Have you ever noticed how a cat can look perfectly content snoozing on a seemingly hard, plain concrete slab? It’s a common sight, one I’d never given much thought to until reading a fascinating article in Popular Science titled, “Why do cats love concrete slabs? A vet explains.” The answer is a masterclass in the principles behind effective sensory workspace design.
According to the veterinary expert, concrete isn’t just a surface for cats; it’s an experience. Its appeal boils down to two key sensory benefits:
- Tactile and Olfactory Comfort: Concrete is porous. This allows a cat to dig its claws in for a satisfying scratch and, just as importantly, to leave its scent behind. It’s a way of marking territory and creating a space that smells and feels like home.
- Thermal Comfort: Concrete has high thermal mass. This means it absorbs and retains heat slowly. On a hot day, it offers a cool, refreshing surface to lie on. In the cooler months, a sun-baked slab provides a deep, lasting warmth.
In short, cats love concrete because it satisfies their primal, sensory needs for comfort, security, and control over their environment.
The Human Blind Spot in Sensory Workspace Design
This simple observation about our feline friends threw our own human approach to workspaces into sharp relief. When we design and build offices, our choice of materials is typically driven by a very different set of criteria: budget, durability, sustainability (like LEED certification), and operational efficiency.
We have building standards, of course, but they are almost entirely focused on harm prevention—ensuring materials don’t off-gas toxic VOCs or pose a physical danger. This is crucial, but it sets the bar at “not harmful” rather than “actively beneficial.” This approach largely ignores the potential of thoughtful sensory workspace design.
We rarely ask:
“How does this material feel to the touch?”
“Does it have a natural, calming scent?”
“How does it interact with light and temperature to create a sense of comfort?”
Most research on building materials and productivity focuses on macro-issues like management practices and operational costs, not the micro-interactions our bodies have with our immediate surroundings every second of the day. We are sensory beings, yet we design our professional habitats as if we weren’t.
Are We Underestimating Our Senses?
I believe we are. The subtle friction of a solid wood desk versus the cold, unyielding smoothness of laminate; the quiet, sound-absorbing quality of cork flooring; the faint, earthy smell of terracotta—these elements matter. They may not show up on a spreadsheet measuring ROI, but they contribute to a subconscious feeling of well-being, focus, and connection to our environment.
We’ve accepted that natural light and biophilia (adding plants) make us feel better. Why do we stop there? The materials that form the very fabric of our workspace are the next frontier for enhancing employee well-being and, by extension, creativity and productivity.
It’s time to move beyond designing spaces that simply don’t hurt us and start creating spaces that actively nurture us.
We need to learn from the cats. We need to pay attention to the surfaces we touch, the air we breathe, and the way a room holds temperature. We need to choose materials with our whole body, not just our eyes and our calculators.
At Mirai Work Space, we believe the future of work is not just flexible, it’s sensory. It’s about creating environments where people can do their best work because they feel their best.