What elements can be part of an office with biophilic design?

Biophilic design doesn't require turning the office into a garden. The article lists elements that bring a sense of well-being and comfort to the corporate workplace, and most of them fit into ordinary office projects, renovations included.

The elements cited

• Vegetation and plants, or images of them where living plants can't be kept in a given area.
• Organic shapes, in contrast with the rigid geometry of conventional offices.
• Earthy tones, which evoke soil, stone and wood.
• Decorative water features, which add sound and movement to the space.
• Natural light, put to use in how the spaces are arranged.
• Surface materials that imitate wood, without necessarily using the raw material. The visual reference is what matters; the material itself can be something else.

The article makes clear that the list is not exhaustive. These are examples of how to bring the natural environment outside into the office.

What they are for

Each of these elements serves the same goal: making the workspace more appealing and inspiring, with more natural features. The article backs this choice with data from the Spacestor London Design Center, which links biophilic design to lower absenteeism, higher employee retention and gains in productivity, well-being and creativity.

There is also a practical reason tied to the moment. With hybrid work in place, an office that offers comfort and a connection with nature draws people back to working in person, or brings them in more often.

CH3 applies these concepts in corporate projects it has designed and built. The mix of vegetation, natural light, earthy tones and wood-like materials is defined case by case, according to the space and the intended use of each area.