This is a research paper which elaborately talks about how we can increase employee productivity and comfort through focusing on certain areas, such as personalized space for the employees, visual comfort, ergonomic and comfortable furnitures, etc.

1. RESEARCH PAPER
Azra Maliha
Kawther Hameed

2. Introduction
Boundaries/ personalization
Connection to nature
 Creating openings
 Greening indoor spaces
 Color
 Natural material
Nature connectedness
Biophilia hypothesis
Biophilic design
 Daylight
References

3. Psychological comfort means being content or satisfied mentally and spiritually
as a result of the aesthetically pleasing environment. When people are physically
comfortable in their spaces, they look for something to please their eyes and relax
their minds. An aesthetically pleasing environment is a grand bonus for making
a place healthy, productive and attractive. Psychological comfort helps people get
over boredom and stress, depression, both at workplaces or homes.
Personalization of space refers to the garnishing, decoration, modification, or
rearrangement of an environment by its user to reflect their individual identities.
This term is applicable for both residential and office spaces, but should be more
focused on office as homes are already designed according to occupants’ desires.
Back in the history, office spaces used to enclosed, with cubicles filled
workstations and individual offices discriminating the rank or position of
workers. In the modern century, open-space office is widely accepted to create a
sustainable and productive atmosphere. But on issue is personalization, which is
based on the concept of human behavioral need for personal space, territorial
behaviors and privacy. We cannot provide individual person office to 200
workers in an office, and this is where designing comes into action.
Why we focus on personalization is because it has a great psychological effect on
the employees. The feeling of own space, and something belonging to them or
looking at something of their own elevates one’s mood. Some researches show

4. that personalization can keep people against negative physical, physiological, and
psychological concerns such as stress, depression and anxiety. Harris &
Associates (1978) states that allowing individuals to express their emotions and
personality through personalizing their individual space will improve well-being.
Personal space or boundaries also bring out creativity, concentration and help in
brainstorm. Most of the human beings find it easier to concentrate when they are
alone.
We can provide boundaries or personal space in different ways:
 Displaying personal objects in the space: adding artworks, family photo,
favorite flowers or plants, show piece, something that makes them happy.
 Changing the furnishing according to the user. For example changing the
position of desk, or adjusting seat or chair, positing certain objects
according to needs and comfort.

5. It is when we make a design that is inspired by and connects to the nature, visually
or physically. These kinds of designs exist because its known that nature is what
gives us most comfort and being comfortable can make us exceed ourselves in
many aspects.

Openings are meant by doors, windows or any other systems. Openings allow
fresh air to enter inside the interior space, constantly refreshing what’s inside the
building. They are also a ways to integrate daylight, so daylight + fresh air can
remove the feeling of stuffiness and allow you to work better and relax better.
Openings, as learnt in the physical aspects relating to thermal comfort, are very
much important for health, as well as mind. Adequate amount of openings in a
particular space give the mind to feel open, comfortable rather than
claustrophobic.

As it is known, plants give us oxygen by their respiratory system. Getting more
oxygen into the building was proved by scientists is a way to remove stuffiness
and it maximizes performances, adding an aesthetic look to the interior. In some
buildings, they use a lot of green plants to make the people inside feel that they
Office without openings Office with openings

6. are sitting in the nature, this goes by the fact that when an artist try to draw
something they prefer drawing outdoor in a green space.
Greenery has become the latest trend since the past decade as a part for
sustainability. Adding plants, living wall or atrium gardens to a building or space
not only helps in filtering the air, but also comforts the eyes, increase
concentration and improve productivity. According to science and psychology,
trees and plants are proven to make people happy. Even by looking at a picture
of nature makes us feel comfortable.

Colors that are inspired from nature also gives us the feeling of being in a soothing
space. It’s all about color psychology and ow our mind perceives colors. Along
with the greening indoor and openness, the implementation of colors inside for
the walls, flooring, furniture, upholstery, everything should be connecting to the
nature. The colors green, brown, orange, blue, yellow are proven to give certain
fresh feelings associated with natural space and elements.

