Biophilic design: How nature in the workplace boosts productivity?

Productivity and happiness of employees are the key pillars to a sustainable business model. Studies by researchers are showing that adding nature inside workplaces, a practice commonly known as Biophilic design, can foster a productive and happy workforce.

Biophilic design is an important strategy for sustainable buildings and sustainable cities. Given that we spend one third of our lifetime in office spaces, transforming our work environments into healthy places is a necessity. In particular, the evolution of technology, globalisation, communication and culture has had a significant impact on shaping office environments during the past century. Thus the design of office environments has become a highly specialist field and Biophilic design could soon be a default feature in future offices. This is mainly due to the increasing amount of new studies, all of which consistently show the benefits a workplace integrated with nature has on employees. Biophilic offices increase our productivity, creativity, engagement and wellbeing. All of these benefits will ultimately lead to a happier workforce that produce better work and take fewer sick leaves.?

Benefits of nature on our wellbeing

The evolution of nature inside office spaces is a growing trend. This is partly due to the increase in evidence provided by researchers, through experiments and studies, which show some of the benefits nature has on our wellbeing. For example, several studies have already published evidence that being outside in nature improves our mood [1] [2] [3]. Other studies have also shown a reduction in stress [4] [5] [6] as well as an improvement in attention [7] [8] [9].

Whilst many studies have published the benefits of nature on our wellbeing, recent research shows that nature in offices can also give a shocking boost to workplace performance. In 2014, three field experiments were studied in the Netherlands and the UK to examine the impacts of green office design on well-being and productivity. The outcomes of all three experiments showed positive benefits to people when plants were added to offices [10].

These studies are important to encourage more designers and business owners to adopt Biophilic design practices. We spend a lot of our time we in work environments, thus there is no denying that workplace design has a significant impact on our wellbeing. To achieve a happy workplace, one must design for employees rather than employers; a happy place where employees are more productive by being in tune with nature. Before we look at how nature can be incorporated into offices to boosts productivity, let’s look at the evolution of the green office and why we are moving away from the lean office philosophy.

Office design evolution: from lean to green.

The lean office philosophy which originated in the 18th century was an idea based on freeing workplaces from clutter in the belief that it enhances productivity. The ‘lean office’ influence grew substantially over the next two centuries. Its influence is still evident today as the minimalist office has become a mainstream default design, where workplaces are designed to be free from any clutter that is not relevant to the day to day running of the office, including plants.

In the 1950’s the German Bürolandschaft movement was created and this began to change the way we think about office spaces, and in particular, it introduced the role of plants in office spaces.In addition to the introduction of plants, some of the key concepts behind this method included the grouping of desks in organic patterns to encourage better communication and collaboration. The Bürolandschaft movement has also evolved over the years with more technical methodologies, as workplace design has become a specialist field. The term is now commonly known as the “open plan” office.

In addition to the Bürolandschaft movement, several studies have also debunked the lean office philosophy. A study published by the Journal of Experimental Psychology, “The Relative Benefits of Green Versus Lean Office Space: Three Field Experiments” [10], the authors studied how a lack of nature in the office could be decreasing our productivity. A study by HortTechnology, “Effects of Floral and Foliage Displays on Human Emotions” [11] showed that floral displays can induce cheerful emotion. In another study by HortScience, “Human responses to window views and indoor plants in the workplace” [12], it was shown that workers suffered the highest degree of tension and anxiety when neither a window view nor an indoor plant was provided. These studies consistently show that nature can have an impact on our wellbeing and could also affect our productivity.

Now that we have learnt the evolution of green office design, let’s understand the meaning of the term Biophilic design.

What is Biophilic design and why does it matter?

The term Biophilic design originates from “Biophilia”, which was a term pioneered by German-born American psychoanalyst Erich Fromm [13]. The meaning of the word comes from “bio” - meaning life, and “philia” – meaning friendly feeling toward.?In the book, The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness (1973), Fromm describes Biophilia as “the passionate love of life and of all that is alive”.?

Its application was later used and developed by American biologist Edward O. Wilson, who believed that humans have a natural liking for nature. In his book, Biophilia (1984), Wilson believed that humans have a biologically-based need for the natural world through various means - psychological, biological, cultural, symbolic, and aesthetics. He believed our connection with nature was integral to our human evolution. His theory caught the attention of many researchers who continue to find new evidence that backs the concept of Biophilia.

One such example was in 2015, where researchers wanted to understand how nature and Biophilic design impacts our well-being, productivity and creativity at work. They invited 7,600 office workers from 16 countries to participate in a report by Human Spaces [14].?The report showed that workers with higher levels of sunlight and green spaces were 6% more productive, 15% more creative and displayed 15% higher level of well-being.

Whilst there are compelling evidence that shows the benefits of adding nature in workplaces, the methodology of Biophilic design is not as simple as placing a plant pot on a desk. The natural elements must be embedded in the design process; this is why it’s important that clients and designers incorporate nature as a key theme during the design consultations. That’s why Biophilic design provides opportunities for creative and interesting design typologies.

New workplace design typologies

Workplace consultants are currently designing offices that provide various opportunities such as “chance interactions”. This type of chance meeting is believed to promote collaboration, creativity and productivity amongst employees. ?Chance interactions and chance meetings are usually achieved by designing an office typology that offers paths, nooks and unique workspaces. It is also believed that people work best in 90-minute bursts. This can provide designers with an opportunity to design breakout spaces for recovery where people can have these so called chance meetings. Adding nature to these breakout spaces can boost the benefits of chance interactions.

Providing breakout spaces with nature could also boost the alertness of employees. New research suggests that spending 20 minutes in nature can provide similar stimulants of one cup of coffee [15].

