AOI Experts: What Kind Of An Impact Can Biophilia Have?

Biophilia, or otherwise known as “nature in the workplace”, is an ever-growing trend in the post-pandemic workplace. It’s because of this trend that many business owners will want to take advantage of in order to boost productivity, draw people into the office, and retain employee talent, amongst others.

When surveyed, workers often say that one of the biggest things they want to see implemented into the office when they return to work is more natural light and nature. Being exposed to these two elements, especially biophilia, significantly helps to increase peoples mental health and their general well-being.

The Power Of Nature In The Workplace

Biophilia is “a love of life or living systems.”  According to biologist Edward O. Wilson, humans have an innate affinity for the natural world. Biophilic design is increasingly popular with professionals (especially in younger generations and those who live in large urban environments that lack natural greenery) who adopt certain nature connected lifestyles that focus on self care.

Biophilic design addresses the need to incorporate nature into workspaces by building a framework for human-nature connections to thrive in. These features help to create workplaces that optimize the environment for performance, health, and well-being. By better connecting to the natural world, employees report overall reductions in stress and mental fatigue as well as improved cognitive performance on tasks. 

“I think that not only can it break up a space and make it not feel monotone, but can also give office workers the feeling of being outside.” – Nicole Wynkoop, Director of Design

Attract And Retain Employee Talent

Research shows that organizations that harness the power of Biophilic design have a greater ability to attract and retain employees and increase levels of productivity and creativity within their teams.

"The Economics of Biophilia",  a report written by Terrapin Bright Green, highlights how 10% of employee absence can be attributed to a lack of access to nature. Human Spaces, a digital publication that focuses on sharing resources around biophilic design, mentions in their global report that by incorporating elements of nature, overall well-being improves by up to 15%. This is measured by various means, such as measuring levels of the stress hormone cortisol and "happy hormones" like dopamine.

“Biophilia in the office can help create a calm working atmosphere for everyone to thrive in.” Jesscia Platt, Vice President,

Utilize Your Floorplate

Floorplan design can also compliment biophilia. With open workspaces, for example, there's more room for employees to stretch their legs and get around. Working in a building that encourages movement such as climbing stairs keeps people active and can even help employees achieve their exercise goals. Take a few walking meetings next time you're outside, around a park, or have a scenic view.

Each workspace is unique, but fortunately there are a large variety of ways to incorporate and benefit from biophilic design when creating your next workspace.

“Biophilia in the office can have higher levels of productivity, decreased stress, creativity and overall wellbeing in the workplace from biophilia .” Jenna Vecchio – Showroom Manager