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By Richard Gacek, Gacek Design Group Biophilic Design and the workplace
I
n today’s society where housing is dense, urban living is prevalent, and
of Biophilic design has a strong, measureable impact on employ- ees when it comes to wellbeing,
- 47% agree that they have felt stressed in their workplace within the last three months
- Those who work in environ- ments with natural elements, such as greenery and sunlight,
- An absence of greenery both within the workspace and in the immediate outdoor environment was associated with higher levels of employee stress - Workspaces where indi- viduals had no natural light or greenery report higher levels of sickness and absence. RichardGacek is theprin- cipal designer of Gacek De- sign Group. Gacek Design Group is a leading interior design and architectural consulting firm for those who value expertise and partnership in design.
t e c h a d - vances keep us plugged in 24/7, we s pend l e s s and less time away f r om t h e g r e a t outdoors. In fact, 90% of
Biophilic design is a sustainable, architectural interiors solution that reconnects people with their natural environment. Research shows when natural elements are integrated into interior spaces, (and inspirational, mindful places are designed), the result gives us live and work environments that are productive, welcoming, healthy, and less stressful.
productivity and creativity: - 33% of office workers say that the design of an office af- fects their decision to work at a company - 62% report having no live plants in the office; 47% report hav- ing no natural light in their office
- 67% of respondents report feeling happy when walking into bright office environments accented with green, yellow or blue colors Natural elements integrated into an office space have a sig- nificant impact:
report a 15% higher level of well-being than those who work in environments devoid of nature. - Those who work in environ- ments with natural elements report a 26% higher level of productivity
Richard Gacek
our time is spent inside a build- ing or a vehicle. As human beings we have an innate need to connect with nature and liv- ing things, and when we are separated from it, our health and wellbeing is effected in a negative way. Enter Biophilic Design. Bio- philic design is a sustainable, architectural interiors solution that reconnects people with their natural environment. Research shows when natural elements are integrated into interior spaces, (and inspi- rational, mindful places are designed), the result gives us live and work environments that are productive, welcoming, healthy, and less stressful. Biophilic design is not a new concept. Scientists, research- ers, and practitioners have been working for years to define those elements in nature that can have the most positive impact on our built environ- ments. It seems that in recent years with the popularity of health, wellness, and ways to lessen your impact on the environment, there has been a heightened awareness to those practices that support it. Green building attempts to use eco- friendly building materials and construction procedures to pro- vide better living. And research on human biology continues to work to integrate meaningful elements that evoke emotion such as: Why crackling fires and crashing waves captivate us; Why a garden view can enhance our creativity; Why shadows and heights introduce fascination and fear; and Why companionship and strolling through a park have restor- ative, healing effects. The Workplace. A recent study conducted by Human Space looks at psy- chological well-being, work environments and employee expectations on a global scale for the first time. The study emphasizes the needs to im- prove well-being at work, and illustrates how the simple use
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