Understanding Biophilic Workplace Design and Its Benefits
Biophilic workplace design is a trend covering more and more office buildings in 2024. The concept is the idea of mixing people and nature while in a working environment. It comes with a plethora of benefits, but it also adds to the overall well-being, especially from a psychological point of view.
With these ideas in mind, here’s everything you need to know about this concept and what it could mean for people working in offices.
- The Biophilic Workplace Design at a Glance
The idea behind the biophilic workplace design is easy to understand. Rather than covering offices in glass, carpets, furniture, and other hard elements, managers and business owners try to bring nature into the environment.
This isn’t just about a plant in the corner, but actual plant walls, vertical gardens, you name it. Seeing greenery helps people reconnect with nature, but real plants do come with a bunch of other benefits as well.
- What It Means for Your Physical Health
Integrating plants, flowers and garden walls into a workplace, people will benefit from pure and clean air. Furthermore, the idea will also reduce the negative elements of pollutants. Plants can control the humidity, boost the air quality and even regulate the temperature.
Being surrounded by nature will also improve the immune system. People feel better, meaning there will be less frequent sick days among employees.
- What It Means for Your Mental Health
Benefits are even more diversified from a mental health point of view. Your emotional well-being is just as important in an environment where stress is perfectly normal.
Employees will be able to overcome stress in a much more effective manner. Seeing greenery will also give good vibes, reducing anxiety and associated disorders.
When it comes to mental health, you don’t even need real plants. A fake wall plant in an office is just as good to look at because it promotes happiness by increasing the feeling of relaxation.
Seeing all these green spaces indoors makes people more connected to the outside world, even when they’re actually at work. It’s a natural connection between humankind and nature, which can reduce the feelings of burnout.
Not only does it add to productivity, but it also improves job satisfaction.
- More Creativity, More Productivity
Boosting employees’ creativity becomes much easier in a biophilic working environment. The constant exposure to nature in any form will give the brain an extra boost of stimulation. New ideas and solutions will pop up, adding to employees’ creativity.
Such an environment isn’t all about greenery, but water features and natural materials are just as useful in the process. They promote peace at a subconscious level, so they also encourage a natural feeling of collaboration among workers.
Many of these effects won’t be noticed straight away. People won’t be able to tell the difference in how they feel, but they’ll definitely appreciate it. Such a good sign of positivity will have beneficial effects over their entire working nature.
- An Extra Benefit in Retaining Talent
In today’s highly competitive market, companies rely on all kinds of benefits and extras in order to attract and retain talent. It’s definitely a competitive market and companies always try to make the difference with small bits.
Indeed, most people would rather appreciate a free vending machine for coffee or perhaps more money, but small things help as well.
It’s one thing to work in a dull environment with no natural elements or facilities where most people check their watches every 10 minutes and a different thing to work in a beautiful natural scenario that feels like the set for a film.
A thoroughly designed office shows employees that their well-being is considered. And today, well-being is actually a trend, with more and more people trying to improve their state with a natural approach.
- An Extra Benefit for the Environment
For those who truly care about the planet and how it affects it, a biophilic workplace design will have a positive impact even beyond the office walls.
Bringing in sustainable materials, plants and flowers that grow without any extra help, managers will be able to keep the energy consumption under control. They can reduce the ecological footprint as well, leading to even more benefits for the planet.
And while some people don’t care about it, benefits will become obvious in the long run.
By promoting a deep connection with the surrounding nature, people will also adopt a better behaviour in terms of the environment. It’s not all about what happens in the office, but also about what’s out of it.
- A Practical Approach
Last, but not least, this biophilic trend is light and easy to look after. Promoting such an environment means maintenance is minimal. Plants need to be watered on a regular basis, but also trimmed at times. The best thing is they can be seamlessly integrated into your space to enhance well-being, whether it is a cosy corner in your home or a desk in your office.
Obviously, the artificial approach only requires dusting and a bit of cleaning at times, meaning it’s even easier to look after.
In conclusion, biophilic workplace design is not just a fleeting trend; it’s a game-changer with loads of benefits. The simplicity and low upkeep of biophilic design make it a great choice for any workplace.
Embracing this innovative trend can create a healthier, more productive, and environmentally friendly workspace, encouraging everyone to contribute to a healthier planet.
