Biophilic design is quietly transforming modern homes and office spaces over the last few decades. Inspired by the fact that humans and nature are bound to co-exist, architects and interior designers are bringing the outdoor environment and its elements into indoor spaces to continue the connection between both living beings. This is also known as biophilia. Biophilic design is a revolutionary creative rethinking of how living spaces should be sustainable as well as beneficial to the occupants’ health and well-being. Its positive impacts and long-term value is helping educate governments, industries and consumers the world over to support and create a green future. Office spaces, in particular, have been the central focus of builders and designers to apply biophilic design in the workplace. Majority of our lives are spent indoors and in workplaces. A global study by Interface, an international modular flooring company, called the Human Spaces Report confirmed that work environment impacts employee productivity. Some of their key findings revealed that the top most elements workers want in their offices are natural light, indoor plants, quiet working space, bright colours, and view of the sea. Now that employees are returning to offices and the hybrid work model has been implemented after the majority of the global population has been vaccinated against Covid-19, the next evolutionary step for designing effective workspaces in a post-pandemic world would be implementing biophilic design in offices.What is biophilic design?Biophilic design is more than just sprucing up your interior spaces with plants. However, a study confirmed that having plants around the workplace increases productivity by 15% and makes employees happier. Biophilic design centrally draws its inspiration from a book by renowned biologist and Harvard University Professor Emeritus Edward O. Wilson called Biophilia in the 1980s. Wilson’s philosophy asserts our innate yearnings for the natural world. Biophilic design comprises six key features formulated by the late Stephen R. Kellert, Yale professor of social ecology and a pioneer of adopting biophilic design principles to the built environment :1. Natural environmentThis refers to the natural elements and materials, landscapes and ecosystems in the environment such as colour, water, air, sunlight, animals, plants and natural vistas. It is how we intentionally design spaces to create mood and connection.2. Natural shapes and formsThis refers to the natural shapes and forms occurring in the natural environment that are recreated in built environments.3. Natural patterns and processesThis refers to the sensory systems of human beings and how we use it to respond to natural environments.4. Light and spaceThis refers to the qualities of light and spatial relationship. Natural light creates harmony and triggers creativity.5. Place-based relationshipsThis refers to the spirit of the place and the connection it creates with cultures, histories, geographies, landscapes, etc.6. Evolved human-nature relationships This refers to the security, protection, attachment, attraction and other levels of emotions and connections between humans and the environment, both natural and built.What does a biophilic workplace design look like?Based on the key features of biophilic design, a number of offices around the world are transforming their workplace and spaces to accommodate the essential needs of workers to improve productivity and protect their health. By essential, it means having a connection with nature indoors to reduce stress levels, protect their mental health and improve their overall well-being. Here are some of the best examples of workplaces with biophilic design around the world:Adobe HeadquartersSan Jose, California, U.S.A.Image credit: Emily Hagopian Photography, GenslerAdobe translated their brand’s creativity and innovation through their work spaces. They have an open floor plan consisting of terraced meeting space with bleacher seating, collaboration spaces, living rooms and other creative amenities to further foster a creative environment where everyone can connect with one another. Adobe Headquarters’ dominant colours are Earth tones and includes wooden furniture, natural shapes and large images of nature on the walls, and grassy textured carpet with picnic tables to create a vibe of a natural landscape.MIA Design StudioHo Chi Minh City, VietnamImage credit: Trieu ChienThe facade of MIA Design Studio in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam reminds one of the ancient Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The whole building is wrapped and surrounded by trees and plants. Inside the building is an open studio purely designed to reduce waste and non-performable spaces. With glass windows surrounding the whole building, the openings are intentionally designed to provide a view of the nearby park. The cantilever window bay not only controls the light that enters the office but its upper part also functions as personal pin boards for architects to attach their drawings, sketches, pictures, art, and other inspirational materials.SelgasCanoMadrid, SpainImage credit: Iwan BaanArchitectural firm SelgasCano designed its own office building located in a forest in Madrid. The tunnel space that serves a workstation has a 20mm thick curved window made from transparent acrylic on the north-facing wall. On the south side, the 11cm thick insulated fibreglass and polyester protects the employees from direct sunlight and hot temperature. Natural light coming in from the window and roof encourages creativity for the architects. Biophilic design in retailIn addition, biophilic design is also being adopted in retail environments, which benefits both the employees and customers. It creates a stress-free environment, draws customers within the store’s inner space and encourages a lively shopping experience.Here are some examples of retail spaces that have applied biophilic design:AesopChicago, Illinois, U.S.A.Image credit: Aesop/ Rafael GamoInternational