FMJ.CO.UK PLP ARCHITECTURE CASE STUDY
AUGUST 2021 25
Importantly, they need to measure key
vitals including continuous heart rate,
resting heart rate, breathing rate and
activity. Another useful metric that Fitbit
provides is an analysis of the wearer’s
sleep, measuring both the duration and
quality. These tools were supplemented by
a questionnaire to record the qualitative
aspects of the participants’ experiences,
light and sound meter apps, and a
sketching exercise.
By measuring each of the participants’
vital signs with wearables (a Fitbit and an
Upright Go 2 posture sensor) the team was
able to gauge the wellness qualities of each
space based on measurements of the
human body, rather than those of the
space itself. This gave an intimate
and individualised look at how
the spaces aƒ ected the person in
them. By taking this approach, the
research team was able to avoid
generalisations and grouping
people by demographics.
Everyone is unique and responds
to environments diƒ erently, so to get
a true understanding of health in the
oƒ ice we believe one must examine each
person individually, and wearables can help
us to do that.
WORK PATTERNS
The pilot study focused on assessing the
ability of wearables to monitor people’s
physiological responses to particular work
environments. To help clearly identify
what was influencing the test subjects
throughout the day, the team worked with
a narrow range of variables, focusing on
environmental and personal ones and
avoiding variations in work patterns where
possible. Having said that, a subjective
questionnaire did allow participants to
record any extra activity. They ultimately
wanted to understand how a person
can use these wearables to decide for
themselves how to use diƒ erent spaces for
diƒ erent activities based on their unique
physiological response. For this it is less
important to look at the role within the
company, and more to look at the types of
daily activity they undertake – meetings,
desk work, being creative, focusing or
whatever the day holds.
It’s also important to note that the
national lockdown hit midway through
the planning for this study and as such
it became immediately clear that it
would need to be incorporated into the
study to enable us to accurately create a
representation of how they work in the
future.
Of course, everyone’s home tends to be
very diƒ erent and much less standardised
from an oƒ ice environment. To keep
measuring consistent across
scenarios, the team chose five
key variables to focus on
when cra– ing each scenario,
including biophilia, views
out, interaction, lighting and
ventilation. Added to this,
when completing the daily
questionnaire, participants
in the home-working
scenario had extra questions
that were created to enable an accurate
comparison of their environments with the
those in the oƒ ice.
PILOT RESULTS
The open-plan oƒ ice and one of the
biophilic scenarios have the most positive
outcomes overall, and working from home
also generated good wellbeing values
when natural light and indoor plants
were present. Perceived environmental
conditions, such as aesthetics, access to
light, thermal comfort and air quality,
had a strong correlation with the level of
valence and arousal (recorded twice a
day). For example, the more satisfied
the subject felt about the space, the
more frequent positive emotions they
experienced.
The cubicle scenario was an enclosed
solitary workspace without views out and
no greenery. Although this had no impact
on the subject’s physical activeness or
posture, the data suggests that it negatively
aƒ ected their moods and emotions.
Alongside this, the perceived physical
activeness was similar in all six scenarios
except the cubical scenario. It seems that
the participant in the cubicle felt they
were physically disconnected from their
colleagues.
It also transpired that travelling to and
from work was an important opportunity
to be active during the work day. It also
has an impact on the mood of participants
when they arrived at work in the morning.
It was noticeable that the participants
who travelled by tube felt more negative
“They ultimately wanted to
understand how a person can
use these wearables to decide for
themselves how to use diƚ erent
spaces for diƚ erent activities
based on their unique
physiological response.”