People are energy systems
Human-centred approach Accommodation is not only about the right physical and digital working environment but much more about how people…
Read more
Your host:
René P.M. Stevens MSc Arch/MBA
Welcome
To Atelier V
‘Grownup’ taste maker with a
‘Start-up’ curiosity and drive.
The whole is more than the sum of its parts! By isolating the fields of Real Estate, Facility Management, Information Technology and Human Resources in separate “silos” they became more manageable, but from the perspective of the users, there are no distinct boundaries between those “silos” for their experience of an integrated learn/work environment. From disconnected to connected. From breaking apart to making whole. From just workplaces to places that work.
Our goal with this website is to leverage the experience to see the learn/work environment as a strategic means to add value. And grasp the essential points while choosing to dive into the deeper layers as you are called to do so. Join us in this journey with an open mind, question everything, and feel into the possibilities with your heart. Remember that “All concepts are wrong, but some are useful.”
ATELIER V, is a trendsetting consultancy firm in energy balancing of learn/work environments, the ecosystem of Bricks, Bytes and Behaviour. We believe in environments that make a meaningful difference for organisations and people. We know that it has the potential to improve the lives of those who inhabit and use it.
Applying a business case approach, transforming the way of looking at accommodation from being an operational headache (cost centre) into a strategic opportunity (profit centre), to add value for the organisation, people and society. From a mainly left-brain approach to a more balanced left and right brain approach. To answer the main question: “Is the accommodation adequate and in control?”
Now more than ever is the time for a post-COVID organisation to find a healthy and safe mix between the physical, digital and social environment. Being one step ahead, reducing occupancy costs whilst providing accommodation solutions that resonate with the organisation’s broader strategy, objectives and optimize systems performance and human health & well-being.
- Accommodation for a more productive and sustainable primary process in a socially responsible context, that enhance people’s health and wellbeing.
- Accommodation cultivates belonging, bonding, purpose, meaning and inspires people.
- Accommodation is a catalyst and leverage for processes in the building that is both efficient and effective.
- Accommodation that is fit for purpose at a lower cost.
- Accommodation that is energetically balanced and harmonized to spark connection and community needed for collaboration, imagination and creativity, serendipitous idea generation, innovation, problem-solving and social cohesiveness.
The environment (physical, digital, social) is a catalyst for people’s performance and therefore has a strategic impact. (René Stevens)
The environment influences how you think and feel. The human mind and body, inner environment, are not separate and distinct from their outer environment. The interaction and synergy between people and the physical, digital and social learn/work environment are intrinsically interconnected and forms the backbone in Real Estate (RE), Facility Management (FM), Information Technology (IT) and Human Resources (HR).
Creating harmony by addressing both sides of the equation, the outer and the inner environment. The quality of the workspace shapes the learning/work experience since everything, including humans, are made out of energy, which has no borders, and is, therefore, an interconnected open system.
What can we help you with?
Using the learn/work environment differently and more intelligently, in a straightforward manner to enable and facilitate delivery of key business outcomes and health and well-being of the users. Be it in the traditional learn/workplace and/or at third places and at home.
The physical environment (Real Estate & Facility Management), is one of the critical secondary business processes. It requires integration and consistency with other processes such as IT, Human Resources, Finance and the associated systems. So that, in addition, to support the primary process, the internal information and external accountability are in order.
Over the last centuries, educational institutions have undergone substantial changes. From a place of instruction – transmission (19th century), a place to produce learning – transactional (20th century) to a place to construct knowledge – transformational (21st century). The new teaching and learning methods, the use of IT advancements, and new social expectations and behaviour have given students more freedom to decide What they are supposed to learn, When they want to learn, How they learn and With whom.
Change in education is much faster than the learn/work environment legacy can accommodate. Many university buildings are from the last century and some are even older. Buildings are solidified policy. When pedagogy policy evolves a building is difficult to ‘liquify’ again. Regularly aligning accommodation strategy with the organisation’s policy makes timely anticipation possible.
