LEED certification - learn all about LEED rating system

In this article we will explain the basics of the U.S. Green Building Council & LEED and how green building benefits both our lives and the planet we inhabit. We will look specifically at the LEED Certification, without doubt the dominant green building qualification in the global real estate industry today. 

LEED buildings consider both the human aspect, working to create a healthy indoor environment for its occupiers, while also reducing the building’s environmental impact - from waste management, to energy use, water consumption, materials selection and more.

From motivation boosts to an increase of life expectancy, living and working in a healthy environment benefits humans in a variety of ways. Spending eight hours sitting in a poorly lit office filled with stale air on the other hand, not only impacts the productivity of the office workers but can have a negative affect on their lives outside of the building too.

Working and living in poor indoor conditions (often referred to as ‘sick building syndrome’) has been linked to numerous psychosomatic issues including migraines, insomnia, stress and obesity. 

By implementing the LEED green building approach, you are minimizing these risks by optimizing an indoor space for better performance, creating a healthier environment for you and your team, whilst minimizing negative impact on the planet. 

What does LEED certification mean? 

Developed by the non-profit organisation named U.S. Green Building Council, LEED certification is a “green building” certification program for the real estate industry. 

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and it is an internationally recognized eco building certification which includes a unique rating system for the construction, design, maintenance and functionality of environmentally responsible buildings.

How does a LEED building make a difference?

Through different media outlets we hear news about the fragile state of our ecosystems on a daily basis. Real estate is a major contributor to the future health of our planet and so LEED identifies the key metrics that environmentally responsible buildings need to consider in order to promote the wellbeing of its users as well as that of the planet.  

The goals of LEED certified buildings include:

• Energy savings 

• Water efficiency 

• CO2 emissions reduction

• Improved indoor environmental quality 

• Stewardship of natural resources and the sensitivity to their impacts 

What is the purpose of LEED? 

Improving the real estate industry’s impact on environmental and human health metrics is LEED’s mission. Healthy building certification gives real estate developers and building operators with a framework for practical and efficient building design, construction and maintenance solutions. 

In conclusion, LEED’s main objective is providing a safe, sustainable and productive living or work environment. 

Advantages and solutions

A common misconception around eco-friendly real estate is that it equates to additional CAPEX and OPEX costs for the building owner, as well as adding to a project’s delivery timeline.

In reality, LEED can be a long-term cost-saver when applied correctly and integrated into the development process, something known as Integrative Design, resulting in highly efficient commercial and residential buildings that are in a way ‘future-proofed’. 

Many ESG property funds are now looking for such sustainable credentials when making real estate investments, another reason to build green.

How has the LEED rating system evolved over time?

Ever since it was introduced, LEED has been in a process of constant evolution to more accurately represent and implement the latest sustainable building techniques and technologies, as well as healthy building principles with a human or social focus. 

Four different versions of the LEED rating system have been released over the years, right up to the current LEED V4.1 in use today. 

Accredited Professionals (APs) and Green Associates (GAs) are required to stay up to date with the latest iterations of the system in order to ensure their work in the real estate sector is delivered in line with current benchmarks in green building excellence.

Green Building Certification levels

LEED ratings are classified into five different categories which in turn have a number of sub-categories used to reflect the specific genre of green building project in question, with the prerequisites: 

Green Building Design & Construction 

• LEED for New Construction

• LEED for Core & Shell

• LEED for Schools

• LEED for Retail: New Construction and Major Renovations

• LEED for Healthcare

Green Interior Design & Construction

• LEED for Commercial Interiors

• LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors

Green Building Operations & Maintenance

• LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance

Green Neighborhood Development

• LEED for Neighborhood Development

Green Home Design and Construction

• LEED for Homes 

The various LEED rating scales are: 

• Certified: 40-49 points

• Silver: 50-59 points 

• Gold: 60-79 points

• Platinum: 80 points or above

LEED certification process

After fulfilling the previously stated requirements, certification is admitted by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) which handles the third-party verification of a project’s concurrence with the LEED requirements.

LEED certification fees are applied during the process of registering the building and submitting the design and construction applications. The price of the fees can vary depending on the size of the project starting from around 2000 USD.

The entire application process is then handled through an online service which is filled with PDF forms that allow project teams to fill out credit forms and upload additional documentation. 

Why is LEED certification important?

Even though we have previously stated the numerous benefits of environmental design, it’s crucial to mention that the biggest advantage of LEED is providing a sustainable framework for construction, design and maintenance of new and existing buildings. 

We are great supporters of and professionals trained in the LEED certification process. Biofilico offers eco interior design services, green building consultancy and ESG advisory services for real estate development funds. 

If you wish to discuss a certain type of certification for a real estate project, contact us here.

Acoustic comfort and its importance for wellness — biofilico wellness interiors

Acoustic comfort and acoustic discomfort are increasingly important topics among architects and interior designers due to their roles in boosting productivity and reducing low levels of anxiety for regular users of an indoor environment, be it an office or home.

