It’s said that the temperatures we’ve seen in the UK this summer are set to become a regular thing, with 40⁰c heatwaves leaving offices - and everywhere - sweltering every few years.
Even with air con to make things more comfortable, there’s no doubt that the blistering heat has sapped energy and disrupted motivation in workplaces across the country.
But trying to maintain productivity by keeping your air con on full is not exactly the ideal solution, either for the environment or for your company’s budget.
One of the most obvious ways to keep the temperature down is to block out the sun’s rays - but, if drawn blinds don’t quite give off the workplace ambience you’re after, fear not!
For those of us who like our solutions a little more aesthetically pleasing, there are some great design-led ways to keep your space cool when the mercury rises.
Make like a jungle
Calming, restful, beautiful - and cooling. Filling your window spaces with lush planting to help screen out the sun is a wonderful way to harness all the benefits of biophilia and keep your office looking good.
From window boxes artfully placed to shade the seating below (as shown above in our interior scheme for Shift Commerce) to groupings of gigantic greenery that create a true jungle feel, planting is a super-versatile solution when your office is feeling the heat.
Great-looking plants that love direct sun and look fantastic together include Yuccas, Dragon Trees, Crotons and Ponytail Palms.
And, as well as helping block the sun, natural planting increases the humidity of the surrounding air - another effective way to keep the temperature down.
Fake it till you make it
But of course, there are lots of plants that hate harsh heat and light as much as we do, and that’s where artificial plants come into their own.
While they may not be your first choice, they’re a great option to get the look and feel of natural planting in spaces where real plants would struggle - and because we can use them anywhere, they’re the perfect way to release your creativity!
From adorning ceilings to beautifying room dividers, as seen above in our scheme for Knight Frank, they’re the ultimate adaptable way to green up your office space.
Plus they can be a more cost-effective option.
After all, if you’ll need plants with height for your screening, the last thing you want is to invest in expensive tall planting only for it to suffer.
Our plant partners Oasis Plants have a brilliant selection of hyper-realistic fake planting which, as well as being perfect for window screening, is low maintenance, long-lasting and clean.
Speak to our team to find out more.
Rethink your layout
It sounds obvious, but one of the simplest ways to help staff stay cool is to move their working spaces away from windows that receive the fiercest sunlight.
Instead, you could use these spaces for informal meeting or breakout areas - both of which allow for more thoughtful design touches to create beautiful-looking shade.
At Search Labs, we placed this stunning seating area (shown above) in a tricky window, using a mix of blackout and voile curtains to provide adjustable shade and further screening the space from the rest of the office with open dividers.
Let the Air Flow Free
Allowing air to flow freely throughout the space is another crucial factor in keeping temperatures down and employees comfortable, especially in the heat of the summer.
When introducing screening or partitions into your office, there are lots of smart ways to maintain open spaces - from maximising your use of height to using open mesh or panelling dividers.
When designing the bespoke double-aspect meeting space at Shift Commerce (above) we kept the whole design open, using louvred struts and taking advantage of the high ceilings to keep air flow throughout.
At Burendo and Knight Frank (below), spaces are separated by open wood panelling custom-crafted by our talented team, which adds a touch of visual interest as well as allowing air to circulate.
DesignTonic X Burendo & Knight Frank
Think colour
There’s a reason Mediterranean homes are painted white.
If your office really struggles in the heat, it may be better to opt for a paler tone for walls and even floors to reflect the sun’s rays.
And it’s not just that paler colours make a space look cooler.
Because dark colours absorb, retain and then emit heat, avoiding them in areas which receive strong direct sunlight will keep the space more comfortable overall - as well as making it easier to keep cool with less energy.
Embrace height
If your office benefits from a double-height or atrium space, don’t block it off!
Grouping desk space at the base of a higher space, as seen below in our design for Aspire Platforms, doesn’t just allow light to flow.
DesignTonic X Aspire Platforms
In the warmest weather, you can make the most of what architects call the stack effect - the natural funnel of warm air upwards which pulls cooler air down to the lower levels.
To make sure you’re not just recycling stale air, make sure you have some ventilation, whether through your internal system or just opening a window at a high level.
