see Charlie’s room, and what a man cave it is!

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Floor plan of Charlie’s rather spacious room

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Sketch of the space designed by the series’ production designer Laura Ballinger Garnder

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View of the actual set

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Detail of the bed

Sit less

That office work has it’s pains is a well researched fact: various office related injuries or repetitive motion injuries such as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome have been well documented. As most of us a are spending more and more time behind computers problems like:

  • neck, shoulder, and lower back pains
  • headaches
  • irritability
  • difficulty sleeping
  • deteriorated vision
  • eye strain
  • eye irritation
  • red eyes
  • blurred vision

are all becoming part of our jobs.

I have always advocated to clients that having a diverse work environment, diverse in terms of design as well as seating, will benefit communications and help staff to perform their specific tasks at hand. A recent study however even shows that diversity of seating, and better non-seating arrangements will be beneficial for the staff’s health:

“Prolonged time sitting suppresses your immune system, which may increase the risk of cancer and other diseases. And your blood isn’t circulating as it should when you’re sedentary for long periods of time. When blood doesn’t flow thru your veins up to your heart, it could lead to dangerous blood clot. It also has metabolic consequences – increasing your resting blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Researchers say the metabolic effect may explain why the association was strongest for cardiovascular disease mortality in the study.”

Some of these studies date back to the late 1950’s when

“…a study found that people with sedentary jobs (bus drivers) were twice as likely as those with active jobs (mailmen) to develop cardiovascular disease. More recently, extended daily TV watching and time on the computer–which, like desk jobs, involve long periods of time sitting still–have been linked to a greater risk of metabolic syndrome, a constellation of health problems that can lead to diabetes and heart disease.”

Another reason to have standing height tables with bar stools or exercise balls instead of chairs in the office.

Or you could try the Office Walker:

Walk and Code from 8th Light on Vimeo.

ROWE

If you look at your own day at the office, don’t these office maths make sense?

8:00am
• Enter the office building.
• Drop your stuff in your office and head to the coffee maker.
• Chat with a co-worker about last night’s game
• Make coffee – it’s already empty
• Look for creamer – where is the damn creamer?
• Go to the supplies cabinet. Find old creamer and dump it in your coffee. Gag a few times and complain to everyone around you.
• Get sidetracked on the way back to your office. A co-worker wants you to check out their new truck. “Nice wheels” you say.

9:00am
• Plop down in a meeting.
• What’s this meeting about, anyway?
• Listen with one ear while daydreaming about the weekend.

9:30
• Update meeting participants about your project (START THE CLOCK)

9:35
• Go back to daydreaming. (STOP THE CLOCK)

10:00
• Go to the bathroom
• Run to next meeting

10:05
• Chat with co-workers while waiting for everyone else to show up

10:15
• Start meeting
• Solve issue with last night’s logistics snafu (START THE CLOCK)
• Give update to team on upcoming shipment

10:45
• Blackberry rings – step out of meeting to take a call from child’s school. (STOP THE CLOCK)

11:00
• Go to your office

11:05
• Begin looking at emails (START THE CLOCK)

11:10
• Get interrupted by manager – asks you what you think about this crazy weather. (STOP THE CLOCK)

11:30
• Head to non-working lunch

1:00
• Back in the office.

In a Traditional Workplace, it looks like that dude already put in 5 hours of work!

In a ROWE, all  that dude did was put in exactly 40 minutes of work and wasted 4 hours and 20 minutes displaying presenteeism.

Next time someone says, “I put in 60 hours last week!” you can roll your eyes, because they are probably using Traditional Workplace Math.

via ROWE