Catching up with some designers leading the way for workplace transformation at the Workspace Design Show in February this year, we learnt that there are more and more designers championing biophilic design as more than just a trend—it's a critical response to human well-being and environmental sustainability.
Gurvinder Khurana from M Moser Associates cuts to the heart of the matter: "We are over 70% water, and [nature] resonates with us." This sentiment echoes throughout the conversation, revealing biophilic design as a profound connection between human experience and natural environments.
The designers unanimously agree that workspaces are no longer just functional spaces, but essential ecosystems that directly impact mental health and productivity. Nikos Papapetrou from Sheppard Robson provocatively argues that sustainability isn't just about materials, but "how you make people feel."
Kael Gillam, Senior Associate for Hoare Lea, and a lighting designer, offers a radical perspective: her job is essentially to compel people outdoors. "I want you to go out at lunch. I want you to wake up in the morning and open your blinds," she explains, emphasizing that true design should reconnect humans with natural rhythms.
Emma Douglas from Ryder Interiors highlights the nuanced approach, noting that biophilic design isn't just about adding plants, but creating "smooth forms" and calm environments that inherently make people feel better.
The most compelling narrative emerges around workplace evolution. As Martina Bazzoni, also of M Moser Associates, passionately states, good design is about "investigating how people feel in the space" and creating environments where employees don't want to leave their company.
Ashton Holmes from Peldon Rose shares a delightful anecdote about designing a client’s bathroom with a moss "jungle" ceiling and a disco ball—proving that biophilic design can be both functional and playfully innovative.
The designers unanimously view their work as a critical intervention. As Govinder succinctly puts it, "If you want to be a profitable business, you need to invest in your people and the space they're in."
The interviews reveal biophilic design as an holistic approach addressing mental health, sustainability, and human-centric workplace experiences. It's not just about aesthetics, but about creating spaces that nurture, inspire, and reconnect humans with the natural world.
In an era of increasing disconnection, these designers are painting a hopeful picture—quite literally. When asked what they'd do with a "magic paintbrush," their responses ranged from reforesting the Amazon to recreating community spaces and designing immersive, nature-integrated environments.
As workplaces continue to evolve post-pandemic, this conversation suggests a profound shift: design is no longer about creating spaces, but about crafting experiences that fundamentally support human potential.
The future of work, it seems, is green, thoughtful, and wonderfully alive.
For more information on Workspace Design Show, visit https://workspaceshow.co.uk
Maybe we’ll see you at their Amsterdam show? https://workspaceshow.nl
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