Unique breakout spaces are just one example that workplace designers can help businesses reinvent the way they work. Other examples include blurring the boundary between work and social life, which fosters a happier, collaborative and engaged culture.?Another example is by blurring the boundary between outside and inside, providing employees with natural light, tranquil views, clean air and mind-blowing internal greenspaces.

Businesses that are already investing time and resource on improving their work environments should consider Biophilic design as a necessary investment. Many businesses who see Biophilic design as a new concept will undoubtedly want to understand the economics of investing in nature.

The ROI of going green

Quantifying the return on investment of going Biophilic is extremely challenging since the overall benefits can only be truly measured by the people who are using these spaces; the workforce. This also highlights one of the key reasons why Biophilic design, despite it being a growing trend, is still very rare to find in buildings. The lack of economic studies in this area makes it a challenge for clients to understand the return on investment for going green, but there are case studies emerging.

For example, following a strategic seating rearrangement at the Sacramento Municipal Utility District Call Centre in US, researchers discovered that employees with views of nature handled more calls per hour to those employees with no views of nature [16]. Researchers estimated that those with views of nature handled calls 6-7% faster. They estimated that the cost for the rearrangement of workstations to provide natural views totalled $1,000 per employee. Researchers concluded that the average annual productivity savings would be $2,990 per employee, which meant that the initial investment payback would be achieved within 4 months. The total ROI (return on investment) was calculated to be 299%. The real benefit is of course the long-term return on investment, as employees work in a more productive environment, increasing profits and improving the company’s bottom line.

Conclusion

Whilst more research continues to show the return on investment and benefits of Biophilic design, the lean office philosophy still remains an illusive trend. This could be partly for two key reasons; misperceived costs and knowledge gap.

The initial costs of hiring a specialist workplace consultant may be a key reason why businesses are not going Biophilic; the reality is that going green is easy and does not need to be costly. Yet in large organisations, several millions of dollars are lost every year to workplace absenteeism, which can be mitigated by going Biophilic. Workplace designers can cater for various budgets. A good workplace designer should be able to create a low-cost yet high-impact green office design, which will be of an economic benefit to smaller businesses. Another point that needs to be understood is that the value on the return on investment can be far greater than the initial cost. The real value of going green will transcend beyond the workplace environment. Through continued studies, researchers are bridging the knowledge gap in Biophilic design – thus the future is looking green.

Ultimately, the most successful of businesses understand that a happy workforce produce better work, take less sick leave and are more loyal.?Whilst there are various factors that influence an employee’s engagement [such as salary, job satisfaction, benefits and career progression], the design of offices is another key influence that is commonly overlooked. Green office design is not about a trend. Nature in the workplace can create a happy and productive workforce which will enhance an organisation’s quality and quantity of work, as well as its bottom line.

References

1. ?Hartig, T., Evans, G. W., Jamner, L. D., Davis, D. S., & Garling, T. (2003). Tracking restoration in natural and urban field settings. Journal of Environmental Psychology.
2. Ulrich, R. S. (1979). Visual landscapes and psychological well-being. Landscape Research, 4, 17–23.
3. ?Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito, B. D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M. A., & Zelson, M. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11, 201–230.
4. ?Laumann, K., G?rling, T., & Stormark, K. M. (2003). Selective attention and heart rate responses to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology.
5. Ulrich, R. S. (1986). Human responses to vegetation and landscapes. Landscape and Urban Planning, 13, ?29-44.
6. ?Hartig, T., Evans, G. W., Jamner, L. D., Davis, D. S., & Garling, T. (2003). Tracking restoration in natural and urban field settings. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 23, 109 –123.
7. ??Berman, M., Jonides, J., & Kaplan, S. (2008). The cognitive benefits of interacting with nature. Psychological Science, 19, 1207–1212.
8. ?Berto, R. (2005). Exposure to restorative environments helps restore attentional capacity. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 25, 249–259.
9. ?Ottosson, J., & Grahn, P. (2005). A comparison of leisure time spent in a garden with leisure time spent indoors: On measures of restoration in residents in geriatric care. Landscape Research, 30, 23–55.
10. ?Nieuwenhuis, M., Knight, C., Postmes, T., & Haslam, S. A. (2014, July 28). The Relative Benefits of Green Versus Lean Office Space: Three Field Experiments. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied.
11. ?Adachi, M., Rohde, C. L. E., & Kendle, A. D. (2000). Effects of floral and foliage displays on human emotions. HortTechnology.
12. ??Chang, C.-Y., & Chen, P.-K. (2005). Human responses to window views and indoor plants in the workplace. HortScience.
13. ?Fromm, E. (1973). The anatomy of human destructiveness.
14. ?Human Spaces (2015). The Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the Workplace.
15. ?Richard M. Ryan, Netta Weinstein, Jessey Bernstein, Kirk Warren Brown, Louis Mistretta, Marylène Gagné. Vitalizing effects of being outdoors and in nature. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 2010.
16. ?oftness, Vivian (2008). Sustainable Design for Health & Productivity. Centre for building performance & diagnostics.

About the author

Baharash Bagherian is the CEO of URB and has masterminded designs of various sustainable cities under construction, including recently launched projects such as The Sustainable City in Yiti, The Sustainable City in Yas Island, Nexgen Sustainable City in Cairo, AlNama Smart City in Riyadh, Xzero City in Kuwait and many more yet to be revealed.

URB was founded by Baharash Bagherian with a sense of purpose to accelerate the world’s transition towards sustainable developments. URB has rapidly evolved to become a global leader in developing sustainable communities with several pioneering projects currently under planning.