Biophilic design is all about experiencing nature in the workplace, building from the idea that humans have an innate affinity towards nature and that making your office a immersive natural experience creates a restorative and connective space which puts your team first whilst also being visually appealing. The term was popularised in the 1980’s and since then many have raved about the positive impact biophilic design can have on our happiness and productivity, especially in the workplace. We’re here to show you that regardless of location – city or countryside-biophilic design is a great way to improve not only the look of your office, but the morale and productivity of your team.
Biophilic design can benefit you and your team in so many ways, even adding simple touches such as plants can help to reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety as well as improve the air quality of your workspace. Incorporating plants into office spaces has also been said to help improve performance, creativity and general morale as well as being visually appealing and benefitting the acoustics of your space. When choosing plants for your workspace, there are a few things you need to consider, such as how high maintenance they are and what conditions they need to survive. We would recommend plants such as succulents, cacti and even air plants such as Spanish moss, which absorb air pollution.
The science of Biophilic design goes further than simply adding a potted plant to the corner of your office, there are many other ways to bring nature into the workspace. The idea is to create a direct dialogue between the outside and inside in order to be effective.
Direct experience of nature may include light, natural landscapes, water, plants and animals – whilst we’re definitely not advising you to allow wildlife to roam around your workplace, these ideas can inspire you to include indirect experiences of nature in your office design, such as images that evoke thoughts of nature. Natural light is incredibly important, sunlight supports circadian rhythms and healthy sleep patterns. To have a more effective biophilic office, we recommend featuring natural materials such as wood and stone, neutral colours and patterns and shapes inspired by nature which are both soothing to the eye and sustainable.
Biophilic design has been tried and tested in offices in Victoria, Mayfair and Spitalfields and is only growing more popular after we have spent a year indoors; If you think that Biophilic design for your office could be for you, get in touch. Our team would be more than happy to assist you in breaking down the barrier between work and nature in your office, give us a call on 01603 722123 and get your office redesign underway.