Why is it so important?

Well, for the beginning of our written journey to acknowledge acoustic as one of the most important factors to relieve pain such as headache, lack of concentration or annoyance - let’s focus on how acoustic comfort in buildings has been finally linked to humans, and not just the mere isolation process. Exposure to excessive noise can lead to physical and mental health problems such as fatigue, headaches, cardiovascular disease, irritability, anxiety, and stress.

The acoustic was analyzed as a physical factor of the space, such as lighting and temperature.

Acoustics is not only there to offer performative products in terms of sound absorbency, but it’s also there as a tool to study the space, the environment, and finally the habits of people, all in order to provide and guarantee the best indoor comfort - acoustic comfort and wellness!

How to  improve our acoustic comfort

Investing in an indoor acoustic comfort concept, we put the wholesome wellbeing and occupant comfort in the focus! By addressing the absolute necessity of the inclusion of acoustic wellness among the priorities of each building project, we can create interesting acoustic themes and build new solutions for the future indoor scenery. Emphasizing occupant comfort is crucial for physical and mental wellbeing, as it impacts noise levels, sound insulation, and sound absorption.

If we are cold - we recognize it by putting a sweater on. if the sun is too strong - we will immediately wear sunglasses, but - what can we do to improve our acoustic comfort?

Sound absorption products

The innovation the studies based on the importance of acoustic comfort for wellness have been recognized in architecture, building and design, with a large choice of different solutions to win the acoustic comfort challenge and make any project, and any place made for human inhabitation, more acoustically healthy and suiting. Sound masking, also known as 'white' or 'pink noise', is used to raise ambient background noise levels within various institutions to improve acoustics, aid concentration, and increase speech privacy levels.

With a wide range of sound absorbers, such as acoustic ceiling tiles, carpeting, furniture finishes, and curtains, designed to meet the different needs of various spaces: from offices to restaurants, meeting rooms to hospitals, libraries to airports, and create a space that is friendly, pleasant, open and fluid.

Technical details - colours, shapes and 3D visualisation

Shapes and colours of carpets, floorings or decorative elements also have enhanced acoustic comfort implications. Factors such as structure-borne and airborne noise, sound pressure levels, frequency of the noise, and noise sources all contribute to the acoustical conditions that influence acoustic comfort. Different noise sources with the same physical characteristics can be perceived differently by individuals, making it crucial to consider their specific effects and frequencies on acoustic comfort. Taking the soundscape approach through 3D visualisation to a study acoustic comfort for wellness can identify spaces that need most of the acoustic interventions and improvements.

Made in different colours, finishing and shapes, all the products made to fit into the high acoustic performance are usually installed to reduce volume.

The use of ecological materials to reduce noise pollution

Besides this strong attention to technical details, acoustic wellness philosophy is also about the use of ecological, sustainable, renewable, green materials. Traffic noise significantly impacts acoustic comfort in various spaces, including workplaces and residential buildings.

That’s an important point in the development of new products and projects for the future of the niche such as sustainable interior design. Additionally, optimizing for acoustic comfort often goes hand in hand with improving indoor air quality, ensuring a holistic approach to building design that enhances overall occupant satisfaction.

Tools and materials for sound control to improve acoustic comfort

The right materials already exist, now it is only time to put them in good use and make a completely new culture. These materials also have heat-insulating properties that make them more environmentally friendly

They come in different shapes like panels, rolls, nets, paddings or slabs, with the possibility to be built in or multilayered in any structures such as underfloors or partitions who divide walls.

The livability of acoustic performance determines the quality of life of everyone who uses that space. High standards in sound control are essential for achieving acoustic comfort. Strategies for reducing unwanted noises include using sound-absorbing materials, installing acoustic panels, and implementing noise barriers. The time has come to stop correcting acoustic comfort in buildings “a posteriori”, and cure the damage upon being made, and become acquainted with the process of prevention.

Eco walls 

Eco walls can create a colourful and light acoustic barrier for the walls and ceiling, maintaining the concept of freedom in any space, but adding some special feeling of wellness. Poor acoustics in workplace environments can lead to distractions, stress, and interference with team interaction and normal work routines.

They fit harmoniously into spaces of multiple functions, such as offices, homes, hospitals or restaurants, gyms or wherever you need the acoustic comfort. Eco walls help manage background noise levels, improving acoustics and aiding concentration.

Eco walls combine curved surfaces and they have a characteristic style, with the density and porosity of some of the stone materials, with sound-absorbent qualities thus contributing to improving acoustic wellness better than traditional stone panels

These walls allow mixing insulation and the absorption of sound waves which makes them naturally fit for acoustic comfort and wellness.

Panels for enhanced acoustic performance

Panels made of natural and eco-friendly materials are the perfect combination of innovation and flexibility, ecology and sound absorption, with the final goal to improve the acoustic comfort of the workplace and relax spaces by reducing airborne noise. Noise exposure can lead to sleep disturbance in residential spaces, significantly impacting residents' health and well-being.

