SPACE10 redesigns its copenhagen HQ with a focus on well-being and community

when SPACE10, IKEA’s future-living lab, opened three years ago, it instigated a number of lifestyle-driven wellness initiatives: flexible hours and a good work-life balance; six weeks of vacation; 6-8 months of maternity leave and 6-10 weeks of paternity leave; weekly yoga classes; a daily dose of healthy, vegetarian food; and, more recently, the addition of an on-site clinical psychologist for personal coaching.

now, SPACE10 has redesigned its copenhagen headquarters to make sure that its architecture follows suit. to complete the project, SPACE10 teamed up with spacon & X, a design studio also based in the danish capital.

SPACE10 is headquartered in copenhagen’s meatpacking district
image by hampus berndtson (also main image)

the headquarters are spread across three floors of a protected, open-plan building. however, in developing the lab’s new layout, SPACE10 and spacon & X shunned open plan occupation in favor of a more flexible configuration where on-demand workspaces are optimized for different activities. the ground floor contains a new test kitchen, an event space, and a gallery, while the upper level houses more private work areas. meanwhile, the basement accommodates a fabrication laboratory and a tech studio. employees now have the ability to recline in an armchair while writing or researching, before moving to the ground floor to interact with colleagues and the general public in more informal settings.

the test kitchen is found at ground level
image by hampus berndtson

back upstairs, new workstations hybridize the cubicle and open plan. these semi-open acoustic ‘cubes’ provide privacy and suggest a barrier to those outside, while enabling easy interaction between teammates within. work desks can now be swiveled up and down, allowing workers to stand up or sit straighter. in addition to improving well-being, the team believes that this solution might actually increase productivity: it’s been found that the highest performing organizations provide healthy food, quiet working spots — and workstations that promote a healthy posture.

the test kitchen is a place for co-workers and the public to come together
image by hampus berndtson

according to SPACE10, the layout responds to a key aspect of mental health at work: treating people fairly rather than equally. this means accommodating both extroverts and introverts, catering to those who thrive from chatting to passing colleagues as well as people who need peace and quiet, and providing space for creatives who like a tidy desk as well as those who prefer the opposite.

the hydroponic farm in the kitchen
image by nicklas ingemann

‘if we create psychologically safe spaces physically and interpersonally, we will drive radical candor, which will drive innovation,’ explains jed shamel, SPACE10 talent director and in-house psychologist. ‘psychologically and physically safe spaces facilitate creativity and enhance our abilities to bounce and critique ideas quickly.’

workspaces include adaptable cubicles
image by hampus berndtson

SPACE10 also points to research, which demonstrates that people are about 15 percent more productive and up to 60 percent less stressed when working in a plant-filled environment. plants have the added advantage of reducing indoor air pollution, which promotes better cardiovascular health and helps us think more clearly. the design also places an emphasis on natural light, which also has numerous health benefits, including better sleep, increased physical activity, and a positive correlation with job satisfaction.

desks can be swiveled up and down, allowing workers to stand up or sit straighter
image by hampus berndtson

the design team worked hard to maximize daylight throughout the year, not an easy task given copenhagen’s long, dark winters. aside from placing great importance on windows, the office includes adjustable lighting as well as new basement illumination that mimics daylight. besides 27 permanent staff, SPACE10 also invites creatives and specialists from around the world to work with them, as well as hosting a wide range of events. read more about SPACE10 and the lab’s work on designboom’s dedicated page here.

the upper level contains the staff’s ‘eat, meet, & read’ area
image by hampus berndtson

the design prioritizes greenery and natural light
image by hampus berndtson

a kitchen for staff is found upstairs
image by hampus berndtson

the kitchen serves fresh food every day
image by kasper kristoffersen

the basement contains a wood workshop
image by hampus berndtson

SPACE10 invites creatives and specialists from around the world to work with them
image by hampus berndtson

diagram illustrating the potential configurations of the ground floor
image by spacon & X

the cubicles can also be adapted depending on their specific program
image by spacon & X

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