Rebirth of the Home Office: Restoring a Connection with Nature
Have you ever wondered why you get your best ideas while immersed in nature or while simply taking a walk through your favorite trail?
Throughout history, the world’s greatest artists and designers have drawn their inspiration from the natural world. Nature still has this effect on us today. Spending time in nature improves our brain’s cognitive functions, boosting our creativity, focus, and problem-solving. Simply being in a natural environment can restore the parts of the brain that can become depleted due to extensive use of technology or multitasking.
An average office worker spends about 1,600 hours a year at work surrounded by technology and is constantly faced with information overload. Office buildings have taken us further away from the grounding elements of nature that have been proven to be essential for our problem-solving and creativity. A traditional office has very few ways of inspiring us, and the stale environment can lower our productivity.
Now that many of us have experienced the realities of remote work, we are starting to look at the office environment with fresh eyes and are open for change. So shouldn’t we seek to work in the environment that brings out the best in us?
A Nature-Focused Home Office Solution
Space of Mind, a Nordic-inspired workspace designed by Studio Puisto Architects in Helsinki, aims to restore our connection to nature, which is essential for our work performance and overall well-being. With its large window bringing the outdoors closer to us, this home office solution lets us feel nature’s restorative power and presence.
Looking out a window onto a natural scene for just 40 seconds can help restore our focus and increase our work performance. A brief glimpse of the color green before doing a creative task enhances our creative performance more than other colors. Several studies have found that nature’s presence makes workplaces healthier and happier. So even if we cannot be outside, looking at a natural scene will boost our creativity.
The Space of Mind team has excelled in harnessing the power of nature and created a dream space that, in our opinion, can unlock anyone’s creative genius. The free-standing structure can be installed into a backyard or another outdoor location. It offers a dedicated space that is separated from the main residence and free of distractions. Space of Mind adapts to ever-changing needs of our modern lives and can alternatively be used as a guest room or a home gym, among many other functions.
Remote work is here to stay, and an increasing number of people will choose to work from home as many companies allow workers more flexibility in where and how they work. It’s time to reevaluate our work habits and environments. As more people work from home, we need creative solutions for separating personal and professional lives. New versatile home office solutions like Space of Mind could be key in creating distinct spaces for work and family time.
Space of Mind is a viable option for anyone looking for an inspiring solution for their home office or simply a backyard oasis to retreat to from time to time. The Space of Mind team welcomes inquiries from all over the world as they are making their product available for international markets.
A Sneak Peek at 5 Nordic Homes in America
Take a sneak peek at these five Nordic homes spreading from Reno Nevada to Coastal New England, all embodying Nordic simplicity, timelessness and natural materials.
Read how these homeowners celebrate their Nordic heritage and learn what features they value the most when creating a Nordic inspired space for themselves and their families.
Home location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Who lives here: Annette Wind from Sweden, stay at home mother of three, husband Andrew and children Emmett, Fiona and Enid (and two dogs and six chickens!)
“When I created the dining room space my roots from the Swedish country side really took over and everything I picked out seemed to represent the land I was brought up in. Everything from the knotty pine table, the green stairs inspired by Swedish farmhouse, to the little embroidered wall hanging with a Swedish saying made by my late grandmother made this room feel like a little piece of Sweden in my American homestead.”
Home location: Leverett, Massachusetts
Who lives here: Leah, owner of Ittikid, her Swedish husband Calle, and their daughters Tuva and Elsa.
“As a Swedish-American family, we love incorporating Scandinavian design into our everyday life and home. Many of the pieces in our home are vintage Danish or Finnish mid-century pieces that my grandparents bought in the 60’s and the rest are pieces we’ve carefully brought home in our suitcases from our annual trips to visit Calle’s family in Sweden. One of our favorite spots to curl up with a book or zonk out after we get the kids to bed is in our Eames lounger with our vintage Danish shelf behind it. My grandparents had this shelf in their homes for the past 60 years, and we have now made it our own and styled it with our favorite ceramics & Dala horses from Sweden, and Stelton pitchers from Copenhagen. My grandfather and I used to read together in their Eames lounger throughout my childhood, and it took me years to save up and buy one once we bought our first house. In fact, this was the first item I purchased as soon as my business became profitable, and used my first paycheck on it — ha! I love reading in the chair next to their old Danish bookshelf, and seeing our girls read Pippi stories to each other in the chair now. I love seeing how kids breath life into these iconic pieces & help pull our home together with a nod to both of our cultures and histories.”