In need of open space?

Eco-friendly panels become an elegant, modular system, which allows the creation of workstations and separators. The 3D-looking arrangement is pleasant and guarantees high acoustic performance.

If hung from the ceiling, these panels create a nice layout, able to exploit the acoustic performance and modify the refraction of sound waves.

Spaces that have been engineered and designed with the proper acoustics can make a huge difference in people’s daily lives and improve their health and wellness.

Acoustic is something that shouldn’t be ignored!

A bedroom where the noise generated from traffic is cancelled, for example, promotes a night of better sleep and rest. Productivity soars in offices where noise doesn’t interfere. It’s a fact that people escape the rigours of the outside world by spending more time inside, even while working or exercising.

Biofilico can provide a full range of solutions tailored to the unique needs of working spaces and the structural attributes of residences. Through thoughtful examination of a space and its occupants, we create a better health and wellness atmosphere in homes and prestigious commercial environments.

Interior Design Environment: The Role of Environmental Sustainability

Are you concerned about your home’s environmental impact or the levels of productivity and creativity in your office?

Maybe it’s time to consider a more eco-friendly interior design in real estate, with concepts such as energy and water efficiency, waste reduction, and recyclable materials implementation - not only for reduced environmental impact but for the positive impact on human health and wellbeing.

Biofilico designs for people, the planet, and your profit! Our actions address human health, environmental sustainability, and financial gain.

As the world becomes increasingly urbanized, our lifestyle conveniences and wishes are increased while access to nature and green spaces decreases. As a result, we have a fundamentally disconnected evolutionary flow, with many problems (mainly diseases) tightly connected to it.

In further text, you will find more information concerning the importance of environment and sustainability and its impact on our lives through interior design and the places we live in.

What is Environmental Sustainability?

When we talk about environmental sustainability, meaning to address all aspects of our lives - we need to include everything, from eco-homes, sourcing our supplies, renewable energy, and environmentally conscious communities to low-impact furniture and clothing.

But what is environmental sustainability?

The meaning of environmental sustainability has many definitions used by green groups, businesses, and even politicians and activists, but the concept and principles of sustainable development were first introduced in 1987 in the “Our Common Future” report, prepared for the World Commission on Environment and Development.

This includes sustainable design principles, which emphasize creating concepts and spaces that reduce environmental impact, use sustainable materials, and consider long-term environmental and socioeconomic development.

Significance of Environmental Sustainability

Environmental sustainability is paramount due to the detrimental impacts individuals can inflict on our surroundings. It necessitates collective care for the flora, fauna, air, and water bodies that constitute our planet’s ecosystem. Minimizing energy consumption through sustainable architecture and interior design practices is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting energy efficiency.

Preservation of Biodiversity

Environmental sustainability safeguards the rich diversity of life forms and ecosystems, ensuring the continued existence of vital species and habitats.

Protection of Natural Resources

By prioritizing sustainability, we conserve essential resources like water, land, and energy, ensuring their availability for future generations and mitigating the risk of resource depletion. Using sustainable materials, such as furniture made from recycled sources like reclaimed wood and recycled products, plays a crucial role in conserving natural resources.

Mitigation of Climate Change

Environmental sustainability efforts are crucial in combatting climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting renewable energy sources, and implementing carbon-neutral practices.

Promotion of Human Health

A sustainable environment fosters human health and well-being by providing clean air, water, and food, reducing exposure to pollutants, and minimizing the risk of environmental hazards. Sustainable design plays a crucial role in improving indoor air quality through factors like passive heating, cooling, ventilation design, and natural light.

Global Collaboration

Environmental sustainability initiatives occur on various scales, from local community projects to international agreements, highlighting the global commitment to preserving our planet for future generations.

How does Environmental Sustainability Affect Social Responsibility?

The relationship between people and spaces is based on psychological and physical parameters and greatly impacts improving life quality. Targeting social welfare and happiness through environmental sustainability is a measure that results in higher levels of employee creativity, motivation, and well-being.

The most important criterion for saving and healing the planet is the selection of materials used in building and decorating. Every material has its function, so materials used in hospitals and shopping malls should differ due to the sterilization needs. However, selecting materials with the maximum potential to reduce waste is crucial.

Creating durable and timeless spaces is also essential, as it promotes longevity and reduces the need for frequent design changes, aligning with social responsibility.

The embodied energy (energy needed to produce some material) is also important when choosing a sustainable material for a home or public space. Concrete, steel, and plastics are higher in embodied energy than some more natural elements like stone or timber.

Recycling potential is an important factor in the field of waste management. Moreover, the level of emission of toxic gases (in production and use) should be considered an important step to go for more traditional but highly sustainable techniques in construction

Decreasing the amount of global waste leads to the creation of new technology to generate electricity from the plantation

Interior environments are places where all human needs are exposed. They are the most intimate spaces where our physical and physical health is affected by many bad factors we have inflicted upon ourselves.