luxury skincare brand Aesop is known to have a recognizable biophilic retail space. Without the presence of any plants within the store, their cave-like retail space at North Bridge in Chicago is an homage to the natural environment. It has a monochrome ambience with cold metal and natural rough textures in its stone walls where the fixtures and shelves fit perfectly.Concept Fashion StoreLochristi, BelgiumImage credit: Inhabit.comThe cool green walls, wooden floors and structures make up the natural ambience of Concept Fashion Store in Belgium. The store was designed like a greenhouse structure built by a local greenhouse specialist. Its main feature is the 26 feet tall vertical garden that starts at the ground level up to the roof of the first floor. Originally, the land where the store is built has a hundred year history for growing various plants. Concept Fashion Store wants to go back to its horticultural roots thus adopting the biophilic design. How do people benefit in a biophilic workplace?Biophilic design proves to be effective and beneficial to the overall well-being of an employee – or even a customer in retail spaces. A poorly lit and poorly ventilated office is not very encouraging for employee retention. Although, how an office is designed is just one part of the success that contributes to the productivity of employees, it is important to consider how the work environment creates an uplifting and motivating condition to boost productivity. Here are some of the positive benefits that transformed offices better with a biophilic design.It boosts employee productivityThe study about the presence of plants in the work environment contributed to a 15% boost in productivity. The natural elements found within a biophilic workplace such as natural light, access to a natural view and greenery makes workers happy.High employee engagementEmployee absence is reduced because they feel positive and have a sense of purpose when going to work. Offices with bright colours affect the mood. They feel supported by their employers because of the positive effects that a biophilic design brings in the workplace.Improves employees’ mental healthNature has restorative effects that improves a person’s social, emotional and mental well-being. The presence of nature reduces stress and mental fatigue. High level of creativity Biophilic design encourages employees to perform, behave and act creatively within the context of their roles at work.Greater Group is a multi-disciplinary global retail design agency. We have been creating award-winning retail spaces, customer experiences and workplaces since 1989, utilising our combined expertise to deliver high-impact, high-return design, fit-out and manufacturing solutions and provide clients with one point of contact throughout.Learn more about our design and build services, joinery manufacturers and retail design today!Contact us at contact@thegreatergroup.com to discuss how we can elevate your brand through innovative, future-proof retail design solutions.Share :
Biophilic design is quietly transforming modern homes and office spaces over the last few decades. Inspired by the fact that humans and nature are bound to co-exist, architects and interior designers are bringing the outdoor environment and its elements into indoor spaces to continue the connection between both living beings. This is also known as biophilia. Biophilic design is a revolutionary creative rethinking of how living spaces should be sustainable as well as beneficial to the occupants’ health and well-being. Its positive impacts and long-term value is helping educate governments, industries and consumers the world over to support and create a green future. Office spaces, in particular, have been the central focus of builders and designers to apply biophilic design in the workplace. Majority of our lives are spent indoors and in workplaces. A global study by Interface, an international modular flooring company, called the Human Spaces Report confirmed that work environment impacts employee productivity. Some of their key findings revealed that the top most elements workers want in their offices are natural light, indoor plants, quiet working space, bright colours, and view of the sea. Now that employees are returning to offices and the hybrid work model has been implemented after the majority of the global population has been vaccinated against Covid-19, the next evolutionary step for designing effective workspaces in a post-pandemic world would be implementing biophilic design in offices.What is biophilic design?Biophilic design is more than just sprucing up your interior spaces with plants. However, a study confirmed that having plants around the workplace increases productivity by 15% and makes employees happier. Biophilic design centrally draws its inspiration from a book by renowned biologist and Harvard University Professor Emeritus Edward O. Wilson called Biophilia in the 1980s. Wilson’s philosophy asserts our innate yearnings for the natural world. Biophilic design comprises six key features formulated by the late Stephen R. Kellert, Yale professor of social ecology and a pioneer of adopting biophilic design principles to the built environment :1. Natural environmentThis refers to the natural elements and materials, landscapes and ecosystems in the environment such as colour, water, air, sunlight, animals, plants and natural vistas. It is how we intentionally design spaces to create mood and connection.2. Natural shapes and formsThis refers to the natural shapes and forms occurring in the natural environment that are recreated in built environments.3. Natural patterns and processesThis refers to the sensory systems of human beings and how we use it to respond to natural environments.4. Light and spaceThis refers to the qualities of light and spatial relationship. Natural light creates harmony and triggers creativity.5. Place-based relationshipsThis refers to the spirit of the place and the connection it creates with cultures, histories, geographies, landscapes, etc.6. Evolved