On The Rise: Biophilic Design And The Importance Of Interior Plants

In my years living in the Chicago area, I spent a lot of time in neighborhoods where homes were designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. His unique Prairie Style design utilized horizontal lines and organic patterns, while incorporating the landscape in and around the homes he built. He once said, “I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day’s work.”

Exposure to nature has never been more important than it is today. In the go-go world of the 21st century, the ability to become “inspired” in a workplace setting can be a difficult one. Between longer hours in the office and longer commutes, we’re spending more time than ever indoors and away from the natural world. Thanks to the philosophy of biophilia, the environment in office settings has improved significantly. Biophilia is the incorporation of green walls, plants, natural wood or stone, and other outdoor elements, with the goal to mimic the natural world. Plants are powerful things, with data to back that up.

They filter the air, promote better health, boost productivity and increase comfort. Done correctly,  biophilic design creates a positive response for those who inhabit the space, as if they were exposed to the natural stimuli in real life. This is how biophilia and biophilic design have helped businesses reduce the negative impacts of sterile workplaces and enhance their environments. The benefits seen by incorporating biophilic design include:

• Reduced employee absenteeism
• Improved health
• Increased mood and feeling of well-being
• Improved productivity
• Increased employee engagement
• Reduced stress levels
• Mental restoration and reduced fatigue

The biophilia hypothesis has played a role in making biophilic design, green architecture, and eco-friendly buildings more popular. Companies around the globe are utilizing this practice to improve the client and employee experience within their own walls. Architects and designers have taken notice and are incorporating it within their own designs.

This practice has been incorporated at our corporate headquarters and in our own facilities at Wright Outdoor Solutions. Our designers promote and implement this service to commercial and residential clients throughout the Des Moines metro area. This is a specialized service that requires regular care by properly trained personnel. We take pride in our services and the results that have come from it, and client feedback is showing that they’re loving it.

To promote and conduct a specialized service like this it takes proper planning, quality interaction with our operations staff and a strong marketing approach. We not only want to implement biophilic design but also provide routine maintenance and a comprehensive plant health care program for these designs. This is an aspect of wellness that is becoming more and more of an important piece in local businesses. Wright Outdoor Solutions is looking to be that key driver in this movement.