Who lives here: Mia Suni from Finland, founder of Studio M, her husband Fabrice and children Stella and Noa.
” My favorite Nordic spot in our Brookline (MA) home is the fireplace nook in our living room. One way I like to cherish my Nordic roots is through Finnish art that I have placed on the mantel. Cozy Marimekko textiles are another important design element for me. The fireplace area provides a natural environment for art and being a ceramicist myself I often “display” my own creations in this area. Art in general is a quick and easy way to celebrate your heritage. I think this spot captures both the coziness and typical clean lines of Nordic interiors. The longer I’ve lived abroad the more important these elements have become to me.”
Home location: Reno, Nevada
Who lives here: Annika Caldwell from Finland, founder of NØRDIK, her husband and 3 Rhodesian Ridgebacks (Zulu, Imbasa and Mbali).
“My favorite spot in our Reno (NV) home is our open concept living room and kitchen (full of Finnish glassware and tableware from Iittala and Arabia of course!). I have decorated our home blending Sierra Nevada mountain style with Nordic design inspired by nature. Finnish artist Teemu Järvi Illustrations artwork fits perfectly with the natural elements we are surrounded by. I have also incorporated some of the timeless Finnish design pieces from designers such as Alvar Aalto, Timo Sarpaneva and Oiva Toikka. I use sustainable linen and wool textiles from Lapuan Kankurit, such as the wool throw in my living room combined with accent linen cushion covers from Marimekko. As you can tell I tend to favor warm and calming earth tones to create a comfortable (and natural) home. I also mix in elements from around the world such as the decorative antique horse from Guatemala and handmade game boxes from Syria.”
Home location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Who lives here: Anna Juola from Finland, co-founder of Puustelli USA, her husband Mikko and their three children.
“My favorite space in our home is our kitchen. For us, kitchen is much more than just a place to prepare meals and eat – it is a center of our family life and a best place for us to socialize, bond and come together throughout our daily activities. My husband and I are in kitchen business, so I guess it’s natural that we are passionate about kitchens, food and everything in that category, and consider our kitchen as the heart of our home”.
Mette Aamodt - Aamodt/ Plumb Architects
Nordic Architecture
Who: Mette Aamodt
Current Gig: Architect, Design Activist, Co-Founder of the Slow Space Movement, Blogger
Location: Cambridge Massachusetts USA
Your favorite way to relax: By the ocean, listening to the waves and looking out over the water.
In a world of constant distractions, people seek new ways to take care of themselves, disconnect and recharge. We chatted with Mette Aamodt, the Co-Founder and CEO of Aamodt/Plumb Architects about how Nordic values and architecture can help us slow down and play a role in our well-being.
In addition to being a business owner, Mette is also a Design Activist, Co-Founder of the Slow Space Movement and Blogger at slowspace.org. Born in Norway, she is deeply influenced by her Nordic heritage and has a passion for modern design. In her work she focuses on simple forms and natural materials that are well-crafted and long-lasting.
LN: In both your blog, Slow Space, and your built projects you put a lot of emphasis on understanding and implementing Nordic Values towards achieving a better well-being for your readers and clients. How about your personal life? How have you been able to embrace Nordic values to improve your quality of life?
MA: In our personal and family life we try to live a Nordic lifestyle as much as possible. For us that means lots of family meals, spending time outside every day and enjoying each day as it comes. We also resist the very American trend of over-scheduling our kids and ourselves. We love having weekends with absolutely no plans, so we can do whatever the mood suggests.
"Creativity and imagination need time and uncluttered space to emerge."
LN: Later, we will be speaking with Linda McGurk, the author of ‘There’s no Such Thing as Bad Weather’, about the benefits of outdoor play and nature-centric parenting. In your opinion, how can architecture stimulate our senses in a similar way that nature does and to what benefit?
MA: I completely agree with nature-centric parenting and another way to do that is to bring nature inside with natural light and natural materials like wood and stone. Natural light and materials make us feel connected to our world and sooth our overstimulated minds and bodies.
LN: How can Nordic architecture help to slow down our busy lives and inspire us to dream and be more imaginative?
MA: Nordic architecture's focus on simple forms and natural materials is calm and soothing. Nordic architecture is fundamentally focused on the human experience. It is very welcoming and encourages us to stay and enjoy the atmosphere for a while. Creativity and imagination need time and uncluttered space to emerge.
