Biophilic Design in the New Workplace

Creating New Environments with Plants and Biophilic Design

Personalisation of space is a key message in this podcast with Kenneth Freeman, Biophilic Design and horticultural consultant. He shares with us, tips on how Biophilic Design supports and benefits the whole person, how it enhances a whole sensory environment. Some designers might separate off those elements from Biophilic Design, but they are all an integral part, including views, improved acoustics, lighting, ergonomics and when used together provides us with an holistic solution. It's all about comfort.

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Being a horticulturalist, Kenneth talks about the benefits of plants. Not only are they good value for money, they have the added value that you can change your surroundings quick considerably just by moving the plants around. Repositioning your house plants can create a new environment. Planting focuses our attention on something else, as human beings we can't focus non-stop for hours, we need an attention break. Our brains need distraction.

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We also talk about the new workplace. How can companies entice their staff back into the office? People are talking about the new hybrid workplace, where some are working from home, some are in the office, and some half and half. Creating collaborative spaces, being able to break up big expanses of open plan offices with planting is an excellent idea. It also will give the feeling of comfort, improved acoustics, privacy.

Physical separation that most of us have felt during this period of Lockdown and isolation ,can be softened in the workplace if we need to carve up the office plan to support physical distancing for psychological and physical safety.

One question remains unanswered in this podcast, which I threw in left field near the end and we both would be interested in hearing what you think... do you know of any studies on the effects of having a large specimen plant (something like a big tree) in a workplace or space to inspire feelings of support, stability, trust?

We did a podcast together in July 2020 which you might like to have a listen to as well.


Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all our podcasts. 

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