Despite all the time we spend every day within our four walls, we instinctively feel our closeness to nature and our strong bond with it. Biophilic office design offers a new way to integrate nature into man-made spaces, with proven benefits in terms of mental well-being, physical health, productivity and employee retention.
Nature as part of us
Getting lost in the forest without a cell phone or other tools, just being in the middle of nature… For European nature lovers, this is a whole new feel -good trend, which is derived from the Japanese practice of “Shirin-Yoku”. The literal translation would be “forest bathing” and is an idea developed in the 1980s by Dr. Qing Li was developed. Immersing oneself in nature awakens fundamentally positive feelings in us. It has been scientifically proven to reduce people’s stress and improve mental health, increase serotonin levels and boost the immune system. It is so effective as a preventative medicine that the Japanese government has included its use in the country’s healthcare system.
Forest bathing is a perfect example of humans seeking new ways to connect with nature, driven by an instinctive and genetic affinity for all living systems. It is a physical and psychological connection that biologist EO Wilson called “biophilia” and “man’s innate urge to has defined. In other words, biophilia is why we love roaring fires, gazing out to sea, enjoying the company of animals, and the unseen power we experience in contemplating a familiar landscape.
Experience nature with all your senses
We experience the world with our senses – primarily through seeing, touching, smelling, hearing and tasting. The basis of biophilic design is its ability to use these senses to meet unconscious needs and connect on a physical and emotional level. Examples from around the world show how biophilic design is now routinely used to support learning, movement and sensory stimulation, stress reduction and relaxation, and to improve overall health. The workplace is one of the human-made environments that could benefit most from the application of biophilic design principles. This is particularly the case because biophilic design has been shown in numerous research papers to increase people’s ability to concentrate, productivity and creativity, increase individual well-being and improve employee recruitment and retention.
