The modern workplace is facing a new challenge: attracting employees back to the office.
In the post-lockdown era of remote and hybrid work, offices must now compete with the comforts of home and become “destination offices”— these are enticing spaces, designed to be more than just a place where work gets done; it’s a space that people actively want to visit, where they choose to work
As Insightful Environments suggests, “destination offices” are places employees are eager to be.
But how do we create these desirable destinations and what role does Biophilic design play?
Biophilic design acknowledges the power of nature, particularly within the built environment. It is a way of harnessing the innate relationship we have with nature and using it to promote restorative feelings of calm and creativity.
Ideally, a destination office would encompass the following:
🌿 Visually appealing spaces and Wellness-focused design
Biophilic design adds visual interest and creates a more aesthetically pleasing work environment. The addition of greenery and planting also creates a more enjoyable and inspiring place to be. A Human Spaces research report showed that biophilic design can improve productivity by 6% and creativity by up to 15%.
Natural elements like plants, natural light, and water features contribute to a sense of calm and well-being and help promote feelings of relaxation, even boosting self-esteem and improving cognitive function.
🌿 Connection and Community: Fostering engagement and a sense of belonging.
By incorporating natural elements, biophilic design fosters a sense of connection to nature, which can enhance feelings of well-being and belonging. Going one step further with this and involving employees with the planting decisions or encouraging them to take part in the maintenance or gardening (an example of this might be staff allotments or choosing their own desk plant?) has been proven to enhance employee engagement and connection with their colleagues and place of work.
🌿Collaborative Spaces: Facilitating teamwork and interaction.
We have beautiful case studies of our planting in collaborative spaces, whether this includes atmospheric trailing planting from a ceiling raft, or bespoke joinery with planting to help define different areas for work. The addition of greenery helps to create inviting and engaging environments in which to work. Studies show that people feel more relaxed and open in spaces with natural elements, promoting idea sharing, innovative thinking, problem-solving and effective collaboration
🌿Focus Zones: Providing quiet areas for concentrated work.
Planting provides an effective acoustic barrier to enhance areas that prioritise independent or focused group work. Natural elements such as Moss Walls and green partitions have effective noise dampening qualities. Depending on the type of moss you use you can achieve a reduction in noise levels by up to 10db.
Likewise, planting act as an effective noise buffer. Studies have shown the impact of noise pollution on open plan offices as one of the top frustrations for office workers (Journal of environmental Psychology: “Workspace satisfaction: the Privacy communication trade-off in open plan offices”) Thoughtfully placed trough or cabinet planting can provide very effective sound proofing, reduce distractions and create a more peaceful work environment.
Biophilic elements can help to create an environment that supports focused thinking and problem-solving as well as having a calming effect, planting improves cognitive function, attention span and memory.
Incorporating biophilic design in this way provides a vital step towards reinvigorating company culture and breathing new life back into the traditional office.
