Going Green

Plants are the foundation of nature and the Green Movement is about protecting and enjoying our natural environment for years to come.

Biophilic Design

Many suggest that it is just a label that ties together some of the progressive office design trends and is in fact, about getting the standard things right and creating a workplace that truly works – somewhere that staff enjoy working. However, as mindfulness, workplace well-being, and staff retention become increasingly important for many companies, and with companies like Apple creating a tree filled UFO-esque building in California and Amazon’s plans to construct futuristic greenhouse domes in Seattle, it seems like Biophilic Office Design has become ingrained and is here to stay. Indeed, the restorative qualities of nature can be replicated in the workplace in numerous ways – introducing plantlife, providing access to natural light where possible, including natural wood and stone finishes, embracing colour and crucially, providing staff with a choice of work settings and a comfortable work environment.

The Benefits of Biophilic Office Design

While we have mentioned and referenced several benefits of biophilic office design, we thought that a list to summarize them would be useful.

Improved productivity: A UK based study entitled "The Relative Benefits of Green versus Lean office Space" found that workers with an exposed level of contact with nature were 15% more productive, compared to those with minimal contact. This can be attributed to a variety of factors including but not limited to better air quality, greater sense of well-being, improved concentration levels (see below) and/or a greater choice of work settings, including outdoor areas.

Increased concentration levels: Plantlife in the workplace can vary from a selection of potted plants dotted throughout to elaborate living walls, but the end result is the same – they increase oxygen levels in the workplace which in turn, decreases mental fatigue and increases concentration levels, and some would argue, overall productivity.

Creativity blossoms: A more stimulating workplace allows creativity to flourish, and can be nurtured through the inclusion of features like artwork, wall art and graphics, but also simple improvements like access to natural light (and views of the outdoors), incorporating colour and including natural finishes can also have a positive impact.

Enhanced staff Well-Being: All of the above factors play their part in enhancing staff well-being, which can have a real tangible impact on the bottom line as absenteeism falls and staff productivity and output increases.

Greater Staff Retention: As staff well-being levels increases, so too does staff retention which is a key concern for many, if not all companies. Recruitment costs coupled with lost output as new staff members get trained can be substantial. Biophilic office design can help to engage staff and to provide them with a workplace where they enjoy being, and hence don’t want to leave.