Sustainable placemaking in Eastern Europe – part 2

Dr Darren Allen FRICS, Development Director, Genesis Property

Pandemics have shaped world history, pulling previously accepted social and behavioural norms into the spotlight. In the second of this two-part series, Darren Allen FRICS FCIOB examines the importance of creating healthy working environments and bringing nature-inspired design to urban spaces in Romania.

We are witnessing a new era of both great potential and grave perils to humankind. Pandemics shape world history and provide anchors over time. We have experienced this recently with COVID-19 starting in 2020. Pandemics also question our social and behavioural norms, the role of expertise, and the sustainability of our material foundations.

Biophilic design

Recognition of the importance of nature-inspired design increased after the pandemic outbreak.

According to Eurostat, Romanians spend an average of 34 years at work - almost half of their lives, compared to the country’s life expectancy. Most people spend a third of their lives, or around 5,000 hours a year, in front of a screen, according to a study conducted by Kantar and VELUX last year in eight European countries, including Romania. Although people value the time spent in the natural environment, in reality, contact with nature is missing for 70% of them. The lack of time spent in nature is strongly correlated to community lifestyle and non-existent green spaces in urban areas.

People are increasingly spending more attention to how the building where they live or the office building in which they work influences their well-being and health. Creating and maintaining a connection with nature within the built environment, such as green spaces, can increase the connectivity between people and nature, with positive impact on wellbeing and productivity.

According to numerous studies, access to natural daylight and nature can improve people’s wellbeing and enhance creativity and brain cognitive functions. For example, a biophilic design consisting of plants; natural lighting and ventilation; and paintings or images associated with nature can change the quality of life and contribute to mental and physical health. The benefits of such a design include, among others, improved air quality, enhancing creativity and productivity, and better mental wellbeing. In addition, a biophilic design will help people maintain social relationships because it represents the ideal environment for people to interact.

Transforming offices to align with the rules of biophilic design can contribute to creating greener workplaces for the future. Biophilic design will attract talent and give more credibility to a green office park because so many people are thinking about nature and their surrounding environment.

YUNITY Park

YUNITY Park, a business campus within Genesis Property’s portfolio, offers an immersive experience that connects people to the community, nature and the city. The public realm becomes the glue that brings people together, blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors. Access to an urban forest allows people to connect with nature, and event spaces provide the perfect setting for large group gatherings and seasonal events. The park also provides outdoor workspaces and recreational experiences. These elements come together to create a fission of experiences that is unique to each user.

Community-driven hubs

The natural environment is particularly important for working spaces fitted with co-living and co-working. Co-living and co-working spaces, beyond aiming to bring people closer to each other in a community formed around similar opinions and values, should also bring people closer to nature. Companies must understand the importance of a human-nature connection and the benefits that nature has on humans.

In today’s society, offices can no longer be just a space where people work. Instead, an entire ecosystem of communities around the traditional workplace requires consideration. Community-driven hubs can bring people together offering them a variety of options for their time.

Destinations which integrate co-working and co-living alongside outdoor areas and experiences, can contribute to people’s wellbeing and professional development. Co-working and co-living spaces are an excellent way for people to connect in social interactions and engage in professional activities as part of a community. When living and working together in a common, yet dynamic and diverse area, people can develop valuable skills that can help them personally grow. In the long run, implementing the concepts of co-working and co-living in proximity can also lead to benefits for employers such as energy efficiency, enriched creativity and maximised productivity.

A hub equally dedicated to networking and adapted for a good work-life balance is essential nowadays to meet the requirements and expectations of professionals. The McKinsey 7S Framework (structure, strategy, systems, shared values, style, skills, and staff) is a great system for any company to consider in this context.

Sick building syndrome

As places where we spend 90% of our time, employees have become increasingly concerned about the health of indoor spaces. Sick building syndrome (SBS) was first coined by the World Health Organisation in 1983 to describe the symptoms experienced by office workers in poorly ventilated buildings. These symptoms can include headaches, lethargy, eye, nose and throat irritation, breathing problems, and skin irritation.

At Genesis Property, we have prioritised the health of indoor spaces, particularly in regard to SBS. The IMMUNE™ Building Standard (IBS) was launched in 2020, and is governed by the Healthy by Design Building Institute (HDBI) based in Brussels, Belgium. IBS certifies the resilience of buildings to health hazards and has gained significant interest and popularity within the building industry and the media, with many buildings being certified around the world. Another milestone for IMMUNE™ was achieved in early 2022, when the standard was cited within the new International Building Operation Standard (IBOS) framework pioneered by RICS.

Sustainability objectives affecting short-term profitability

The pandemic has exposed the liabilities faced by the world and the need for business leaders to create comprehensive and sustainable strategies that protect people’s long-term wellbeing. The capitalist system must offer all stakeholders in society the opportunity to contribute to the sustainability of the global system, beyond financial profit and shareholder benefits objectives.

The principles of stakeholder capitalism as advocated by the World Economic Forum (WEF) have never been more important. Stakeholder capitalism can be defined by the ability of the private sector to leverage the innovative power of people to generate long-term value, not only for shareholders, but for all communities and members of society.

About 80% of CFOs said that they would cut spending on activities such as research and development and marketing to achieve short-term earnings goals, according to McKinsey survey data. But there is a real challenge to consider in achieving long-term sustainability objectives. Specifically, a short-term one related to profitability. However, this approach – sacrificing long-term plans for short-term earnings – will change radically in the coming years, and the pandemic has been a powerful driver of this change.

There is a great need, on a global scale, from business leaders to commit and align their business values and strategies with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals. This is a crucial step to better serve society and in setting clear, long-term goals to ensure that the planet’s resources are not rapidly and hopelessly depleted.

In today’s landscape, prioritising the short-term over long-term perspectives is no longer a sustainable approach for the future. Emerging data clearly shows that organisations with a long-term sustainability strategy have more to gain from all points of view. Companies must now shift towards a sustainable vision that factors in the wellbeing of all stakeholders, from shareholders and employees to society at large. To do this, they need to reduce their environmental impacts, protect their employees, and inform their consumers correctly and so on.