human-nature relationships This refers to the security, protection, attachment, attraction and other levels of emotions and connections between humans and the environment, both natural and built.What does a biophilic workplace design look like?Based on the key features of biophilic design, a number of offices around the world are transforming their workplace and spaces to accommodate the essential needs of workers to improve productivity and protect their health. By essential, it means having a connection with nature indoors to reduce stress levels, protect their mental health and improve their overall well-being. Here are some of the best examples of workplaces with biophilic design around the world:Adobe HeadquartersSan Jose, California, U.S.A.Image credit: Emily Hagopian Photography, GenslerAdobe translated their brand’s creativity and innovation through their work spaces. They have an open floor plan consisting of terraced meeting space with bleacher seating, collaboration spaces, living rooms and other creative amenities to further foster a creative environment where everyone can connect with one another. Adobe Headquarters’ dominant colours are Earth tones and includes wooden furniture, natural shapes and large images of nature on the walls, and grassy textured carpet with picnic tables to create a vibe of a natural landscape.MIA Design StudioHo Chi Minh City, VietnamImage credit: Trieu ChienThe facade of MIA Design Studio in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam reminds one of the ancient Hanging Gardens of Babylon. The whole building is wrapped and surrounded by trees and plants. Inside the building is an open studio purely designed to reduce waste and non-performable spaces. With glass windows surrounding the whole building, the openings are intentionally designed to provide a view of the nearby park. The cantilever window bay not only controls the light that enters the office but its upper part also functions as personal pin boards for architects to attach their drawings, sketches, pictures, art, and other inspirational materials.SelgasCanoMadrid, SpainImage credit: Iwan BaanArchitectural firm SelgasCano designed its own office building located in a forest in Madrid. The tunnel space that serves a workstation has a 20mm thick curved window made from transparent acrylic on the north-facing wall. On the south side, the 11cm thick insulated fibreglass and polyester protects the employees from direct sunlight and hot temperature. Natural light coming in from the window and roof encourages creativity for the architects. Biophilic design in retailIn addition, biophilic design is also being adopted in retail environments, which benefits both the employees and customers. It creates a stress-free environment, draws customers within the store’s inner space and encourages a lively shopping experience.Here are some examples of retail spaces that have applied biophilic design:AesopChicago, Illinois, U.S.A.Image credit: Aesop/ Rafael GamoInternational luxury skincare brand Aesop is known to have a recognizable biophilic retail space. Without the presence of any plants within the store, their cave-like retail space at North Bridge in Chicago is an homage to the natural environment. It has a monochrome ambience with cold metal and natural rough textures in its stone walls where the fixtures and shelves fit perfectly.Concept Fashion StoreLochristi, BelgiumImage credit: Inhabit.comThe cool green walls, wooden floors and structures make up the natural ambience of Concept Fashion Store in Belgium. The store was designed like a greenhouse structure built by a local greenhouse specialist. Its main feature is the 26 feet tall vertical garden that starts at the ground level up to the roof of the first floor. Originally, the land where the store is built has a hundred year history for growing various plants. Concept Fashion Store wants to go back to its horticultural roots thus adopting the biophilic design. How do people benefit in a biophilic workplace?Biophilic design proves to be effective and beneficial to the overall well-being of an employee – or even a customer in retail spaces. A poorly lit and poorly ventilated office is not very encouraging for employee retention. Although, how an office is designed is just one part of the success that contributes to the productivity of employees, it is important to consider how the work environment creates an uplifting and motivating condition to boost productivity. Here are some of the positive benefits that transformed offices better with a biophilic design.It boosts employee productivityThe study about the presence of plants in the work environment contributed to a 15% boost in productivity. The natural elements found within a biophilic workplace such as natural light, access to a natural view and greenery makes workers happy.High employee engagementEmployee absence is reduced because they feel positive and have a sense of purpose when going to work. Offices with bright colours affect the mood. They feel supported by their employers because of the positive effects that a biophilic design brings in the workplace.Improves employees’ mental healthNature has restorative effects that improves a person’s social, emotional and mental well-being. The presence of nature reduces stress and mental fatigue. High level of creativity Biophilic design encourages employees to perform, behave and act creatively within the context of their roles at work.Greater Group is a multi-disciplinary global retail design agency. We have been creating award-winning retail spaces, customer experiences and workplaces since 1989, utilising our combined expertise to deliver high-impact, high-return design, fit-out and manufacturing solutions and provide clients with one point of contact throughout.Learn more about our design and build services, joinery manufacturers and retail design today!Contact us at contact@thegreatergroup.com to discuss how we can elevate your brand through innovative, future-proof retail design solutions.Share :