Incorporating Biophilic Design in Your Interior Office Fit Out
The incorporation of nature in interior office design, commonly referred to as biophilic design, is becoming increasingly popular among businesses. This design approach, which seeks to create a connection between individuals and their environment, is said to have several benefits, such as increased productivity and reduced stress interior office fit out levels. If you’re considering incorporating biophilic design in your interior office fit out, here’s what you need to know.
What is Biophilic Design?
Biophilic design is an interior design approach that seeks to incorporate elements of nature into a workspace to improve the well-being of the occupants. This design philosophy is guided by the premise that people have an innate affinity for nature, and our connection with the natural world is essential for our physical and mental well-being. Biophilic design is aimed at creating a more natural, healthy, and productive environment for occupants.
Examples of biophilic design elements include natural light, indoor plants, water features, natural materials such as wood and stone, and even artwork that depicts nature scenes. The idea is to create a space that simulates an outdoor environment, even if it’s only a small part of it.
Why Incorporate Biophilic Design?
Several studies have shown that biophilic design has several benefits for occupants, including:
1. Increased productivity: Studies have shown that incorporating biophilic elements in the workplace can improve productivity by up to 15% due to increased creativity, focus, and engagement.
2. Reduced stress levels: The presence of natural elements in the workplace, such as plants and water features, has a calming effect that can reduce stress levels and improve overall well-being.
3. Improved air quality: Plants act as natural air purifiers by absorbing harmful toxins and producing oxygen, leading to improved air quality in the workspace.
4. Improved employee retention: A well-designed workspace that incorporates natural elements creates a more relaxing and comfortable work environment that employees are more likely to enjoy.
How to Incorporate Biophilic Design in Your Interior Office Fit Out
Here are some of the ways you can incorporate biophilic design into your interior office fit-out:
1. Include lots of greenery: Plants are perhaps the most iconic feature of biophilic design. They bring color and life to an office space while also providing cleaner air quality. Plants such as spider plants, snake plants, and ZZ plants are said to be great air purifiers.
2. Incorporate natural materials: Using natural materials such as wood, stone, and bamboo is an effective way to bring the outdoors inside. These materials create a more natural and organic feel in the workspace and can produce a calming effect.
3. Integrate water features: Water features such as fountains or fish tanks can create a relaxing environment and add a calming effect to the space. The sound of running water can also help mask unwanted noise, creating a more peaceful environment.
4. Introduce natural light: Natural light is fundamental to biophilic design. Introduce as much natural light as possible in the workspace by having large windows or using light color schemes.
5. Create natural views: Ensure your workspace gives employees a view of nature. This could be a park, a garden, or even a bird feeder outside the window.
Conclusion
Biophilic design is an emerging trend in modern office interiors that has shown promising benefits. It creates a more relaxed and engaging work environment that is beneficial to workers’ well-being and productivity. By incorporating elements of nature such as plants, natural materials, water features, natural light, and nature views into office interior designs, companies can positively affect their employees’ well-being, productivity and retention, while providing a modern and refreshing workspace. In short, biophilic Design is an efficient and effective approach to consider when designing your office fit-out.