The photos have been sourced and supplied by London-based art consultants Works in Print, which has undertaken research into just what impact art can have on workplaces. The company, in conjunction with academic and consultant Dr Jenny Thomas, looked at how people felt about art in different areas of a workplace, including public spaces, meeting rooms and the main office. What they found was that rather than having subjective ideas about the types of art they favoured those questioned tended to be in agreement about what art suited which area, based on the role it played rather than their own preference. “People felt that artwork in a meeting space should not be too distracting but should offer something interesting to look at if people wanted a brief mental break from what was being discussed,” explains Works in Print Director Patrick McCrae. In addition, when presented with a selection of images 75% of people selected an image of autumnal trees bathed in sunshine as the one that best promoted wellbeing.
The one area where people were less certain was art for the main office. “People found it difficult to decide whether the artwork should be interesting to offer people a mental break from their work, aspirational, inspire creativity or be calming to allow people to focus on their work,” adds Patrick. The main office was also the least likely part of a workplace to feature art. “This leads us to question whether there is a lack of art in the main office because people do not know what artwork to install to have a positive impact,” suggests Patrick.
The images chosen for the public areas of Leavesden Park were chosen to highlight the park’s heritage. Many years before it became famous as the site of the Harry Potter Studios, the site housed the Leavesden Airfield which was one of the key manufacturing facilities servicing the RAF during WWII. Images featuring the airfield, including the famous two-seater bomber Mosquito, which was built and flown out of the airfield and became one of the most remarkable planes of WWII, are included in the collection, along with others featuring Watford’s famous train line created by Brunel in the late nineteenth century.
The images were sourced by Works in Print from archives including Mirrorpix and the National Rail Museum.
Says Roz Bird, Leavesden Park’s Head of Business Development: “Discussions with occupiers identified a need for a business lounge at Leavesden Park. The new photography was introduced as part of that project, and it has been well received. The photos are mounted on noise attenuation panels to soak up sound and create a more intimate and inspirational environment.”
Leavesden Park provides a leading destination for businesses in the region with stylish offices, set with fully landscaped grounds, providing a professional environment in which to work and do business. Companies benefit from a high quality, air-conditioned office and amenities including a café, 24 hour security, a free local bus service, secure on-site parking, a social committee, free meeting facilities, opportunities for business networking and the support of an on-site team. Watford gives excellent accessibility to London and the entire country by road or rail and Heathrow and Luton international airports are in close proximity. In addition, flexible and competitive lease terms mean that many more companies can move to a better office than they’d dreamed of sooner than they’d hoped.
Offices are available to let from 300 sq ft. For more information call 01923 894400 or visit www.leavesdenpark.co.uk.
