Biophilic Office Design Examples: Workspace Design Consultant for Human Health at Work
There has never been a better time to incorporate , healthy office interior solutions and sustainability into your office design ideas or workplace wellness strategy.
As a healthy office interior design company, we focus not just on beautiful office design (form) but employee wellness-oriented office design (function).
This raises the bar to include the positive impact on physical and mental health as the core objective. We do this from our twin bases in Barcelona, Spain and London, UK.
Our unique position as a biophilic design consultant focused on wellness in the built environment gives us a different take on office interior decoration. Unlike other office interior design companies, our aim is to integrate a concern for natural systems with the promotion of worker wellbeing.
Our biophilic interior design services are applied to a variety of commercial spaces, including offices, retail, and hospitality environments. We incorporate specific biophilic features such as green walls, water features, and natural materials into our projects to promote well-being, sustainability, and visual appeal.
For us, the importance of office interior design is about enhancing a brand’s image, reinforcing its relationship with its staff and minimizing its environmental impact in the process.
We employ a holistic strategy that integrates sustainability, wellness, and community engagement to achieve broader environmental and health benefits. This approach also helps reduce a company's carbon footprint by promoting resource efficiency and responsible practices.
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Biophilic design is transforming the way we think about interior design by prioritizing our innate connection with the natural world. This innovative approach brings natural elements—such as natural materials, natural light, and green walls—into the heart of office spaces, creating environments that nurture both well-being and productivity.
Rooted in the concept of biophilia, which recognizes our deep-seated need to interact with nature, biophilic design has been shown to deliver significant benefits for building occupants.
These include improved mental health, reduced stress, and enhanced creativity. In practice, biophilic office design might feature large windows that flood spaces with natural light, potted plants and snake plants that purify the air, and the use of natural materials throughout the interior.
By reconnecting people with nature, biophilic design supports a healthier, more inspiring workplace for everyone.
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The principles of biophilic design focus on fostering a strong connection with nature within the built environment.
This is achieved by thoughtfully incorporating natural elements such as natural lighting, organic materials, and water features into office environments.
Biophilic design principles encourage the use of sustainable materials, the reduction of artificial lighting, and the creation of green spaces that mimic natural landscapes.
In commercial buildings, these strategies not only improve air quality but also help reduce stress and boost employee well-being.
Living walls, natural patterns, and the soothing presence of natural sounds are just a few examples of biophilic elements that can transform office spaces into vibrant, healthy environments.
By embracing biophilic architecture and integrating outdoor spaces, companies can create workplaces that support both environmental sustainability and the well-being of their teams.
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At the core of biophilic design is the human nature connection—a recognition that our health and happiness are deeply influenced by our relationship with the natural world.
By weaving natural elements and patterns into the built environment, biophilic design helps restore this essential bond, offering a host of psychological and physical health benefits.
Research shows that exposure to natural features, such as water features and green spaces, can reduce stress, improve mental health, and spark enhanced creativity.
In dense urban environments, where access to nature is often limited, biophilic design provides building occupants with much-needed green spaces and natural features, supporting overall well-being and helping to counteract the pressures of city life.
Ultimately, fostering a human nature connection in office environments leads to healthier, more resilient workplaces.
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Water features are a powerful component of biophilic design, bringing both visual and sensory benefits to office environments.
The gentle sound of running water can help reduce stress and promote focus, while the presence of water features—such as fountains, aquariums, or living walls with integrated water systems—adds a calming, restorative quality to interior spaces.
For building occupants, these elements create a peaceful atmosphere that supports well-being and enhances productivity.
Interior designers often incorporate water features into biophilic office designs to foster a sense of tranquility and connection with nature.
By thoughtfully integrating water features, workplaces can become more inviting, healthy, and supportive of employee well-being.
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Natural lighting is a cornerstone of biophilic design, offering a multitude of benefits for building occupants.
Exposure to natural lighting has been shown to improve mood, reduce stress, and increase productivity—making it an essential feature in any healthy office environment.
Biophilic design leverages large windows, skylights, and innovative solutions like solar tubes to maximize the flow of natural light throughout interior spaces. Interior designers may use floor-to-ceiling windows, clerestory windows, or translucent walls to ensure that natural lighting reaches deep into the office, creating bright, uplifting environments.
By prioritizing natural lighting, biophilic office design not only reduces reliance on artificial lighting but also supports the well-being and comfort of everyone in the workplace.
HERO offices, indoor garden
Healthy workplace design & office interior design plans
Green office concepts have become increasingly popular over the last few years, and with good reason.
Healthy office spaces combine elements of biophilic design and sustainable interiors in the office design process as well as healthy building strategies.
The focus is on boosting staff productivity and mood while delivering an interior environment that reduces anxiety and enhances happiness levels. Biophilic office design offers significant psychological benefits, such as improved mood and reduced anxiety.
Additionally, exposure to natural elements in the office can enhance creativity by stimulating the brain and supporting innovative thinking.
We carried out our own research project on this ‘Vitamin Nature’ effect in London, see the results of that study here. Biophilic design also plays a key role in reducing stress among employees, contributing to a healthier and more balanced workplace. We also delivered several modern corporate office interior design as office interior designers for Porto Montenegro.
When creating a cohesive workplace concept, it is important to incorporate biophilic design from the outset of the office design process to maximize the benefits for staff well-being and productivity.