The developments in educational theories, learning and IT have resulted in new ways of (virtual) teaching and learning – anytime, anyhow, and anywhere. This impacts the relationship between teacher/teaching, student/learning and the existing learn/work environment. Will the necessary fundamentally different choices concerning the learn/work environment come from the students or the educational institutions?
The work performance of employees and the learning behaviour of students are, besides sociodemographic variables, largely influenced by the characteristics of the environment in which they are to work/study. The physical and virtual places in their context of cultural usage and behaviour agreements and habits.
A learn/work environment strategy is, by definition, a derivative of the educational process and the organization policy. Review of workplace performance should therefore understand how evolving strategic policy goals (managerial objectives) and user’s performance (educational objectives of the academic departments) are facilitated.
A holistic approach embraces the three dimensions of the learn/work environment: physical, digital and social equally. They are inextricably linked and influence each other structurally and directly. All three are woven together for the intended results. The quote of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart “The music is not in the notes, but in the silence between”, gives a deeper meaning.
We help you improve your learn/work environment by sharing our knowledge and insights. We innovate by doing.
Innovation is essential for organisations to position themselves to maintain or create in rapidly changing market conditions. From the organisation‘s objectives and latest workplace trends, ATELIER V develops and implements, as a business consultant architect, strategies for the use of the learn/work environment. Our passion is to find the balance of reason and emotion, of mind and heart, tangible and intangible. Ever seen from the standpoint of the users of the environment, people.
Creating a learn/work environment requires both a logical (science and reason) and emotional (imagination and intuition) approach. The first can in potential also be done by a computer, the second can by definition only be done by a human being. The rule of balancing the logical mind with the emotional heart. The left-brain logic with the right-brain desire to create environments that are both inspirational and functional but also in control and efficient for a better society and a more equitable future.
The balance between the axis Effectiveness versus Efficiency and the axis Evidence versus Engagement. These four E’s form an interdependent energy system, all capable of being regulated in order to maintain homeostasis in the learn/work environment eco-system. Energy is generally defined as the ability to produce an effect. That includes then emotions, thoughts and spirituality into the energy equation.
The 'E' of real estate
– Places that work instead of workplaces –
An integrated learn/work environment eco-system of Bricks, Bytes and Behaviour.
A learn/work environment is more than a collection of ‘workplaces’. It is all about ‘places that work’ for you the user; inspiring environments that generate energy, where people meet, collaborate and exchange knowledge and information. The success does however not only depend on a smart design but also on the proper use of the environment, the right attitude and the behaviour and culture of the employees and the management style of the employer.
The environment is a catalyst for people’s performance and therefore has a strategic impact. The ‘E’ of real estate podcast is a community for the discovery journey about an integrated learn/work environment ecosystem to add value since adding value is the key to any success.
“If you change the environment, you change the people.”
(R. Buckminster Fuller)
An adequate learn/work environment has two sides. One side is about achieving an optimum between educational effectiveness and cost-efficiency. How close is the performance of the learn/work environment to the requirements of education, versus how much money is available to achieve this result and when and for how long should the result be delivered?
The other side concerns the tension between (risk) manageability (being in control) and engagement (satisfaction with the learn/work environment) of the users. What level of control is needed, what can go wrong? How can it be prevented or mitigated to ensure the desired satisfaction and involvement of users? The two sides are perpendicular axes.
A learn/work environment is a profit-centre and enabler, not just a cost-centre. The whole is more than the sum of its parts. The environment impacts the human psyche.
“A holistic approach of the physical, digital and social environment is a ‘powerhouse’, you can literally transform your organisation with an integrated learn/work environment.” (René Stevens)
Understanding the complex interrelationship in the eco-system of the learn/work environment supports better decision making. Not only measurement information is required but you need also values to determine what an adequate and desirable learn/work environment is for your specific national and local context.
IS THE LEARN/WORK ENVIRONMENT DESIRABLE?
By breaking the question ‘Is the learn/work environment desirable and adding value?’ up into chunks it becomes more manageable. To answer it, four main sub-questions must be addressed. The diversity of four perspectives ensures valuable additions and cross-pollination. Each of the perspectives is potentially very powerful but should be honoured all four and in their context to take the whole of available approaches into account.
