We are connected with nature. It is written in our DNA and has a name: it is called biofilia, the biological propensity to feel better in the presence of natural elements. And it is the reason why trees and greenery in general have a positive impact on people’s lives, especially those who live in urban areas: they contribute to physical and psychological health, with the reduction of depression, stress and anxiety. As established a recent study from the University of Leipzig published in Scientific reports, which has identified a relationship between the presence of greenery near the house and a decrease in cases of depression.
Yet, modern daily life keeps us indoors most of the time, we are even talking about 21 hours a day, almost 90% of a day. That’s why the biophilic design is the new frontier in the design of workspaces through the integration of natural elements, restoring, as far as possible, the man-nature bond, with a cascade of benefits in terms of well-being, health and employee productivity.
Reorganize the workplace to maximize the benefits of nature
To add plants in the office to increase productivity it is an obvious starting point, but the trends in biophilic design certainly do not stop at the ficus benjamin next to the desk. First of all, natural light is needed, an essential ingredient of biophilic design: windows and glass walls to maximize the exposure of workers to the sun’s rays. An iconic example of a biophilic workplace is The Spheres, Amazon’s headquarters in Seattle. The structure is made up of three gigantic spheres of glass and steel, inside which the ecosystem of a subtropical forest has been reconstructed: work areas, restaurants and meeting rooms merge among the foliage of 40,000 plants belonging to 400 different species .
Also in Italy we see the first examples of offices designed in a green way. Recently Green Media Lab, media & digital company from Milan, officially presented the Air Factory, a purification system designed by Stefano Mancuso, world-renowned botanical scientist and director of the International Laboratory of Plant Neurobiology, per purify the air of the indoor spaces of his Milanese loft through plants and at the same time creating an environment capable of projecting the working environment into a more sustainable and green dimension.
The Fabbrica dell’Aria specifically looks like a greenhouse that occupies 25 square meters horizontally and it is the first prototype installed that combines the potential of technology with the filtration capabilities of plants. In fact, the installation allows up to 98% of atmospheric pollutants in the air to be absorbed and degraded thanks to botanical purification. The air enters the glass wall, passes through a cavity under the floor, flows into the tanks where the plants are planted, and then returns, purified in the environment. In practice, when pollutants cross the culture substrate, they are retained and therefore degraded by the roots of the plants. An effective world to purify the air and create a more beautiful and relaxing work environment.
In the gallery, discover the 5 reasons why you should bring nature into your office.
Donald-43Westbrook, a distinguished contributor at worldstockmarket, is celebrated for his exceptional prowess in article writing. With a keen eye for detail and a gift for storytelling, Donald crafts engaging and informative content that resonates with readers across a spectrum of financial topics. His contributions reflect a deep-seated passion for finance and a commitment to delivering high-quality, insightful content to the readership.
