Biophilia as a key element in office design

At ANTANA we are committed to spaces that are committed to nature and the planet. When designing an office there are different ways to apply this philosophy.

One of these is the biophilic design of workspaces. The word Biophilia means love of life and was coined by evolutionary biologist Edward O. Wilson of Harvard University to create a hypothesis that contact with nature is essential for human psychological development because humans have an innate connection to nature. Biophilic design, as this workplace trend is called, thus improves employee well-being, performance, inspiration and productivity.

Biophilia is not only based on the placement of plants or green elements in office decoration, there are more elements that influence the sensations of the environment. The main points or patterns of biophilic design fall under three different headings:

The first is based on elements that really bring nature into the space, among which are plant elements, natural light, water and fresh air. This is achieved through the introduction of green elements in office design, whether natural or artificial plants, green walls, etc., giving priority to the entry of natural light into the spaces, the introduction of air into the office and the existence of open spaces.

The second is indirect references to nature in the office, this is achieved through patterns and shapes that mimic nature, the use of natural materials (metals, wood, textiles, stone...) and the introduction of the hierarchical order of nature.

The third and last one is the one that applies the sensation of nature in the space, in it there are spaces of refuge and calm, spaces of mystery and spaces of risk and danger, it is a dynamic environment, this translates into the generation of different work spaces. Spaces of concentration, spaces of collaboration, spaces of calm, meeting places and dynamic spaces. The monotony of the workspace is broken.

On the other hand, and no less important, with the introduction of materials, processes and furniture that respect the planet:

Use of construction materials and furniture based on the recycling of materials in the creation of spaces. Every day there are more and more companies that are committed to sustainability in the manufacture of their products. Such as carpets made from recycled fibres, recycled wood panels, recycled polyester fabrics, furniture and accessories created from waste, etc...

Design with rapidly renewable materials (RRM), i.e. materials that can be renewed in less than 10 years, such as rubber, coconut, cork, cotton and wool. They also offer an alternative to reduce resource depletion and the carbon footprint of buildings. Most are low in VOCs or contain none at all, so they also improve environmental quality.