Be aware that Engagement, Effectiveness, Efficiency and Evidence are not ends in themselves but means to an end. Pay attention to what is important, not just what is quantifiable. Go for the good of the whole in the long term because focusing on short term performance alone comes at a price.
ENGAGEMENT
1. How does the learn/work environment affect me?
The way an organisation is accommodated says a lot about it, just like clothing says something about the person who wears it. The learn/work environment is therefore much more than a functional shelter. It makes tangible what an organisation stands for. Read more>>>
EFFECTIVENESS
2. Can I work and study here effectively — are we doing the right things?
Optimizing the effectiveness of the educational process is primarily based on an educational vision and the way in which it is structured in a didactic and organisational manner. Secondly, the educational process is supported by the quality of the learn/work environment in which this process takes place. Read more>>>
EFFICIENCY
3. Is the learn/work environment used efficiently — do we do things in the right way?
Adding value by using the environment can be achieved at different levels of ambition. Ranging from a purely technical and financial approach to a level where the learn/work environment is regarded as a strategic asset for the primary process. Read more>>>
EVIDENCE
4. Is the learn/work environment manageable and in control?
Does the environment meet the demand and expectations now and in the near future? Is it adaptive to changing user needs? Both building owners and users have a responsibility for a safe, environmentally responsible and energy-efficient building. Read more>>>
And more!
Are you an end-user in the role of tenant or owner-user, below you find a selection of our services with which we can unburden you. As a strategic consultant or as an interim manager.
We turn learn/work environment into an evidence-based business asset in which not only Finance and Operations, the task side, play a role, but also Sales & Marketing and Human Resources, the human side. Both sides are integrally involved in our advice. Tailor-made, in line with your specific issue as the client.
An analytical and logical left-brain approach should be balanced with an integrated intuitive right-brain approach. (René Stevens)
Analytical thinking allows us to comprehend the parts of the learn/work environment while integrated thinking enables us to understand how they work together. (René Stevens)
A management team that is aware of the strategic opportunities of a harmonized environment, together with the help of interdisciplinary specialists, can create the difference in unlocking and unleashing human potential.
Who we work for
Real Estate. In many forms.
Our target audiences
End Users
Social real estate
Investors and developers
Urban developers
Some of the tools we use
Sharing and spreading knowledge leads to new and bigger ideas. Daring to challenge mainstream assumptions, ATELIER V sees it as its task to actively contribute to developments in the discipline of environmental consultancy and to share its enthusiasm, knowledge and expertise.
ATELIER V is constantly developing its own insights and know-how within the profession. To this end, we developed over the years our own proven consultancy tools. We keep questioning them in order to determine what is correct and true and what needs further consideration and research to improve them.
We are in a shared exploration, and we want our clients to question everything with us so that we can come to shared conclusions that will help us all gain a better, and mutual, understanding about the nature of adding value with and by the learn/work environment.
The latest news
Amazing 2021
Don’t THINK LEFT wing or RIGHT wing. Open your mind THINK for YOURSELF. Open your HEART and ACT… Wish you…
Architecture is a Symphony of Form
Architecture as a Symphony of Form is an exploration odyssey about REAL ESTATE and the REAL STATE of humans. The…
Partnership
A multi-disciplinary approach is at the heart of what we do. It enables us to take a holistic view when developing any opportunity. It allows us to challenge and re-frame each problem we address.
Our passion is to develop and implement strategies for the learn/work environment based on organisational objectives and environmental trends. A learn/work environment where people and organisations can ‘recharge’ themselves to create value together. A living environment that gives you energy as a person (and organisation) and that is also energy neutral in use.
We cannot do this alone and that is why we strongly believe in partnerships. We are part of a tribe of collaborating interdisciplinary specialist agencies and independent professionals. Connected from the vision of involving the users as much as possible in their learn/work environment.
Do our values appeal to you and do you want to become a partner? Please contact us.