7. If integrated properly, colors have the power to change the mood, manipulate our
mind to bring out inner creativity and provide energy. Everything we are, as a
human, as a person or any functions of the body is all ruled by our psychological
self. A person can be physically ill, but if he is psychologically well, he will not
only be happy, but also he will recover from physical issues lot faster, which is
also proven experiments.

One of the best ways to connect an interior with nature is to use natural materials
as an aspect of sustainability, heathy indoor and color. A room full of iron
furniture will give us the feel of urban life, industries and all sorts of hassle, where
as a room filled with wooden furnitures reminds us of trees, forests and nature.
Apart from pleasing our eyes, natural materials also have other benefits:

8. 1- Natural materials are often durable:
Building materials which are harvested/extracted from the earth are extremely
durable. E.g.: Cork from the bark of cork trees, is spongy and unlikely to dent.
Granite is the hardest and densest natural stone, Marble is the most costly material
with luxurious value, to give incredible shine and intricate designing capability.
2- Your Interiors Will Be On-Trend:
As said previously, sustainability and nature have been on trend in the recent
years. Numerous companies are making amazing pieces of furnitures, lighting
fixture, decorations, wall cladding by using natural materials or mixing various
ones.
3- They Ensure a Timeless Decor:
Sustainable materials tend to top the list of timeless styles since they’ve been
around nearly as long as the concept of interior design itself. They are long lasting
and recyclable, refurnishable. This is why we see the century old wooden
furnitures still existing, and in use.
4- The feeling of nature:
The feel that natural elements gives us, whether by touching or seeing is itself
connecting us with the wild. The feeling we get differs from person to person,
less or more intense, but it doesn’t have any particular name for it. But if we go
deeper in the psychology, we find the terms like Nature connectedness, biophilia
hypothesis, and biophilic design.
Nature connectedness: the extent to which individuals include nature as part
of their identity. This is a psychological process of understanding nature, even
though some parts of it will not be pleasing. People tend to connect with
nature’s characteristics with their own personality trait.
Biophilia hypothesis: suggests that humans possess an innate tendency to
seek connections with nature and other forms of life. Famous biologist and
theorist Edward O. Wilson referred to this term as "the urge to affiliate with
other forms of life". This is the reason why we are so attracted to nature, why
nature and related things calm us, gives us peace and relaxation.
Biophilic design: this is actually the result of the nature connectedness. It is
sustainable design strategy that incorporates natural environment and
connects them with people. This, in conclusion, links with everything we see
in healthy indoor aspects, both physical and psychological.

9. 
Daylighting or natural knighting is another psychological measure which is
proven to make us feel awake, fresh and alert. Good lighting energizes our brain
and body, accentuates details which affects how we view colors. It’s a highly
sustainable way to illuminate a space with the aesthetical value.

10. Benefits of Daylighting for Healthy Homes:
- Enhances mood
- Promote concentration by boosting energy and in turn increase productivity
- Restore the body’s natural balance
- Promote good hygiene, kills bacteria
- relieves us from eyestrain and provides vitamin D.
- Promotes natural melatonin production and healthy cortisol levels throughout
the day
-Gives the feel of fresh outdoor.
Daylighting is also linked with creating openings, or the physical factors of visual
comfort. Daylighting or light systems which mimic daylight is highly trending in
the interior design industry, which aids the highest levels in sustainable and green
design.

11. Refences:
 http://freshome.com/2014/08/29/why-you-should-use-natural-materials-
in-your-design/
 http://freshome.com/2014/10/21/why-neutral-colors-are-best/
 http://www.naturebright.com/research-news/benefits-of-adding-
daylighting-systems-to-interior-design/
 http://freshome.com/2014/10/21/why-neutral-colors-are-best/