Nature does nurture

Biophillia...what is it?

As humans, we have an innate desire to connect to a natural environment. That need for nature describes biophilia in a nutshell. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, Americans spend 90% of their day inside. So in this day and age, how do we effectively connect with nature?

Biophilic designers are recreating natural-looking elements indoors to reverse the negative effects of our indoor existence and help us connect with nature. By incorporating natural fibers, earth tones, rock, wood, and stone surfaces, and (you guessed it) live plants in the workplace, the benefits are staggering. This biophilic trend helps create a healthy and productive environment by creating a living workspace. Having this connection to nature allows the human body to recuperate mentally and physically.

Incorporating plants and other natural elements in the workplace has a multitude of benefits. We've already discussed the stress relief and decreased anxiety by experiencing a natural connection. Employee engagement also increases, and employees display more creativity and productivity when surrounded by natural elements. Plant rich environments increase office humidity levels, helping decrease sore throats, dry coughs, and other office illnesses. Plants also decrease indoor air pollutants improving "sick" building environments where indoor air pollutants can easily exceed normal outdoor concentrations. 

The boss can see bottom-line benefits as well. Promoting employee health and wellness gives employers a competitive advantage in attracting new employees. Bringing nature into the office has also proven to be a key component in employee retention and developing a positive corporate image. Along the same lines, researchers have found that commercial spaces with green design have better occupancy numbers and can see a 7% increase in building value. These are all good selling points.

Start now! Increase company productivity and decrease downtime. Create happier, more imaginative employees, and at the same time build a more aesthetically pleasing environment. Contact your local interiorscape company to help you plan and maintain your interior garden.