Fluid Office LandscapeMaster’s thesis: The influence of collaborative office environments on the mental well-being of employees

How can the design of collaborative spaces in an office environment contribute to promoting the mental well-being of employees?

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed the way we work, shifting us towards hybrid models with more remote work. This brought challenges related to mental well-being, such as feelings of isolation and disconnection and a heightened risk of burnout. The research focuses on the design of collaborative office spaces, which support employee well-being by promoting social interaction and reducing feelings of isolation and loneliness, thereby decreasing stress and increasing concentration.

The design intervention creates a fluid workspace in which the boundaries between collaborative spaces are blurred. Employees have the autonomy to dictate how the various spaces are used, fostering greater social interaction. Six unique typologies were developed, and employees can select the one they prefer based on openness, materiality, and design. The design borrows concepts from The End of Sitting by RAAAF and Barbara Visser, which removes all conventional furniture from the office area, encouraging a variety of working positions such as standing, lying down, and sitting.