The Biophilic Office: Design Principles & Examples

Living walls, an emphasis on natural light, and even water features can be biophilic office design. Other elements may include using earth colours, roof gardens, or the use of open space.

Professor of social ecology and one of the pioneering theorists on the impact of biophilic design, Stephen Kellert identified the term. It's defined in a paper he wrote with Elizabeth Calabrese on The Practice of Biophilic Design - "it's the inherent human inclination to affiliate with nature that even in the modern world continues to be critical to people's physical and mental health and wellbeing."

Biophilic design, in the commercial world, is rooted in the consideration of the office as a community. Its intention is to create workspaces that support social integration and communal wellbeing.

As a style of design, it is fast gaining traction. Architects and designers are starting to view it as an integral part of any commercial and public building blueprint.

Fast forward to today۪s commercial world and the act of creating a community in the office is to create a sense of belonging; of being part of something; working together and in support of each other; wanting to be a part of the whole. Biophilic design provides the canvas for this community.

Plants and greenery enhance our feelings of connectivity and can offset the rigorous digital working practice we are surrounded by. Biophilic design enables the establishment of a community.

Neighbourhoods commonly refer to the breakdown of office space into certain areas. Using the term neighbourhoods denotes a more friendly, warmer and inclusive approach. Biophilic office design plays a key role in this approach as, in the outer world, our neighbourhoods are broken up by parks and our streets are lined with trees. It makes sense to mimic this in an interior environment.

Renowned designer Oliver Heath talks about neighbourhoods in the guide he authored, Creating Positive Spaces, also commissioned by Interface. Heath points out that we are social we like to be together and, although we can operate perfectly well independently, our need to be a part of a physical community still exists, as it was when it was first evidenced thousands of years ago.

Heath says: "From an evolutionary perspective, our survival instinct, inherited from our Hunter Gatherer forefathers, means we still feel more secure and happy, less stressed, and are more resilient when part of a community."

He goes on to advise that, when creating these workplace neighbourhoods and communities, it is important that these spaces are positive. Not only will that have a positive impact on our wellbeing, it will also improve collaboration, making our integration far more effective. This creates a stronger bond to the organisation which likely means a bigger commitment and longevity of the relationship.

If nature and natural elements are incorporated into the design work or office fit out in these spaces, this can further fuel the collaborative, people-driven approach.

As established, nature provides a great connection, bringing us together and creating opportunities for us to interact. There are different manifestations of biophilic design from the physical natural light, plants and living things; to the representative pictures of nature, shells, sand etc; and creation of spaces that emulate the natural world in its complexity and integration.

If we consider these varied aspects in the early stages of planning a design or office refurbishment project, we can create a real sense of community. We can also mark out neighbourhoods۪ and distinguish spaces using living walls, planters and water features instead of floor coverings and panelled dividers. This immediately allows for a more natural flow and encourages free movement.

Dr Gina Cavan, a senior lecturer in geography at Manchester Metropolitan University, is quoted in a recent article on biophilic design in workspaces by Manchester online guide, Confidentials as saying, "Vegetation such as trees, shrubs, grass and flowers are particularly important in cities because they provide us with many health and wellbeing benefits including increased life expectancy, reduced health inequality and improved psychological health and wellbeing. So recreating a sense of this indoors can be vitally important."

There is also evidence that the presence of plants can act to combat potentially dangerous ingredients in a commercial environment. Business publisher, Raconteur, in an article outlining the benefits of biophilic design, references research carried out by Norway۪s Agricultural University in Oslo, which indicates that plants remove harmful organic compounds, such as formaldehyde and benzene, that are found in the paint, carpets and furniture in the majority of commercial buildings.