The lobby of the Volkshotel in Amsterdam has a lot going for it from an environmental psychology perspective. Being in the space is good for visitors’ mood and wellbeing, as well as their professional performance.
The Volkshotel lobby is divided into several zones, one a co-working space, another a café. This combination means that it can be an all-day location for people staying in the hotel or living in the city. Users can choose to move throughout the day as their tasks (and meal schedule) require, giving them a level of control over their life experiences that is good for brain and body. The variety of “postures” available to people in the space, from standing at tables, to sitting in a variety of comfortable chairs, to even reclining, also supports user experience control, and all of its related mental and physical “enhancements.”
Green leafy plants are used to boost mental refreshment and to maintain the relatively relaxed moods that advance both cognitive work and pleasant socializing. Several plants are generally in view, regardless of seat location, so visual complexity in the lobby stays at a wellbeing-supporting moderate level.
The effective use of plants is consistent with biophilic design, as is the abundant natural light, which flows throughout the lobby. A few very special locations deep into the floor plate use seating configurations and changes in elevation to support prospect and refuge; with prospect and refuge people have a view from a place where they feel secure out over the nearby area. Prospect and refuge is a fundamental aspect of biophilic design, and boosts human psychological comfort. The Volkshotel has conference rooms up a flight of stairs in the co-working area, for example, that provide a view across the co-workers at communal tables and to the outdoors. Seats, some in banquettes, nestled under mezzanines provide similar sight lines out across the café space. Across the lobby, prospect and refuge is reinforced by lighting of different intensities that creates enclaves, some claimed by individuals, others by small groups—and areas featuring warm light arespaces where creative thinking and problem solving generally flourish.
The generally high ceilings make the lobby feel spacious, and higher ceilings have been linked to more creative thinking.
The space also uses materials effectively. Wood grain on view supports performance in the co-working area and pleasant conversation (and effective collaboration!) in the café zone, for example.
The space features a background hum and music soundscape that keeps the potential distractions of people nearby in check but is upbeat enough to encourage conversations and projects to move along, not be lost in daydreams (or naps).
The lobby of the Volkshotel is a place where people can work and socialize in an atmosphere that drives their thoughts and behaviors towards positive outcomes.