Environmental Sustainability in Business

Taking the initiative to create a more environmentally conscious company culture through eco-friendly policies is a bold move, even if it starts with eliminating plastic straws and paper to reduce plastic waste.

Developing a corporate environmental responsibility begins on the level of your workforce. It is crucial (especially for young) people to believe in the vision and practice of environmental sustainability, changing their habits in the office, for the mission of sustainability to be carried out accordingly.

Environmental Sustainability and Interior Design Elements

Interior design is a profession that is subject to the context of human needs and the many different levels of satisfaction. The interior space is made to satisfy the needs of security, survival, and achieving higher self-esteem

Recent studies have shown the need for environmental health and sustainability within our living spaces and the obligation for the niche to be included and survive. This is why the practice of interior design elements is considered a context of sustainability. Using natural light in interior design is crucial for improving energy efficiency and reducing dependence on artificial lighting. Larger windows, skylights, and light color schemes can help maximize natural light in design projects.

The environmental development and sustainability principles recognized the links between inequality, poverty, and environmental degradation. Thus, the elements of their improvement were needed to support communities and find a way forward for a fairer world with less environmental damage.

So, the environmental development and sustainability concept met the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to live in a better world.

Environmental sustainability in interior design refers to all the systems and materials integrated into one whole purpose (for example, into healthy building spaces for inhabitation), minimizing negative impacts on the environment and occupants while maximizing the positive health, economic, and social life cycle.

Environmental Sustainability in Interior Design and the Planet

Environmental development and sustainability issues include concerns about whether environmental resources will be protected and maintained for future generations. Limiting consumption of nonrenewable resources, naturally shifting to renewable resources, and avoiding excess pollution damage our health and the earth’s atmosphere.

Sustainable interior design plays a crucial role by creating eco-friendly and environmentally conscious spaces, using low-impact materials, reducing waste, and considering long-term environmental and economic impacts.

The biggest problem now is making an economic decision based on the insight of the long-term consequences and making integrational decisions to target economic and social welfare.

Long-term Health of Ecosystems

Principles of sustainable development protect the long-term productivity and health of the resources that will be used in the future, meeting the economic and social needs. 

Making decisions to protect food supplies, farmlands and fishing stocks, species diversity, and ecological structure, we ensure the health of our future generations and the loam of our lands.

Prevention of man-made global warming

Water shortages, extreme weather events, excess temperature, and all the other problems have been predicted for future generations to face because of the deterioration and usage of harmful materials and substances - factors that could make a living in some parts of the world very difficult, if not impossible.

Intergenerational decision making

When making large economic decisions, we should focus on the implications for the future, not just for the present moment. For example, using coal as energy gives a short-term benefit of cheapness, but the pollution weight is immense for future generations.

Renewable resources

Diversifying energy sources from nonrenewable into renewable and sustainable ones that, again, do not rely on non-renewable resources is one of the main concerns that should be met in the future. For example, the most popular solutions are solar and wind power-generating windmills, panels, and skylights.

The willingness to create sustainable environments should be primarily met and fulfilled within workplaces and private home interiors. Improving energy efficiency in interior design is crucial, as it reduces energy consumption related to heating, lighting, and appliances. Interior designers have an essential tool to lead sustainable environments and create a sustainability consciousness.

Interior design elements are major tools in creating long-term environmental sustainability, with elements of natural resources, sustainable fabrication, manufacturing, and installation, all the way up to sustainable use, reuse, recycling, and final disposal

Well Consultant: WELL Building Standards and All You Need to Know — Biofilico Wellness Interiors

The WELL standard in the building industry has completely changed the rulebook of human-centric building certification, going further than both LEED and sustainability quests to promote healthy buildings and architecture. As a result, WELL standard paired with these contemporary assessments, dig deep into human health aspects and their wellbeing as tenants in a building.

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) plays a crucial role in approving organizations for WELL Performance Testing, ensuring that the verification process is thorough and reliable.

A lot of factors can largely affect human health, happiness and productivity within the building walls, especially since multiple pieces of research have shown an increased amount of time spent indoors, especially in urban areas.

Staying semi-immobile for eight hours or more, inhaling poor quality air, stressing over work, combined with improper food choices and bad posture etc. make a built environment that shapes and influences our lives in the long run.

The WELL building standard is a useful tool for making and improving the health and wellbeing of the tenants inside the buildings. And how does it work?

What is a WELL building standard by the International WELL Building Institute

For those willing to get started with the WELL concept, the first thing to know is that you need to focus on things that directly and indirectly affect human behaviour and health. We can say that the WELL building certification concept is a holistic approach to health in the built environment, acting through architecture, design and later - maintenance of the building.

