The office is a place for work, meetings, collaboration, and creativity. It follows the development of the business and changes among employees. At the same time, the general work environment in Sweden is regulated by the Swedish Work Environment Authority’s recommendations, and lighting is often designed according to established patterns.
Henrik Clausen heads the Fagerhult Lighting Academy and believes that both businesses and employees feel good if the office is a pleasant environment—and that lighting contributes to this. The right light also affects many, but despite that, people often take the easy way out to achieve the work environment requirements.
“I’m not saying that 60x60 tiles are bad. But they’re not good either, as the premises get the atmosphere of a rainy day. With well-thought-out flows and the proper lighting, we can create a light environment that resembles daylight and varies between the different parts of the office, and then we feel better,” - says Henrik Clausen.
“With well-thought-out flows and the proper lighting, we can create a light environment that resembles daylight and varies between the different parts of the office, and then we feel better,” Henrik Clausen, Director at Fagerhult Lighting Academy
But before an office is ready for occupancy, many parts need to fall into place, and lighting is one of them. Lisa Sandvik is a project manager at Tenant and Partner in Gothenburg and works with value-creating and sustainable property development with a focus on offices:
“When we changed offices and got good lighting, it became clear how much it adds to the work environment. Nowadays, together with the architects, we like to raise the lighting issue with property owners at a much earlier stage and try to challenge them more.” says Lisa Sandvik.
FAGERHULT PRODUCTION OFFICE
At the same time, property owners are often far along in their design, and their processes around procurement and planning are in charge. If the costs are too high, they often settle for changing the lighting in one zone or a couple of rooms.
“We have far too little knowledge about light, which is strange when we need it so much. Employees and individuals, as well as property owners, know very little about how light and contrasts affect us in everyday life – and not least in the workplace. Here, we need to learn more together and become better at finding the correct arguments and the right products to present to property owners,” says Lisa Sandvik.
“We have far too little knowledge about light, which is strange when we need it so much.” Lisa Sandvik, Project manager at Tenant and Partner
All projects involving offices are based on the Swedish Work Environment Authority’s recommendations and directives. But it is often difficult to demonstrate the value of good light.
“Partners like us and the architects can convey more clearly to tenants what effects good lighting can have. At the same time, I would like to see property owners take a step forward in wanting to deliver prosperous and well-functioning workplaces. We need to learn more about light in Scandinavia. We have it both with us and against us,” says Lisa Sandvik.
A trend that Tenant and Partner see today is that larger employers are advocating for employees to be in the office for a larger part of the workweek. Surveys show that people want to be able to work undisturbed and focused.
“We see an increased need for focus rooms and quiet workplaces with good technology and the right ergonomics. Shared spaces are, of course, still needed, but above all, you want to be able to work focused and undisturbed in the same way you can do at home. The office, therefore, needs to be an environment where our employees feel comfortable, feel good, and are productive, and lighting is an important factor there,” concludes Lisa Sandvik.
