The feeling of wind on your face, the sound of birdsong, the scent of the forest, and the calming presence of nature might not typically come to mind when thinking about a workplace. However, this will soon become a reality at the World Trade Center in the heart of Stockholm. Property owner Alecta Fastigheter has partnered with Nature Station to offer health-focused meeting spaces designed for nature walks and walk-and-talk sessions. This makes Alecta Fastigheter the first property owner in Sweden to introduce virtual indoor nature walks for its tenants.
Research shows that proximity to greenery in our living environments plays a vital role in mental well-being. Meanwhile, urbanization continues to accelerate. Today, one in four Swedes spends at least 10 hours a day seated, with office workers among the highest risk groups for sedentary lifestyles.
– As a property owner, our top priority is to create office spaces where businesses thrive, and people feel and perform at their best. We’ve been closely following emerging research that highlights the importance of incorporating nature’s benefits into office environments. We’re thrilled to introduce virtual nature walks in Stockholm’s most central property,” says Florence Cardell, Business Developer at Alecta Fastigheter.
Delivers the health benefits of nature to people
For Nature Station, the business concept was born from current research on the health benefits of nature walks and the recognition that we often neglect nature in our daily routines. A striking 62% of Swedes do not visit forests or natural areas weekly, and visits decrease by 80% when the distance to a natural area increases from less than 100 meters to 500–1,000 meters. This underscores the need to bring nature closer to people and integrate it into everyday activities—particularly at workplaces, where many spend the majority of their waking hours.
– Our mission is to deliver the health benefits of nature to people and drive the transformation toward a more health-conscious work environment. Alecta Fastigheter’s decision to offer its tenants access to nature walks and walking meetings through our office pods is a significant step in shaping the future of office spaces,” says Amanda Wiik, founder and CEO of Nature Station.
As part of this collaboration, Alecta Fastigheter will become the first property owner in Sweden to install a Nature Station at the World Trade Center January 23rd. All tenants will have access to the facility. The initiative will run as a six-month pilot project, during which data will be collected on tenant stress levels, mental health, job satisfaction, physical activity, office attendance, and perceptions of the program.