The WELL Building Standard is a system based on measurements and monitorings of air, water, nourishment, light, fitness, comfort and mind performances in a built-in environment. The certification process is crucial in achieving WELL certification, involving key stakeholders, evaluation of design documentation, and the role of WELL Consultants in aiding clients through the entire process.

WELL Building Standard enables teams to classify intentions and benefits of each WELL standard feature and develop comprehensive strategies to improve and protect different sets of body systems, such as cardiovascular, immune, digestive, endocrine, respiratory, muscular and all the others. Performance verification is necessary to ensure that buildings meet the standards set by the WELL certification, involving rigorous testing of parameters like acoustic performance, water, and air quality.

Clean water supplies for every tenant

The WELL building standard promotes clean and safe water consumption, through the implementation of filtration techniques and testings. In his way, our building occupants and employees are protected from accidentally drinking dangerous materials non-visible to the eye.

Proper nourishment to concur diseases 

Wrong eating habits combined with stress are resulting in a great percentage of overweight or obese people, especially within the younger population. Poor nutrition is also one of the primary contributors to all of the chronic diseases. The WELL building standard prescribes fresh and wholesome food, limiting the highly-processed ingredients.

Lighting as a way to connect with nature

Accessibility of natural light can add to better productivity, and it has been proven in multiple pieces of research. Bad and misconducted ventilation and lighting makes a big impact on the body's circadian rhythm, leading to, once mentioned chronicle diseases.

Air purifiers and filtration

A great percentage of premature deaths all around the world are caused by air pollution! The confrontation of pollutants can be two or even five times bigger on the inside than on the outside, which makes WELL certified projects more than ever needed to establish building requirements and filtration systems that minimize sources of indoor pollution

A WELL building standard provides illumination guidelines to minimize the disruption of the body's circadian systemenhancing productivity and supporting good sleeping quality.

Fitness options in an everyday life

Individuals who are insufficiently active have a higher risk of mortality compared to those who meet the health care organisation advises. A WELL standard promotes the integration of physical activity in everyday life by supporting the building and office owners to incorporate gyms - for an active lifestyle of their employees and tenants.

Factors that are of great comfort to people 

Designing ergonomically safe and comforting surroundings can be of great help in the prevention of many physical stresses and disorders. A WELL consultant considers thermal, ergonomic, acoustic and olfactory options to comfort and optimize indoor working and living quality.

A mind that sees a better tomorrow

Environmental characteristics have direct impacts on mental health and well-being. Crowd, noise, poor lighting or humid and starchy odours can be the cause of febrile mental, neurological disorders leading to depression and different disabilities worldwide. 

By implementing the WELL standard in building, you can optimize cognitive and emotional health through design layout, technology picking and healing, treatment strategies.

WELL certificate and WELL accredited professionals

A WELL consultant is a professional of significant knowledge in human health and wellness environment, with multiple participates in the WELL building. A WELL consultant can certify building with a WELL certificate. The WELL exam assesses abilities at three cognitive levels: Recall, Application and Analysis. Consulting services related to the International WELL Building Standard include advising, integrating design strategies, and organizing the preparation and submittal of documentation for certification.

A WELL certificate proves that your wellbeing consultant has abilities to recall factual information, identify a solution for a given problem or a scenario and analyze the relationship or interaction between multiple elements of the rating system. Consultants will advise and work with the building owner and design team from inception through construction and occupancy to obtain WELL Certification.

Any type of facility except single-family homes can pursue the WELL certification for health safety, including offices, hotels, grocery stores, warehouses, theatres, gyms, restaurants and schools, among others.

Be part of the WELL community with Biofilico

A WELL certificate is a credential that demonstrates professional mastery of the human and architectural health approach and ability to utilize materials and contribute to a better understanding of the WELL system strategies. Measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment to improve human health and wellness is crucial.

Biofilico provides a WELL consultant with thorough knowledge and rich experience in WELL certified projects and well building. Do you consider yourself a leader in your industry? Then it’s time to take another step forward. Medical research is essential in understanding the interactions between humans and the built environment, particularly in the context of the WELL Building Standard.

By contracting Biofilico as a WELL consultant or becoming one yourself, you are aiming for the long term health of your building and your employees, ensuring maximum performance and high-quality human experience in every niche.

Contact us to discuss WELL certification for your green building, office or gym. Biofilico combines several building certifications, creating new-age real estate developments and interior design that suits your tenants equally as it suits the natural environment.

Healthy gyms and their importance in the post-COVID 19 world

The ultimate goal of gyms is to build a healthier nation, with better habits. But, what happens when the place where we go seeking physical and mental improvement becomes a place that can make us sick? 

Athletic training rooms have a high prevalence of bacteria and drug-resistant organisms, increasing in that way the risk of both local and systemic infections. Bearing that in mind, the adaptation of hygiene protocols, reorganisation and replacement of standard gym equipment would lead to a reduction in the bacterial and viral pathogen.

Why viruses spread so easily in gyms?

