News
Dutch offices through French eyes
Somewhere in the north, a group of people only work four days a week and focus on quality of life and the balance between private and professional spheres. They talk openly of productivity, performance, they develop tools to measure employee satisfaction, productivity and labor costs associated with work environments. It does not occur to anyone to dump the most employees in the minimum square meters. Organizations and public and private bodies conduct or fund studies and advanced research to innovate in the design and organization of work spaces. This is not about furniture, or painting the walls in orange or smoking pot in the office. It is about placing the human being first and allow him to work under optimum conditions. Really.
Thus the leading article in the French magazine Office et Culture from September 2009 starts. In the article two French journalists report about an extensive tour they made past Dutch offices and office experts. Read more … Click here for the original article with some nice pictures of innovative Dutch buildings and offices.
Workplace game finds way to New Zealand
Recently architect Kulwinder Panesar from New Zealand interrupted a family reunion in England to visit our Center. He was attracted by our evidence based approach of workplace research. He is enthusiast about our methods, philosophy and instruments and considers to introduce them to the New Zealand business community. In anticipation he already took along the workplace game. He was charmed by it because behavior is no issue in the New Zealand workplace debate which is quite polerized: one is in favor of open plan offices or in favor of cellular offices. As Panesar said "The game can help to discuss hybrid solutions, since behavior also isn't only black or only white".
Personalization in non territorial offices: a study of a human need
In a 'thought provoking paper' (as mentioned by Benjamin Chirwin from CB Richard Ellis) Sandra Brunia and Anca Hartjes-Gosselink dive into the personalization of the workspace in non territorial offices. The message: be aware of the human need when entering an innovative office. Click here for the article and the review.
Workplace game inspires Australian students
Two students of the faculty of Architecture from the university of Melbourne have developed a method to involve people in the design of a new building, despite cultural, social and language differences. They were inspired by our workplace game, of which they say: "a bridge between people with different backgrounds, without usual rules and hierarchy. Gives deeper insight. Trust and communication built between the players and stakeholders and can therefore continue beyond the game". Click here for a short power point of the students.
Change beyond walls
For our newsletter of april 2009 Evi de Bruyne interviewed Bridget Hardy the author of Working beyond walls and Gerry Hofkamp the author of Veranderen met ruimte. Click here for the interview.
Finnish delegation visits CfPB
The 10th of march a Finnish delegation visited the CfPB. The members of the delegation participate in the TEKES program Spaces and places. Members have different business or government responsibilities. Mr. Olli Niemi of NCC, one of the leading construction and property development companies in the Nordic region told us afterwards he is quite impressed by the work of our center:
“The visit to Philips Innohub was good, Media park in Hilversum also. But the most interesting part of the visit was your center. I have just decided to work in Tampere university of technology one day in a week and I have thought, what is my future vision. One could be, that we together with Helsinki University could develop a center, which will focus partly in similar matters : people and spaces and places ( real + virtual).
Meaningful places
In our newsletter from june 2008 expert John Worthington reflects on new ways of working that have emerged and on the consequences for the corporate office. Click here for his column.
