As the remote workforce continues to grow, offices across the globe are stepping up their attempts to attract employees to the office. After many years of working from home, employees seek more incentives to travel to the office with a new-found love of both comfortable and creative surroundings.
People spend longer in spaces with biophilic designs, and biophilic office spaces are no exception. Bringing nature into the workplace is a great way to warm up the office and cultivate a calm and welcoming environment. Yet, as living, breathing things that need light and nutrients to grow, office plants inevitably pose some challenges.
The growing trend towards biophilic office design is no accident. Incorporating elements of nature into manmade architecture, biophilic design has countless benefits in the workplace. These include increased productivity, reduced stress and improved well-being (more on that here). Creating a more harmonious and productive workspace, biophilic office design is quickly gaining traction with business owners and decision-makers.
Biophilia is a design concept that aims to connect people with the natural world. Biophilic designers are inspired by the potential to create a space that benefits both people and the environment, allowing both to live harmoniously.
There’s plenty of biophilic design inspiration to be taken from the natural world and other offices across the globe. Let's take a closer look at some of the most impressive biophilic office designs worldwide.
Marlin Equity Partners is a global investment firm based in London, UK. Working with Plant Plan, Marlin Equity incorporated biophilic design principles to create a welcoming and visually appealing space that improves staff well-being and productivity.
By integrating greenery into joinery banquette seating and a ceiling grid, we succeeded in creating a comfortable and inviting environment. With plants and green walls carefully positioned around the space to purify the air and reduce stress levels, we developed a vibrant and dynamic space in which office aesthetics and employee health are valued in equal measure.
Read our case study here.
Second Home is a co-working space situated in Lisbon, Portugal that’s full to the brim with biophilic design principles. A green oasis with houseplants and trees surrounding the office environment, the co-working space promotes a sense of calmness that has a profound impact on productivity and satisfaction. With white desk surfaces and bright, natural-lit surroundings, Second Home is a comforting and comfortable place to work.
Situated in New York, Prolific Interactive Offices is an impressive example of how biophilic office design combines both manmade architecture and the natural world. With exposed brick structures, warm-hued furnishings and living green walls, Prolific Interactive succeeds in establishing harmony between the natural and modern worlds. Prolific Interactive also utilizes glass panels to maximize natural lighting and cultivate a welcoming work environment.
The CitiBank Wealth Hub is a private wealth management office based in Singapore. CitiBank Wealth Hub is a fantastic example of how biophilic interior design with various green walls and plant gardens – two things known to improve concentration by as much as 15%.
CitiBank also hosts a unique water feature that mimics the movement of a river. The soothing sound of the water creates a peaceful atmosphere, while the green wall provides a sense of privacy and separation from the rest of the office. This design also helps to reduce noise pollution, creating a more peaceful work environment.
Amazon HQ in Seattle is a unique example of biophilic office design. Featuring a series of interconnected domes to create a greenhouse-like environment, Amazon HQ’s biophilic architecture succeeds in capturing natural light and fresh air to cultivate a connection to nature throughout the day. The domes also serve as a symbol of Amazon's commitment to sustainability and the environment.
One of the first biophilic office designs in India, Biowonder is an inspiring example of biophilic architecture that offsets each floor level to make way for tree terraces. Whilst these terraces are fantastic for productivity and concentration, they also function as shadow zones to soak up heat, facilitate rainwater harvesting and support renewable energy production.
Biophilic office spaces offer numerous benefits to workers, and there are many inspiring examples of biophilic design worldwide.
With countless ways to incorporate elements of nature into architecture, office fit-out companies have the chance to put their own unique stamp on their designs. From living walls to natural light to water features, biophilic office design is the key to cultivating a productive work environment.
Bringing the outside in since 1977, Plant Plan helps office fit-out companies to establish more productive, sustainable and harmonious work environments for their clients.
The number of plants you should have in your office depends on the size of your workspace and the available natural light. As a general rule, aim for one medium-sized plant per every 100 square feet of space.
Not necessarily. Many office plants are low-maintenance and require minimal attention. It's important to choose plants that are suited for the lighting and temperature conditions of your office.
Yes, office plants can improve air quality by removing harmful toxins from the air and releasing oxygen.
At Plant Plan, we offer a wide range of options for office plant hire, including sustainable office plants, indoor plant hire, and office landscaping with plant displays. Our indoor plant hire service allows businesses to choose from a variety of plants to suit their office's aesthetic and size. And with our office plants for lease, businesses can change up their plants regularly to keep their office looking fresh and vibrant.
Our professional plant care service ensures that your office plants will remain healthy and vibrant. We provide regular maintenance, such as watering, fertilizing, and pruning, to keep your plants looking their best. We also offer advice on the best plants for your office environment and can help you choose the right plants for your space. With our professional plant care, you can be sure that your office plants will remain healthy and attractive.
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