Title: Why Is Sustainable, Biophilic Design Still Going Strong In The Commercial Space?
1Why Is Sustainable, Biophilic Design Still Going
Strong In The Commercial Space?
2Why Is Sustainable, Biophilic Design Still Going
Strong In The Commercial Space?
- Generally, commercial buildings and spaces are
assumed to be antagonistic when it comes to
nature and its offerings. Living in a concrete
jungle, high-rise buildings and commercial
projects are often assumed to be threatening to
the natural environment around us. However, many
organisational workspaces have taken the
initiative of incorporating nature in their
designs via sustainable, biophilic designs. - What Is A Biophilic Design?
- Biophilia refers to the love one has for life and
living things. Biophilic designs are extensions
of the same love for nature. A biophilic design
is a type of design that incorporates nature and
its elements while designing interiors. It is a
way to stay connected with the natural
environment while incorporating modern elements
of design. - A lot of commercial spaces use biophilic interior
designs to develop a symbiotic relationship with
mother nature. Some of the biggest industry tech
giants use biophilic designs in their interiors
to stay in touch with the natural environment.
3What Is A Biophilic Design?
- Such designs help people working within
commercial spaces receive the benefits of nature,
such as fresh air, sunlight, cool breeze, and
much more. At the same time, biophilic designs
allow commercial projects to nurture nature
instead of working against it. - Some of the most common traits and elements of a
biophilic design include - Use of natural materials
- Incorporating plans in the designated space
- Natural light
- Open and unrestricted airflow
- Use of natural patterns and shapes
4What Is A Biophilic Design?
- Architecture in sync with natural landscapes
- Use of nature-based textures, shapes, and colours
- Using water as an integral part of interiors
- Biophilic designs may include direct use of
natural elements or analogues of the same. For
using direct natural elements, designers often
choose to use natural vegetation, animals,
natural light, shadows, and more within the
spaces designed by them. On the other hand,
natural analogues involve the use of natural
objects, colours, shapes, and patterns in the
furniture, furnishings, and overall décor of the
space.
5Why Is Biophilic Design Still Popular With
Commercial Spaces?
6Why Is Biophilic Design Still Popular With
Commercial Spaces?
- Most commercial spaces involve a number of people
working long hours under artificial conditions
using man-made machines. While we live in the age
of digitization, it is important for humans to
feel the touch of nature once in a while. - Sustainable, biophilic designs allow people
working in commercial spaces to have a breath of
fresh air (quite literally!) while working,
thereby providing them with a conducive work
environment. - After struggling with a global pandemic that
forced us all to stay indoors for several months,
it is healthy for human beings to reconnect with
nature instead of working behind closed doors
with no ventilation for hours. - Here are some of the major reasons why
sustainable, biophilic designs are still popular
in commercial spaces
7Use Of Sustainable Materials
- Whether you put a single potted plant inside a
cabin or create a miniature lake with pebbled
stones, biophilic commercial designs often use
sustainable materials. As most (if not all)
sources of such designs are natural, you do not
need to worry about any of these elements harming
the environment. - Creating biophilic interior designs for
commercial spaces assures you that you are not
polluting the environment. In fact, some of these
designs allow you to cater to the nature around
you and help it flourish. - Improved Mental Health
- People often choose to go out for a walk in the
garden and take a barefoot stroll on natural
grass when they feel stressed out. While working
in conventional workplaces, employees generally
go out for a walk and some fresh air to take a
break or after a stressful meeting. Biophilic
commercial designs aim at bringing these elements
to the interiors.
8Improved Mental Health
9Improved Mental Health
- Moreover, as biophilic commercial designs involve
bringing nature to the interiors, they tend to
prolong energy, good mood, and sound mental
health for the employees working in an
organisation. This is always a sign of a
conducive work environment. - Creative Freedom For Designers
- As compared to conventional interior designs,
creating biophilic designs offer greater creative
freedom to designers while working in commercial
spaces. This is because natural elements offer a
range of different possibilities, patterns, and
innovative approaches to designing interiors. - Depending on the area being designed, the
personality of the company, and the preferences
of the client, designers can mould different
elements to suit the biophilic design being
created specifically for the said organisation.
There are a number of different combinations that
can be used and patterns that can be innovated
while using biophilic designs for commercial
interiors.
10Creative Freedom For Designers
11Aesthetic Appeal
12Aesthetic Appeal
- Along with all the health and environmental
benefits of biophilic commercial design, it is
important to address the fact that it really adds
to the aesthetic appeal of the space! Nature is
beautiful by itself and using its elements to
design your office would only make your office
look more beautiful. - Using biophilic design in commercial spaces often
portrays contrast in a unique way, giving these
spaces an exotic look. Incorporating elements
like plants, pebbles, bamboo sticks, etc. makes a
commercial building stand out amidst a concrete
jungle!
13Longevity Of Designs
- Unlike most trends and fads, biophilic commercial
designs are not short-lived. They often stand the
test of time and only get more beautiful with
time. Essentially, this is because nature never
really gets old and out of fashion. Most
biophilic designs age really well and provide
longevity to the interiors of commercial spaces. - Unless you are using living elements like plants,
you do not need to worry about the articles
getting old over time. They retain their elegance
for a long time, saving you all the toil and
trouble that goes behind redesigning. - Better Air Quality
- Instead of stepping outside the office to get
some fresh air, biophilic designs allow employees
to breathe fresh air indoors. The use of greenery
and plants in commercial interiors allows you to
improve the air quality of the concerned place.