Gyms offer a wide range of wellbeing services so you get the most out of being a member, but gyms are tricky because it’s typically hard to maintain social distance in a relatively confined space. Although there is a lack of research that says COVID-19 is indeed spread through sweat, respiratory particles can often get mixed in with sweat.

When you have a relatively high density of people exercising and sweating in a contained space, you have conditions where communicable diseases can spread easily. Gym equipment also can be devilishly difficult to sanitize. Dumbbells and kettlebells, for instance, are made of metal and strangely shaped in many different places people can grasp.

Ultimately, in reopening fitness centres after COVID 19 people are going to have to understand and accept that there will be some risks, but there are many steps people can take to mitigate them - Wash. Spray. Wait. Wipe. Repeat.

How can we add to more clean and healthy gyms?

Whether you’re comfortable with resuming your fitness classes again or still have some inconvenience deciding it - there are a few things everyone should keep in mind when it comes to preserving health, not only after the COVID pandemic but for all the future flue seasons, viruses etc.

The most important thing when reopening fitness centres after COVID 19 is to know your gym’s rules and safety protocols before you set off to a new fitness adventure. It is most likely that the areas will be marked to ensure people keep their distance. All the equipment can be separated too, or even put out of use, ensuring fewer people attend one class or occupy one small room at the same time.

Bring water with you and make sure it’s enough to last for your entire workout. You should also bring a clean pair of sneakers and your own towel, but be mindful about where you put it, especially if you’re wiping your face with it. Also, try to minimize the time spent within the gym walls. This does not mean you have to skip classes but go in with a plan for a workout.

What is to be expected in gyms after COVID-19?

Once gyms are finally reopened, in compliance with health we can expect many changes concerning people visiting the gym and the ones in charge of carrying out the gym business after COVID. It seems like cardio, group training and conventional strength and deadlifting programs will be conducted more strictly and that greater precaution measures will be taken. 

While maintaining physical distance, hygiene and tracing any form of illness between employees, fitness club owners will be “forced” to introduce other major changes to resume their business and make it more secure and sustainable than ever. Here’s a glimpse of some changes gyms are most likely to experience in the post-COVID 19 era.

1. Greater safety protocols to ensure everyone’s health

While keeping a distance is one of the major things people will get used to doing, some fitness facilities could incorporate symptoms monitoring like high temperature, distinctive coughing or sick looks all around. Soap and hand-sanitizers will be more available for visitors to wash and clean their hands at the entrance, as they walk in.

These unique health checks can allow your trainer to get to know you better, and create an individual fitness and wellbeing plan more suited to your condition.

2. Improved air quality in healthy gyms

Sometimes social distancing at the gym can be complicated by aerobic exercise. Exercisers breathe heavily and their droplets can linger in the air. The answer to this is a ventilation system that refreshes the air inside and proper gym air filtration from the outside.

Indoor gyms show high levels of airborne dust, formaldehyde and carbon dioxide delivered from different materials and equipment. In sufficient concentrations, meaning, when we are exposed to them long term, these substances can contribute to asthma and other respiratory problems.

3. Nature-friendly equipment is easier to sustain

It is very likely that the current situation concerning the coronavirus will shape the business long term, meaning that many fitness studios have already been assigned to comply with high standards of health, safety and cleanliness. For this to happen, and for ordinary gyms to become healthy gyms, it’s important to, firstly alternate, and then completely replace artificial materials prone to virus clinginess with nature-derived one, non-toxic for people and the environment.

Natural workout equipment is made from hemp, wood, ash and marble etc. The minimalist workout equipment encourages a healthy gyms lifestyle while highlighting the beauty of the natural world. The collection usually consists of a jump rope, push up barrels, dumbbells, an ab wheel and so on.

4. Futuristic healthy gyms - an open space experience

The long term impact that COVID-19 will definitely leave on many gym experiences is that the future is starting to turn more towards open space gyms and more wellness-focused spaces. Regular physical activity can improve your muscle strength and boost your endurance, while fresh air delivers oxygen and nutrients to your tissues and helps your cardiovascular system work more efficiently during the session, maximizing the results.

Final thoughts on post-COVID healthy gyms

The ability to adapt to change renders humans as survivors. This can be also applied in business, in the fitness industry. Gyms who organise around the new realities - smaller market, more hygiene concerns, less disposable income, pervasive laziness, the resilience of specialist offerings - will be more likely to succeed.

Ultimately, a great deal of post-coronavirus activity in the gym will come down to trust - trust in the institution offering exercise services and equipment to properly maintain a sterile environment, and in your fellow gym-goers to clean up after they use that equipment and observe the guidelines of hygiene and distance that have thus far contributed to flattening the curve.

Remember, movement of any kind is good for our physical and mental health! The gym is one of the unique places to collect all the benefits of a healthy and vivacious human being. 

