We’ve not been in our respective “Workplace Zoos” for over a year now as a result of “Lockdown” and we’ve got an opportunity RIGHT NOW to improve those spaces we work in. So argues Dr Nigel Oseland, who many of you might know as the inquisitive environmental psychologist, behaviourist, statistics sleuth, author, agent of change and broadcaster.Nigel argues that contrary to some workplace strategists (and employers worried about the bottom line) we should NOT get rid of space, instead we should make the most of it. Reduce the desks yes, but not the space. He describes how we should be creating varied spaces, for instance some that are quiet for concentration and others places that encourage collaboration. The lower the density, the greater the opportunity to create rich textured landscapes within the workspace.Workplace ZooSo what is the Workplace Zoo? If you imagine an animal zoo. Different enclosures are designed to suit different animals in order to make them happier and healthier. The different species have different areas (you wouldn’t put a lion in with a gazelle for instance!). Nigel goes on to describe the workplace, the office is always the same, it has been for years. The same homogenous areas, regardless of individual human needs. We design for the average but we are ALL different and have different needs at different times. Hence “Beyond” the Workplace Zoo. Let’s think beyond the now, beyond the constraints of pushing us all into one cage, and create a landscaped office.Landscaped Office and Biophilic DesignHuman centric Biophilic Design is key to this. From an evolutionary psychology point of view, we have innate preferences and an affinity to nature. We evolved to survive and live outside in nature. When we consider the “office” has been around for 100 years, but our brain hasn’t caught up yet!So what do we still like? Studies have shown that plants energise us, enhance our creativity, good natural daylight, natural ventilation, having a varied temperature (not set like it is in many offices), sounds of nature (like leaves rustling or waves lapping at the shoreline). Actually sound is an important aspect. As humans we don’t like complete quiet because in the natural world, silence = danger (fire, predator, bad weather coming).Beyond the Workplace ZooThis excellent book which comes out in September and can be preordered HERE, is the result of 20 years worth of research and practical consultancy. For anyone interested or working in Workplace Design your practice will be all the richer from the discussions, theories, ideas and proposals that Nigel puts forward.