14Better Air Quality
15Better Air Quality
- It is common knowledge that plants absorb carbon
dioxide to release oxygen, thereby purifying the
air around them and making it fresher. Moreover,
installing plants inside commercial spaces and
providing them with natural light allows them to
transpire through their leaves and makes the air
around them more humid. This helps you deal with
the issue of dry air without using any electrical
appliance. - Plants are also known to absorb volatile organic
compounds (VOCs) which include the chemicals
added to domestic cleaning products, used in
making carpets, and emitted from electrical
appliances. This further enhances the quality of
air around you and allows you and your team to
work in a healthier environment.
16Improved Productivity
- Working in closed mechanical surroundings tends
to exhaust people very soon, affecting their
ability to give their best. If you make your
employees work in an office where they cant tell
if it is day or night, their productivity is
likely to take a hit. - Using biophilic designs for commercial interiors
provides workers with a fresher and more
comfortable environment to work in. With elements
of nature around them, the world gets less
mechanical and more organic for people to work.
This allows your workers to give their best and
increase their productivity.
17Better Employee Retention
- One of the biggest reasons why sustainable
biophilic designs are still going strong in the
commercial space is that they help companies
retain their valuable talent. After going through
the catastrophic COVID crisis, employees around
the world want a break from working within four
concrete walls. - Incorporating natural elements in commercial
interiors allows your employees to work in a
comfortable and invigorating environment. This
makes them genuinely motivated to come to work
and engage themselves better. When you have high
employee engagement, you do not need to worry
about retaining talent within your organisation.
18Creating A Happier Environment
- Along with ensuring the mental wellbeing of the
workers, biophilic designs help you create a
happier work environment. Nature makes people
happy, cheerful, calm, and composed. When you
have a small water fountain, a miniature lake, or
plants as a part of your interior design, it
enhances positive thinking, creativity, and
motivation. - Using biophilic designs allows you to change the
complete vibe of commercial space, making people
there feel as if they are in touch with nature
(irrespective of the scale at which you
incorporate the natural elements). - Helping The Natural Ecosystem
- We live in an age where the natural ecosystem is
being destroyed in a plethora of different ways.
From all kinds of pollution and deforestation to
inadequate waste management and depletion of
non-renewable resources, it is important to
control the manner in which we are destroying the
natural elements.
19Helping The Natural Ecosystem
20Helping The Natural Ecosystem
- Biophilic designs allow you to help the natural
ecosystem by using natural elements for creating
innovative and sustainable interior designs.
Instead of destroying nature by building
commercial spaces, this approach allows
corporations to integrate nature in the best ways
possible. Sustainable biophilic designs
facilitate healthy and fruitful co-existence
between nature and humans without extensive
depletion of natural resources. - Incorporating Biophilic Designs On A Budget
- When used in commercial spaces, biophilic designs
need not be too expensive. As a lot of these
designs make use of natural elements, they often
cost less as compared to man-made articles and
furnishings. You can easily incorporate biophilic
designs for commercial interiors without spending
a fortune for the same. - Moreover, biophilic designs do not always need to
be implemented on a larger scale. You can follow
a low-key approach and still avail yourself of
all the benefits offered by these designs.
21Using Potted Plants
- Here are a few ways in which you can use
biophilic designs at a smaller scale without
spending a lot of money - Using Potted Plants
- This is the most basic way to go about using
biophilic designs. If you want to incorporate
these designs on a shoestring budget, you can
simply get some potted plants and place them at
strategic places within the concerned commercial
space. - It is common for companies to keep potted plants
on the balconies, hallways, cafeterias, and a
range of other locations. This is arguably the
most cost-effective way of using biophilic
designs for commercial spaces. You can, of
course, incorporate potted plants in your
interior designs in an innovative way to enhance
the aesthetics of the place.
22Using Natural Light
- Using Natural Light
- The use of natural light is one of the most
overlooked aspects of biophilic interior designs.
While you incorporate natural elements within a
commercial space, make sure that the area is lit
well by natural light. Design interiors in a way
that people working therein can get access to
enough natural light throughout the day. - Making Innovate Use Of Water
- Using water in innovative ways is another
cost-effective way of incorporating biophilic
designs in commercial spaces. If you do not want
to go overboard with the money, you can get small
table-top fountains and place them at suitable
places within the premises. - As these fountains mimic the sounds of a natural
spring or a waterfall, it has a calming effect on
the minds of people working at the office. Along
with improving memory and reducing stress,
implementing such articles would also help in
lowering the blood pressure of your workers.
23Modifying Furniture
- Modifying Furniture
- Without spending a lot, you can replace some of
the furniture at your office with articles made
of bamboo or wood. This would give an exotic look
to the space and add a touch of nature to your
office premises. - The Final Word
- Sustainable biophilic designs are still going
strong in the commercial space and are likely to
remain so in the future due to their benefits.
This approach to commercial interior design
allows you to work for nature instead of against
it while building commercial spaces. - Read more -
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stainable-biophilic-design-still-going-strong-in-t
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