Look out of the window of your workplace. Is the view pleasing? Can you see trees and grassy areas, or rubbish bins? Do you enjoy leaving the building at lunchtime or would you rather stay in your office?
Indoor work environments (in particular factors like light, noise and temperature) have an effect on working quality. Attractive offices, with common areas and relaxing activities, will appeal to businesses and workers. If a positive office indoor environment helps, it makes sense that a nice outdoor one should do the job, too.
Those who work in a big city are complaining about crowded conditions, surrounded by busy roads. But there are exceptions. Chiswick Park in west London is the kind of area that local people like to frequent on their days off. It has its own waterfall and lake, where ducks have settled, and there are tree-shaded lawns where one can picnic on sunny summer days. The actively minded can head for a special area to play basketball or football. The autumn brings firework shows and when the weather is good, the site holds food fairs, concerts or other events.
During the week, however, 9,000 people flood into the park's 12 office buildings. They are home to 73 businesses, including big companies like Paramount and Sony.
Anyone who has visited the main office of a tech company will be surprised to find comfortable chairs, pool tables and even guitars or bikes for hire, like those in a big hotel. The worry about such services is that they aim to keep employees in the office for as long as possible. If you can eat, go to the gym and even get your dry cleaning done at work, why go home?
The danger, as with many aspects of the future economy, is of another class divide. In addition to fat pay checks, well-decorated offices with top-class services located in attractive parks for the fortunate few who program for big tech groups or run large companies; dissatisfying jobs in "satisfying centers" and busy roads outside for the rest. On the bright side, office workers in the latter will at least still have a reason to head home.
