Tiny Topic: Natural Light in Paris & Lyon

Tiny Topics explore the small, quiet, human moments of worklife
– the wonderful views, the favourite chairs, the quirky restaurants up the road.

This Tiny Topic is from the perspective of Carole Crosnier,
the manager of Content Marketing for Haworth International. Carole is based in Paris.  

Translated from original article in French

The link with nature is crucial to me. I grew up in the countryside, in a very sunny part of France. When I arrived in Paris for work, the city surroundings and the dense buildings made me depressed. I lacked space and a view.

I worked for several years in a 26-storey tower in La Défense, the business district west of Paris. The benefit of being in a high building and working at a series of desks near windows was that I could look up at the sky and not have my view blocked by other buildings.

Paris showroom – natural light in the Ball Room

I love our large Ballroom, with its large windows overlooking trees and a small square.

The other side of the building also has large windows, but they overlook a courtyard. However, you can look up at the sky. Looking out the window, even without any particular focus, allows me to concentrate while letting my imagination flow. 

Lyon showroom – outdoor terrace

I love our Lyon showroom because each space has a panoramic view on the city, and a large terrace runs alongside the space.

I like to have a view of the outside when I work. Just being able to look at the sky makes me feel good. I feel more in tune with the rhythm of the day. The daylight makes my eyes less tired, and I can concentrate more easily. When I work on images (presentations, booklets) this natural light allows me to better perceive the colours.

Work from home – outside the window

When I work at home I sit near a window, facing south. When I look up, all I can see are trees, flowers, and the sky. I consider this view as a true luxury.