February 1, 2006—Better Places to Work, a new report from three leading property industry bodies, demonstrates that badly located and poorly designed places of work are not only bad for employees and the wider environment; they are also bad for business.
The report has been produced by the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE), working in partnership with the British Council of Offices and the British Property Federation.
Based on discussions with planners, designers, developers and occupiers, the report identifies six principles that contribute to a better place to work. These are:
- Ease of movement and legibility: easily accessible by public transport, reducing reliance on the car;
- Character, quality and continuity: a strong sense of place and fitting into the locality;
- Diversity: contributing to a mix of uses on site, such as commercial and leisure as well as office;
- Sustainability: minimizing energy use through design during construction and in occupation, and providing a healthy working environment;
- Adaptability: able to accommodate changing requirements, eg a switch from office use to residential and back again; and
- Management: good ongoing maintenance and management, including public space and landscaping.
Better Places to Work presents 10 case studies that demonstrate practical lessons, including: involving all the stakeholders at the earliest opportunity, consulting the experts, being prepared to take risks, giving the public access to open space or leisure facilities, and using good design as part of a marketing strategy.
For more on the publication, visit the CABE Web site.
