Biophilic design: nature enters the office

The new eco trend in interior design

Creating a convenient, comfortable and healthy work environment that is conducive to productive work is an aspiration for many companies. More and more employers strive to create a unique atmosphere at work so that employees feel at home.

The Biophilic design comes as a natural extension of the desire to build a healthy and inspiring work environment. It is an eco-trend in interior design that seeks to connect people more closely with nature, transforming urban environments and office spaces in a unique way. In the post-Covid period, the concept of the human-nature relationship in design has become the new global trend.

According to numerous studies, the integration of natural elements such as plants, earthy colours, natural light and materials has a tremendous impact on better mental health, promotes positive emotions and reduces negative ones.

The relationship between green spaces and general well-being in the workplace is the subject of joint research by the Universities of Cardiff, Exeter, Queensland and Groningen. The results show that office landscaping increases productivity by 15% and increases the sense of well-being of 40% of employees. Psychologist Dr Craig Knight of the University of Exeter and his colleagues have been studying the problem for 10 years. They confirm that employees are 15% more productive when surrounded by plants and natural elements.

Benefits of implementing the biophilic design in the office

• Increases productivity

The greenery of plants and the contemplation of natural views have a beneficial effect on mood and increase creativity and productivity. All of this makes people feel calmer and more focused.

• Reduces stress

It has been scientifically proven that the color green is strongly associated with nature, reducing stress and promoting a sense of calm and comfort. Introducing more green color by adding plants is an alternative and beautiful way to reduce stress.

• Reduces background noise

Plants have been proven to absorb sound and reduce echoes, contributing to a calmer and more pleasant working environment. Adding vibrant green walls are a beautiful accent that will help filter and absorb excess noise.

• Purifies the air

Plants and trees moisten and purify the air, saturating the premises with oxygen. They reduce dust particle levels and maintain constant room temperature levels. All this improves breathing and strengthens the immunity of people. Greener office space has been shown to reduce hospital days per person per year by up to 1.6 days.

Offices inspired by nature

Adobe's headquarters in California, Google's office in Dublin and SAP's in Vienna are great examples of biophilic workspace design.

Adobe headquarters in California

The Google office in Dublin 

The SAP office in Vienna