You can be sure that gyms after COVID-19 are looking forward to welcoming you back, and that they will continue to support your health and fitness journey through a safe environment. We all play a part in keeping healthy gyms, and you can expect to be asked to follow a few rules too.

luxury coworking interiors - porto montenegro

We were responsible for the coworking interior design of Ozana Business Club luxury coworking offices in Porto Montenegro, Tivat, Montenegro, managing all furniture and lighting selection & procurement.

Brands we collaborated with include Gandia Blasco, Rex Kralj, Mobles 114, Santa & Cole, Actiu and Nanimarquina.

Natural leather office chairs designed by Rex Kralj paired with a bright section of office carpet by Tarkett that adds vibrancy to the VIP meeting room. A 3metre conference table in black combined with a console on the back wall, and design classic table lamps by Miguel Mila.

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An elegant outdoor restoration space designed for socializing, informal meetings with a sea view, even a casual lunch at the 6-seater dining table. A superyacht marina view never does any harm we feel but for added privacy we worked with the in-house landscape team to provide shelter at both ends of the terrace, giving it more of an intimate feel suitable for VIP clients and events.

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Bright white walls align with the white leather lounge chairs with natural wood finishes, a marble coffee table, Mobles 114 shelving system, Santa & Cole lamps, a Muuto 2-seater sofa and Montenegrin artworks on the walls.

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All white bar stools and bar table by Rex Kralj feature white leather seat covers and create an airy, light feel to the lounge area that is again contrasted with the pop of grass green and nautical blue carpet tiles to bring the outside world in.

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The Gandia Blasco outdoor furniture set-up looking fine in the late afternoon sun. This outdoor space has been adopted by office tenants as their second home during the workday, in large part do to the serene views but we like to think the tasteful olive green furniture designed to play off the Mediterranean plants in terracotta pots play a part in that too.

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outdoor work area with bay views

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Fully furnished executive office

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Conference room in action

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Reception area

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Buildings and Wellbeing: Architecture for Health - Wellness Design Consultants

To be truly capable of enhancing human well-being, building design needs to change its approach towards optimising crucial parameters such as temperature and humidity, in a holistic way that supports human behaviour and health, both mental and physical. This includes adopting healthy building practices that improve indoor air quality and environmental design.

Based on the scientifically established facts, the purpose of this article is to outline the definition of health and wellness through healthy architecture, and to determine potential implications and opportunities for housing design, closely associated with, for example, poor indoor environment and air quality.

Health improving concept in architecture

The design and the making of our built environment and homes affect our health and well-being by making long-term implications on the quality of life.

Improving health, wealth and happiness is influential in revealing suitable behaviour - strongly influenced by the context of where we spend our time, sleep or grow and eat our food.

It has been pointed out that people can make better decisions automatically, non-coercively and more simply, through changing their choices in health and wellbeing architecture. The impact that architecture has on health is evident: it’s easier to make better decisions in a more healthy environment and constrain behaviours by making certain actions more difficult. This includes supporting the emotional wellbeing of occupants, which is crucial for overall mental health.

The importance of sustainability in architecture for indoor air quality and health

Sustainability integrates environmental concerns with creative ways to build interiors of materials non-harmful to the environment, promoting a sustainable built environment.

All the concerns based on energy efficiency, waste reduction, water supplies, the assessment of materials and recycling, the impact of transport on greenhouse gas emissions, green purchasing policies and more are dealt with in the basic sustainability questions, all which you can be provided with throw explanations from Biofilico.

We should treat all buildings as critical environments and Biofilico knows how to make possible their correcting. First of all, a holistic management solution is required to create healthy architecture and living environments for all tenants - with healthy air, water and materials.

Establishing controlled foundation for a comprehensive solution

Establishing an environment for health architecture with ventilation and controlled humidity within rooms is very important for indoor air quality and increasing amounts of particles of organic and non-organic compounds, humidity and CO2.

Comprehensive and healthy air solutions for filtration, UV technologies, cleaning protocols, humidity density and facility controlling strategies should work together for a more holistic approach and intelligent solutions. The main innovations concerning materials are greater use of wood, concrete and composites, that achieve a high level of thermal efficiency and solar energy glazing.

Architecture for health and wellness improvement

As we have pointed out, when it comes to wellness, establishing an environment for health architecture is a crucial factor and a bedrock for any further words about health. It’s easy to spot where the problem actually lies.

Did you ever feel dull or unusually tired after a meeting or simply after work? That’s because most offices and conference rooms do not provide enough fresh air, mostly because of the windows lacking. Prolonged exposure to such environments can cause tiredness, pain, and high blood pressure.

When that door opens, it literally feels like the wind breathes life back into the room. But, unexisting windows and wind flow actually has a much worse impact on our body than we can see or feel.

All the indoor spaces - where we work, teach and learn, play, eat, and even heal, have an outsized negative impact on our performance and well-being. Badly implemented architectural ideas affect our creativity, focus, and problem-solving ability, making us sick and putting in jeopardy our long-term future, dragging down profits in the process.

