Re-Think the Human/Nature Relationship
Biophilia at the design planning stage results in going from relative obscurity to the frontline of our workspaces.
Originally published at Alcove.net
Considering nature as a design driver––rather than just another tool––is a must. Although it is crucial to deliberately incorporate natural components in an aesthetically pleasing manner, nature must take precedence over design. As a result, rather than asking, “How can we enhance this space with natural elements?” one may alternatively question, “What natural aspects are crucial for such a space?” More biophilic demands are met when nature arrives first, and the surroundings appear more organic. Nature should not appear to be plugged in at the last moment.
Mother Nature, like any human designer, maintains – form follows function. The objects in the natural world appear the way they do purely because of what they are for, albeit for excellent reasons. “Harmony between human habitation and the natural world through design approaches so sympathetic and well-integrated with its site that buildings, furnishings, and surroundings become part of a unified, interrelated composition” architect Frank Lloyd Wright once said. He implemented what he advocated, particularly with his most renowned creation, the Falling water home.
The architecture of Fallingwater reminds us that the finest examples of biophilia really aren’t simply concerning adding greenery to our surroundings, but it is also about creating a space that is in harmony with nature. So when it comes to workplace design, that also implies harmonizing with human nature.
Biophilia within the Workplace
What are the benefits of biophilia to the individual workers and the organization? Biophilic experiences can reduce stress, improve cognitive function, and enhance mood and creativity. These and other outcomes can increase health and wellbeing, as well as productivity.
““Harmony between human habitation and the natural world through design approaches so...buildings, furnishings, and surroundings become part of a unified, interrelated composition””
Biophilic encounters can also diminish pressure, work on intellectual capacity, and upgrade disposition and inventiveness.
To improve the workplace environment, several workplaces use the pattern – Visual Connection with Nature. The goal might be to increase vistas and introduce plants into the workplace; interventions could include building a green wall, repositioning workstations to optimize views to the outdoors, or instituting a desk plant for employees. The specifics, location, and amount toward which each of these interventions is performed will vary with the office background and its spatial requirements.
Mental Well-Being through Biophilia
Positive settings are just that – they have a positive influence on the individuals who use them. As even more organizations reconsider the direction of the workplace, one factor is certain: supporting employee well-being would be critical.
Every firm has indeed been forced to reconsider how it works, how it cares for its people, and how it might deal with the enormous cultural shift ushered on by Covid-19. This newfound approach has had a significant influence on mental wellbeing.
This however has presented offices with an opportunity to reimagine the spaces where we work. We may witness a movement in how corporate spaces are utilized and built, with a focus on employees as a community rather than simply a workforce, providing a trend out from utilitarian environments towards a more collaborative workspace with a higher focus on creative thinking. It is essential that we begin to grasp how our physical environment influences our mental wellbeing; positive spaces yield positive results.
Biophilia in interior spaces is important and necessary now more than ever with escalated discussions about the use of nature and natural patterns at the design planning stage resulting in vaulting from relative obscurity to the frontline of the corporate design in a matter of months.
Biophilia is no longer an aesthetic feature but a well-being necessity.
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