A green and bright workplace: how biophilic design boosts employee wellbeing

Humans are dependent upon, drawn to, and fascinated by the natural world. Many people feel happier, healthier and more at ease when they are outdoors and surrounded by nature in gardens, parks, forests, mountains, lakes and the coast. Just consider for a second how nature has influenced your own mental health, your hobbies, travel and holiday plans. You may even have incorporated aspects of nature into your homes.

Photograph: iStock/Georgijevic

This was never truer than during the Covid pandemic when walking and access to nature played a pivotal role in people’s wellbeing due to an innate, biologically-driven need to interact with other forms of life, such as animals and plants, in what is termed ‘biophilia’, which literally translates to ‘love of life’.

However, we currently live in a world that is rapidly urbanising with many people spending most of their time indoors or surrounded by concrete and bricks, either in built-up areas or spending large periods indoors in the workplace.

According to the World Health Organization, people spend 90 per cent of their time in buildings¹. However, such is the powerful impact of nature on human wellbeing that many organisations now realise that spending long periods at work in poorly designed built environments can have a negative effect on staff wellbeing. To counteract this, many businesses have now started to consciously incorporate the concept of ‘biophilic design’ into their workplaces, based on the simple idea of reconnecting people with nature within the built environment. In simple parlance, ‘bringing the outside in’.

The concept of ‘biophilic design’ has always been around and themes from nature are seen in early human structures, such as cave paintings and statues, which shows that biophilic design is not a new phenomenon. In 1865, the landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted argued that natural scenery influences the human mind over the body and refreshes the whole system. Later, in the nineteenth century, there was a campaign to create large public parks in order to help in stress reduction and to improve health.²

People have incorporated biophilic design for many years in their homes, such as gardens, the use of house plants and natural lighting, displaying nature-based paintings or photographs and even selecting nature-based colour schemes when decorating. This concept is now being more formally used in the workplace, and as an environmental, health and safety consultant, I have witnessed numerous examples of the approach being adopted by British Safety Council member organisations, in everywhere from offices to warehouses. In fact, biophilic design can be used in most built environments and nearly all workplaces.

In short, research has shown that incorporating elements such as nature, natural lighting and aspects of greenery – such as small gardens, indoor plants, indoor plant walls and colour schemes with biophilic-inspired design features – has a range of positive impacts on employee wellbeing, from improved physical health and mental wellbeing to increased creativity, productivity, and overall job satisfaction.³ ¹²

Benefits to staff physical health

One main advantage of biophilic design is its ability to improve the physical health of employees in the workplace. This includes the use of small gardens, indoor plant walls and natural materials in the fabric of the building itself. Incorporating indoor planting schemes can help to purify the indoor air and reduce indoor pollutants, as well as helping to ensure good humidity levels in environments such as offices.

Other research suggests that exposure to nature and green spaces within the workplace can boost the immune system, potentially reducing the frequency and longevity of illnesses, which ultimately reduces the number of sick days taken by employees.⁴ Biophilic design is also often incorporated into the design of hospitals to ensure the best use of natural elements, like greenery, in supporting both patients’ and employees’ physical and psychological wellbeing.⁵

Benefits for staff mental health

Biophilic design can have a positive impact on the mental health and emotional wellbeing of staff. Research exploring the effects of a biophilic indoor environment on stress levels and recovery from anxiety reveals that the existence of nature-related practices – such as plants and natural lighting – has been shown to reduce feelings of anxiety and increase feelings of happiness and relaxation.⁴

Having views of green spaces or access to outdoor areas helps employees feel more connected to the natural world, even when they’re indoors. This sense of connection to nature can help alleviate feelings of stress and burnout, leading to greater job satisfaction and higher levels of productivity.³

Increased creativity among staff

Research also suggests that businesses that incorporate biophilic design features in their workplace, such as plant walls, water features and the use of natural materials, can create environments that foster creativity and encourage collaboration among employees.⁷

Whether it’s a creative thinking session in a sunlit atrium or a team meeting in a garden-inspired conference room, biophilic design can help fuel creativity among staff, resulting in workers generating and sharing innovative and creative ideas.

Attracting and retaining staff

Another benefit of biophilic design is how it helps businesses to attract and retain staff. In today’s competitive job market, organisations are constantly looking for ways to differentiate themselves and attract the most talented staff.⁸ A well-designed office that prioritises employee wellbeing and incorporates elements of biophilic design can be an active recruitment tool. Moreover, staff who feel valued and supported by their workplace environment are more likely to stay with the organisation long term, potentially saving on recruitment and associated training costs.

