But it's still a cool as hell project. People need to do more things just because they want to, and to hell with what anyone else thinks.
If it serves the artist, it served a purpose.
Personally, I have an aluminium laptop stand which makes the laptop dockable but which isn't portable or makes screen/keyboard usable (secure for cats though) and I have a portable, foldable, lightweight plastic one [1].
I also do not enjoy the idea of using the bottom of a laptop on concrete. The latter material isn't nice for scratches (and every time it is put or leaves concrete is a potential mark).
So in this case, I believe a second monitor (or larger primary one) plus a vertical laptop stand would fit in the shown office.
How else could your laptop echo the theme of "Urban decay?"
I am reminded by Mathilde µP's 'stone age computer' [1] which gave people a terminal in summer 1993 (at HeU 93 hacker conference) at a time where terminal access was more sparse. It served a purpose and gave a real feel through interfacing, but not ergonomic.
My smartphones have leather cases (not fake leather, real) and this gets interesting results with regards to scratches, grease and other wear and tear. My laptop case has the same (again: not fake leather, real). I could keep the laptop in the case if I use a hub to connect it. The heat goes up, and peripherals can connect. Put that in a vertical case and it fits in the shown office environment. Another option could be a wooden case for the laptop; these exist.