“ This is what I prayed for. A piece of land – not so very big, with a garden and, near the house, a spring that never fails, and a bit of wood to round it off.”
A quote from the Roman poet Horace, written more than 2000 years ago. Today psychologists and biologists call this innate desire to connect with the natural world “Biophilia”.
Biophilic design uses this concept to improve the space we live and work in today by adding elements of nature. When applied to office design, the Biophilic approach is demonstrated to increase well-being and creativity while reducing absenteeism.
The first and most simple way to bring nature to your workplace is through the introduction of plants. This will not only add a welcoming feel to the office, but it will also improve the air quality.
Moss walls are a very popular choice among Biophilic Designers as they are completely maintenance-free and can be customised in all sort of colours and shapes.
Adding statement plants in bold vases is another easy way to introduce biophilia to the work environment. Periscopix and PMM Partners are good examples to look at for inspiration.
This is a selection of the best office plants:
- Ficus Benjamina
- Howea Forsteriana
- Dracaena Janet Craig
- Dracaena Marginata
- Yucca
- Aglaonema
- Sanseviera
- Monstera Deliciosa
The use of natural colour schemes and materials is also essential when it comes to Biophilic design. The Nature Selection from Svensson Fabrics offers a wide range of upholstery with muted colour palettes developed primarily for offices and public space soft seating. We particularly like the Rami and Rami Plus collections because they are hard wearing and 100% natural, composed of a mix of Wool and Ramie yarn. Ramie is a plant-based fibre used to add lustre to the wool and give a linen-like natural appearance.
At Sagal we believe that Biophilic Design is not a luxury, but a necessity, for healthy and productive workplaces. See our Biophilic collection here
Sources and Suggested Reading:
Planteria Group: Biophilia White Paper
Svensson: Nature Selection; Rami; Rami Plus
Book: “Biophilia” by Edward O. Wilson