Photograph: iStock/Portra

Benefits to the wider environment

By incorporating sustainable materials, reducing energy consumption and promoting biodiversity, organisations that adopt biophilic design can help to reduce their wider environmental footprint and contribute to improving the organisation’s overall environmental performance. By fostering a deeper connection to nature, biophilic design can also inspire employees to adopt more environmentally-focused behaviours, both within and outside of the workplace.

Considerations for biophilic design in the workplace

There are seven key elements to biophilic design, each linked to the different health and wellbeing benefits briefly explained above.

1. A view of nature

A view of nature in the workplace has been linked with helping to lower blood pressure and heart rate, as well as improving mental engagement, attentiveness and happiness. However, depending on the location of a workplace, such as an office building, it may not be possible to provide a direct view of nature, especially if the site is located in a built-up, urban area. This is where good internal décor can help. By having images of the natural world, as well as plant life and other natural elements, employers can introduce a ‘natural view’ into an unnatural environment. Research has shown that the use of virtual technology in offices and workplaces using nature-based stimuli (enabling workers to experience a biophilic environment virtually), reduces workers’ blood pressure and improves their short-term memory.⁸

2. Physical stimuli

Although a visual representation of nature is important, the stimulation of other human senses is also part of general biophilic design. Using fragrances, textures, sounds and other physical stimuli to awaken the sense of smell, touch, sound and taste related to nature can have a positive effect on stress levels while simultaneously improving overall mental health.¹º The sense of touch can be created through wicker chairs, or large ferns being placed around the office which brush up against anyone who walks by. From an audio perspective, organisations have provided soundscape-type furniture in communal areas, where birdsong, flowing water and other natural sounds are played.¹³

3. Airflow variability

A natural airflow can positively impact comfort, wellbeing and concentration.⁹ Getting the temperature right and incorporating natural airflow throughout a building is a good way to add elements of biophilic design. Simply opening the window, introducing fans or installing or using air conditioning units with a natural airflow setting can help create a more positive work environment.

4. The use of water

Water elements are considered one of the most effective biophilic design elements for reducing stress and improving mood.¹¹ There are several ways to incorporate the natural visual and audio effects of water into an office, whether it be through a water fountain, water chains outside the window or even an aquarium. Simulating a natural flow of water is known to help reduce stress, improve concentration and memory restoration, and ignite a positive emotional response.¹¹

5. The use of natural lighting

Although natural lighting may be difficult to achieve if the workplace does not currently provide access to natural light sources, if and when an organisation is seeking a new office, the employer should seek buildings with well positioned windows that will let in as much natural light as possible.

Natural, dynamic lighting systems have been known to positively impact on circadian system functioning, which keeps us in synchronicity with the 24-hour day, therefore also improving sleep patterns.¹⁴ This type of lighting is also associated with increased visual comfort and overall productivity. Also, the use of daylight sensors – which switch off artificial lighting when there is sufficient natural lighting entering the workspace – can also lead to savings on energy bills and associated costs, such as replacement of faulty light fittings.

6. Biomorphic shapes and patterns

The natural world is full of different shapes and patterns. Common examples include a snowflake, a leaf, the rings of a tree trunk, towering mountains or cloud formations. A biomorphic shape or pattern can be recreated within the workplace by selecting interestingly shaped furniture or decorations. These patterns are known to reduce stress and enhance concentration.¹⁶

7. Spatial hierarchy

The way in which different elements within a workplace are spaced and positioned can also have a significant impact on employees’ overall satisfaction levels. For example, staff may prefer quiet, screened-off spaces to seek refuge from office noise and chatter to aid concentration, while large, open social areas are also essential for employees to meet and collaborate.

Conclusion

Although it may be difficult for some businesses to achieve a truly biophilic design – for example, if there is limited money available to fund biophilic features or the organisation’s existing workplace does not incorporate biophilic design – there are still many ways to incorporate these unique design styles into the workplace.

By considering how each of the seven key elements of biophilic design could be applied at work, employers can begin to create a working environment that has a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of employees.

The modern business world can be a stressful place, so it’s important that each and every business, no matter its size, is taking positive steps to ensure the health and wellbeing of all staff, including the positive effects that the built environment can have on them.

Dr Keith Whitehead is a senior environmental consultant at British Safety Council.

References

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