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Greenspace as Workplace: Benefits, Challenges and Essentialities in the Physical Environment

Author

Listed:
  • Victoria Linn Lygum

    (Department of the Built Environment, The Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University, 2450 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Katia Dupret

    (Research Centre for Social Entrepreneurship and Sustainability, Department of People and Technology, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark)

  • Peter Bentsen

    (Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital-Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
    Department of Geoscience and Natural Resource Management, University of Copenhagen, 1958 Frederiksberg, Denmark)

  • Dorthe Djernis

    (The Foundation for Mental Health, 2500 Valby, Denmark)

  • Sidse Grangaard

    (Department of the Built Environment, The Faculty of Engineering and Science, Aalborg University, 2450 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Yun Ladegaard

    (The Foundation for Mental Health, 2500 Valby, Denmark
    Department of Psychology, University of Copenhagen, 1168 Copenhagen, Denmark)

  • Charlotte Petersson Troije

    (Department of Urban Studies, The Faculty of Culture and Society, Malmö University, 20506 Malmö, Sweden
    Division of Sociology, School of Health, Care and Social Welfare, Mälardalen University, 72123 Västerås, Sweden)

Abstract

There is a scarcity of knowledge regarding the potential benefits of human–nature contact within the context of working life. Even more limited is the research that focuses on working outdoors and the setting in which it takes place. This study aimed to obtain insight into key aspects of the physical environment relevant for the experienced benefits and challenges of workers exploring office work outdoors. We conducted interviews with key informants as well as photo registration and mapping of the different green spaces in the environments of six small or medium-sized workplaces. The information gathered was used as background knowledge for exploratory qualitative interviews, which were conducted while walking in natural settings chosen by the interviewees. With a landscape architectural perspective and an inductive approach, we explored employees’ experiences of bringing office work outdoors. The following themes emerged: ‘Simplicity,’ ‘Safeness’, ‘Comfort’, and ‘Contact with Nature’ were experienced as key aspects in relation to the physical environment, whereas ‘Sociality’, ‘Well-being’, and ‘Functioning’ stood out as the main benefits and, ‘Digital dependency’ and ‘Illegitimacy’ as challenges to overcome. Based on the identification of potential benefits and their prerequisites, we propose implications for practice and research that can be useful when focusing on bringing office work outdoors.

Suggested Citation

  • Victoria Linn Lygum & Katia Dupret & Peter Bentsen & Dorthe Djernis & Sidse Grangaard & Yun Ladegaard & Charlotte Petersson Troije, 2023. "Greenspace as Workplace: Benefits, Challenges and Essentialities in the Physical Environment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(17), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:17:p:6689-:d:1229686
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Lene Lottrup & Ulrika K. Stigsdotter & Henrik Meilby & Anne Grete Claudi, 2015. "The Workplace Window View: A Determinant of Office Workers' Work Ability and Job Satisfaction," Landscape Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 40(1), pages 57-75, January.
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