Hero offices boardroom
Increase wellbeing & sustainability with a green office
Our biophilic design principles have particular relevance for office space and co-work environments thanks to their healthy and environmentally-friendly outputs. Integrating biophilic design elements into the work environment supports employee well-being by fostering a connection to nature through features like natural materials, greenery, and lighting.
Incorporating nature into office design is essential for creating a healthier and more productive workspace.
A green office design offers both a boost to HR (hiring and retaining top talent) as well as corporate social sustainability targets.
This approach aligns with corporate ESG objectives, balancing sustainability (Environmental) and staff wellbeing with local community considerations (Social).
By integrating these ideas into the office interior design process from the very beginning, as office design specialists we create a cohesive workplace concept, especially if given the opportunity to incorporate biophilic elements such as indoor plants, natural light, and organic materials in both office and co-work environments.
Innovation Center co-working interior design
Healthy workplace design consultants
Beyond certification, our role on an office building might be as biophilic design consultants advising architecture or interiors studios as well as MEP consultants, focusing on ventilation rates and in-duct air filters; and finishes in the fit-out phase to ensure improved indoor air quality post-occupancy, or working with an employer to align their workplace with ESG targets.
On an office interior design project we advise on space planning, furniture selection and creative space layouts (from a desk chair, to a standing desk, framed art, or a separate room for communal dining table moments) that goes far beyond the usual office chair upgrade.
We also optimize the interior space to maximize the benefits of biophilic design, ensuring that natural elements are integrated throughout.
Biophilic offices are designed to support the well-being and productivity of office workers by incorporating features such as natural light, greenery, and organic materials.
For the contemporary home office space scenario of remote work, we can also advise on home office ideas, from the home office desk to lighting, acoustics, biophilia and more. Incorporating desk plants is a simple way to create a biophilic space at home, bringing nature indoors and enhancing well-being.
Creating a biophilic space in both traditional and home office settings can improve mood, boost productivity, and promote a healthier work environment. We come with the interior design office room ideas!
Ozana Business Club interior design
from active design to indoor air quality
A green office doesn’t need to use alternative energy sources in order to be considered ‘sustainable’, our role leading the office design team is to deliver a healthy workspace by improving air quality, introducing circadian or wellness lighting systems, standing desks to promote regular movement during the work day, facilitating active travel, integrating biophilia and other environmental features, and optimizing floor space to incorporate natural elements.
Providing access to outdoor space or maximizing outdoor views is also essential for supporting wellbeing and connecting occupants with nature.
Office interior design drawings are only one half of the equation, we also think about how to encourage workers to move and stay healthy once the office interior design is in use.
Ozana Business Club outdoor workspace
green office design and sustainable materials
Wherever possible as an office interior designer we work with natural and sustainable materials such as FSC wood, terracotta plant pots, eco-rubber and other recycled materials, adding another layer to our green office designs.
We also incorporate natural analogues, such as synthetic elements that mimic nature, and use nature inspired patterns in materials, finishes, or decor to reinforce a biophilic atmosphere.
So whether it be upcycled carpet tiles or toxin-free wall paint, it is all about making a series of small yet significant decisions that cumulatively add up to a cohesive eco-friendly design strategy.
Incorporating earthy colour palettes can further create a calming and natural atmosphere in the office.
Arsenal Business Club interiors
biophilic office design for worker productivity and wellness
A green office promotes greater efficiency at work by introducing specific biophilic design principles aimed at worker productivity and concentration.
Incorporating office plants and living walls not only improves indoor air quality but also creates a healthier and more inspiring workspace.
Biophilic designs often mimic natural environments by integrating natural shapes and forms, such as curves and organic lines, to foster well-being and enhance the overall atmosphere.
Sustainability has never been more important and green office design enables workers to think, feel and work effectively in an environment full of plants, natural light, eco materials, and green office decor.
Black Mountain Partners’ 68 King William Street interiors to Cat B finish by OKTRA, London, UK
Healthy indoor environment at work
Creating a healthy indoor environment in a workplace context involves a combination of Construction phase, Interior fit-out phase and Operational phase interventions.
We implement an enhanced Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) plan; healthy materials and finishes; biophilic design principles; daylighting strategies and wellness lighting, acoustical comfort measures and active travel facilities into an office space design.
In dense urban environments, it is especially important to create biophilic spaces that incorporate natural elements to foster a connection to nature and support employee wellbeing. Integration of solar panels into the building design further enhances sustainability and promotes a health-promoting office environment.
This is typically done in collaboration with the architects, interior designers, structural engineers, acoustic consultants, MEP consultants and project managers.
BREEAM certified 68 King William Street, London, UK
green building & healthy building certification
As Sustainability & Wellbeing Champions we align a real estate and interiors project with healthy building certifications such as WELL and FITWEL, as well as green building certifications such as LEED and BREEAM, whether formal certification is pursued or not.
This provides guidance and benchmarks for the implementation of data-driven interventions for improved health and wellbeing.
Incorporating biophilic design helps create office environments that mimic or integrate natural environments, which not only supports these certifications but also reduces stress for building occupants.
Additional standards to consider would be the Active Travel Score and RESET Air.
Our workplace, coworking and office interior design projects:
68 King William Street, Black Mountain Partners, London, UK
Ozana Business Club, Porto Montenegro
concept development, interiors, healthy materials, branding
HERO Headquarters, Switzerland
sustainability consulting & biophilic design services
innovation Centre Coworking, Porto Montenegro
concept development, interiors, healthy materials, branding
Arsenal Business Club coworking, Porto Montenegro
concept development, interiors, healthy materials, branding
