How Volvo Cars hopes to enhance employee well-being by inviting nature to work.

As modern workplaces continue to evolve, the importance of human-centric design remains constant. In the pursuit of creating productive, tech-driven office spaces in city centres, the need for ways to recharge and destress has become a priority. 

The Workplace Experience team at Volvo Cars started to explore how incorporating elements of nature, specifically the Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing, can enhance employee well-being and productivity. 

Shinrin-yoku is the practice of immersing oneself in nature to promote relaxation and stress relief. Research has shown that spending time in nature can have a positive impact on physical health by lowering blood pressure and reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke, as well as improving overall well-being by reducing stress. As a result, the idea of bringing the forest into the office has gained popularity in recent years.  

To replicate the experience of Shinrin-yoku in the office, we created immersive resting rooms called Recharge Me rooms, which engage the three big senses – vision, hearing, and touch. To achieve this, we incorporated a 360 point of view film experience from different Swedish forests, using sound and light to create an immersive and realistic environment. The use of natural tactile materials like wood and stone further enhances the connection to nature. 

The challenge in creating an immersive experience lies in using artificial sounds to create an atmosphere that feels as natural as being in the forest. The team worked on creating a sound system that replicates the de-stressing sound curves found in nature and also placed the sound and light strategically in the room for maximum effect. 

The Recharge Me approach is a holistic well-being approach designed to support employees in various areas of their work life. At its core, the Recharge Me approach is centred around the idea that supporting employee well-being is essential to creating a healthy, happy, and productive workforce. 

While nothing can replace the real thing, our recharge me room provides a pretty good substitute for those moments when employees can't escape to the forest. By incorporating elements of nature into corporate spaces, we can create a more holistic and human-centric environment that enhances employee well-being and productivity. – Emma Watson, Place design strategy and guidelines, Workplace Experience.  

You´ll find three recharge rooms at the Tech Hub in Stockholm and soon at Torslanda, with further information to come.