Biophilic design principles have gained popularity in the evolving workspace thanks to their wide-ranging health benefits– from reduced stress levels to improved morale. The concept of biophilia connects us to nature, embracing our instinctive bond with our natural surroundings.
When creating the most desirable working environment, nature-inspired spaces promote social integration and communal well-being among co-workers and clients. From living walls to nature-inspired design elements, here’s how to bring nature into everyday life with biophilic design.
Elements of Biophilic Design in Office Spaces
Biophilic office design introduces elements of the outdoors to the workplace. The concept was introduced by biologist E.O. Wilson in 1984, who emphasized the tendency of human beings to be attracted to nature and emulate its processes in everyday life.
Living greenery is fundamental to this connection, making it one of the most important elements of biophilic design. Interior decorators and building managers often incorporate live plants in modern office spaces, including ceramic wall planters, moss art, and hanging plants.
While plant life is a key element of biophilic design, it’s far more complex than that. As mindfulness, workplace well-being, and productivity become increasingly crucial for businesses, creating spaces for staff to work, collaborate, and relax is key.
In addition to greenery, providing access to natural light, utilizing outdoor areas, and incorporating natural features like wood and stone can help create a comfortable, contemporary space for your staff.
Biophilic Design Office Tips
To embrace nature in the office, consider adding natural analogs that mimic patterns in nature, such as honeycomb patterns, furniture with curved edges, and modern ceramic vases filled with seasonal blooms.
In meeting and conference rooms, plant wall motifs and wooden furniture create fresh, bright spaces– making employees and visitors more comfortable. Meanwhile, around the office, lights with varying color temperatures provide illumination that matches natural light at the brightest time of the day.
According to a recent study, color can also significantly influence staff well-being, with dull colors having a detrimental effect. Consider brightening your office space with forest and ocean-inspired colors to complement your biophilic design.
Benefits of Biophilic Office Design
Shelves of succulents, innovative wallscapes, and even printed wallpaper with leaf patterns can help you achieve a modern, minimalist design in the office. However, natural elements do not only have a decorative function.
Biophilic design can transform any space into a harmonious sanctuary that boosts mood and promotes well-being. In the office, natural elements help reduce stress, improve cognitive function, and enhance creativity.
Biophilic office design also helps improve air quality by using carbon dioxide to produce oxygen. Living plants also transpire through their leaves, making the air more humid, which helps combat dry air in air-conditioned spaces. According to NASA, indoor plants also absorb volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as chemicals used in cleaning products.
Breathe Life into Your Workplace with Biophilic Design
As the advantages of embracing nature in the workplace become more evident, more and more businesses have turned to biophilic design to create picturesque office spaces.
At Pandemic Design Studio, our innovative, museum-quality ceramics collections transform any workplace with unrivaled style and modular design. Inspire collaboration and connection in the office with our sustainable ceramic planters today. Contact us today to learn more.
