"Hey Boss, Can I Work Outside Today?" Incredible Outdoor Offices

The following is a guest post by Heater-Home

Eco-culture stepped into the corporate playing field as soon as businesses started realizing the money-saving and PR benefits of going green. Since then a whole new mindset has been adopted in corporate culture.

In today's world, where brand identity and employee loyalty are key to survival and growth, businesses are also increasingly realizing the value of another commodity -- their employees.

Merging eco-awareness with employee satisfaction, more and more businesses are redefining their culture. Stepping away from galley ship set ups like those artfully played out in Monty Python's The Crimson Permanent Assurance, employers are now recognizing that an unhappy, stressed-out employee means smaller profit margins.

One result? Outdoor work spaces, like this temporary space in London's St. James Park, which the city transformed for two days this summer into a functional office with, free Wi-Fi, a boardroom, a breakout room, 12 desk clusters and a receptionist. (Photo at right courtesy City of London.)

Nivea, U.K.

Beauty company Nivea recently made waves by offering the "Oxygen Powered Office Space" in major UK cities, as a unique way to promote their products. Available through bookings for an hour session, Nivea offered outdoor space with a reception area, three meeting areas, two work stations, Wifi, coffee, plasma screens, and a beauty area hosting Nivea products that serves s a place for employees to freshen up.

Not only does Nivea gain exposure and publicity (ad courtesy Nivea), but the outdoor office is a creative outlet for companies who want to encourage out-of-the-box thinking.

Selgas Cano Architects, Madrid

An outdoor workspace was also the creative inspiration for Selgas Cano Architects in Madrid, Spain (photographed by Iwan Baan). Selgas Cano took the outdoor office to the next level by looking toward long-term harmonization of indoor and outdoor space.

The design boasts effective use of space, employing a sleek tube-like structure sunken into the ground. The long window curving along the wall and toward the ceiling creates an openness that not only lets in natural light but also fosters a synchronicity between the indoors and outdoors.

The sinking foundation is also a classic design strategy that improves building insulation, requiring less energy to heat the interior. The inside color scheme is also reflective of natural greens and yellows found outdoors, making the shift between indoor and outdoor seamless.

Shifting to an Outdoor Work Space: 4 Considerations

Fortunately, you don't need to live in London, work in Spain, or rely on locally set up corporate sponsorships to get a feel for the outdoor office. Depending on where you are, you can easily set up shop in your own backyard or patio.

There are dozens of options for outdoor offices, such as turning your shed into a detached home office (photo courtesy IdealHomeMagazine.co.uk), or using your deck or sunroom as an office extension. Whatever you decide, there are certain things you should consider when setting up your new space:

Weather: If you're in colder climates, consider investing in a portable table top patio heater. Patio heaters come in all sizes and styles, from freestanding patio heaters to mounted designs, and from electric to propane and natural gas. Getting a patio heater makes the idea of an outdoor office a more practical option.

Electricity: If you consider your laptop your lifeline, then you're likely going to need access to an outlet. Set up shop in a spot that allows you to use an extension cord to an outside outlet or trek one back indoors through a window.

Coverage: Having some sort of roofing or canopy is critical to an effective workspace for two main reasons. 1) It protects you from the weather and 2) It helps deflect excess light away, which is particularly important if you're using a laptop. Canopies can also be purchased and readily assembled from most retail chains.

Furniture: Your outdoor furniture should be practical. Try going for easy-to-clean glass surfaces that don't face rust and corrosion problems. Also try using furniture with upholstery that is easily cleaned or weather resistant. Often, even a great outdoor patio chair will do the trick.

Ultimately, the goal of an outdoor office is to merge design with functionality. These are just some ideas to get you started. If you have more tips, tweet them on Twitter and include "#HeaterHome" so we can include your ideas and name in our follow-up article.

From Heater-Home.com. Follow Heater-Home on Twitter.

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