Long term benefits of healthy architecture

Biofilico’s goal is to improve the lives of all people, in all of the buildings of the future, everywhere and every day. By counselling and examining situations nowadays, we can discover how to optimize buildings for health using factors in the built environment that influence human health, wellbeing and productivity.

Poorly constructed buildings, bad waste materials, and unhealthy building materials lead to buildings affecting human health, from cognitive performance to the wide range of different diseases.

Whether people are healthy or not, is highly determined by the environment they live in. To a large extent, factors like where we live and the state of the environment, have considerable impacts on health - equally as genetics, income, education, our relationships with friends and family.

Cognitive benefits of wellbeing buildings

Adjusted ventilation rates, carbon dioxide levels, and the quantity of airborne VOCs (chemical compounds emitted by common objects such as desk chairs and whiteboards) have a huge impact on cognitive functioning and assessments like crisis response, decision making, and strategy.

Workers in green certified buildings, high-performing buildings show as much as 26 percent better cognitive functioning, have an increment in sleep and rest scores - all because of better lighting and optimal thermal conditions approved by LEED certification.

Architecture for physical and mental wellbeing - why design wellness oriented buildings

Buildings designed to make us happier and healthier can be costly. There is now a huge incentive for companies to invest in healthy architecture and wellness buildings, encouraging choice, movement and relaxation, controlling temperature, noise levels and air quality, adding breakout areas, ergonomic furniture and plants.

Open spaces within healthy architecture places encourage collaboration and increase understanding of the variety of employees’ personality types, such as introverts and extroverts. Housing is also another huge opportunity for wellbeing, mental wellbeing, and design.

The ascendance of architecture and health in the built environment

Architecture is an important contributor to mental and physical wellness in its own right. The relationship between architecture and health has historically received little attention, but recent work has changed this and established a more holistic awareness of the role of architecture in physical and mental health and physical and mental wellbeing.

Nature-based solutions are increasingly being integrated into architectural designs to harmonize the natural and built environments.

The science of wellness inside buildings is a relatively new area of inquiry, but architectural developments related to wellness provide a critical mass of evidence that led to the definition of key behaviours related to improved or decreased residence conditions. The most collected evidence supporting the assertion of behaviours resulted in an improvement in architecture and health are:

1. Connecting people - the quantity and quality of social connections and interactions with familiar people and strangers.

2. Keeping them active - demonstrates that physical activity reduces symptoms of mental and physical illnesses.

3. Being mindful - taking notice, paying attention and being aware of thoughts and feelings is a behaviour that reduces symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression.

The International Well Building Institute emphasizes the importance of creating healthy buildings that support the physical health and emotional wellbeing of their users.

Synthesizing scientific information, certification systems, new technologies, real estate trends and environmental changes into a cohesive strategy for your business, Biofilico creates unique places and interiors where people are most able to prosper and live long and happy lives.

How to know if your workplace fits the wellness office concept

Do you think you have made the perfect office space for your people to work and be productive in? Not every space can be designed to incorporate all the principles of biophilic design and the much-needed wellness office interior, contributing to the enhancement of wellbeing of those within it.

Observe the core wellness office principles and use an evidence-based strategy to create an effective office where you need to inspire and motivate employees over their own wellbeing and preferably increase long-term income at the same time.

The wellness office interior concept and wellbeing office design

Although the “wellness” world generally connotes saunas, spa treatments and relaxation - the term is used to describe so much more. Wellness is an active process of becoming more aware of natural living and making better choices for a more fulfilling life. 

Bearing that in our minds, wellness becomes involved in so many dimensions: from regular, daily exercises and fitness, to nutrition and living a balanced, relaxed, slow and socially healthy life.

The wellness design concept also means creating and living in spaces prone to nourishing our body and mind. This is where we at Biofilico get to say a few words. Wellness concept that’s focused on interior design involves more natural lighting, high efficiency and sustainable materials, air and sound quality, and neutral colour palettes. 

With Biophilic design, (connecting architecture and nature) we integrate the outside greenery and space into an https://biofilico.com/news/ergonomic-furniture-workplace-wellness-interior-designdeployed to help your clients and employees stay fit while they’re at work.

A carefully planned wellness office design provides motivation with an educational character since it promotes a healthier approach in office dwelling and spending eight-plus hours at one place.

1. Lightning ensures productivity and suppresses headaches

Lighting can play a crucial role when it comes to workplace and wellbeing office design. From a wellness concept point of view, utilising and incorporating as much natural light as possible is highly recommended, especially for areas designed for distinct types of work or activity. Light promotes alertness, enhances the experience and supports sleep for employees.

Using LED lighting to mimic suitable colours

Also, it has been pointed out by scientists that more than half of the employees lack natural light. Sometimes, future employees put their decision on whether or not their working space has enough natural isolation. 

Knowing that we often don’t have a way to bring natural light with big windows and glass walls, LED lighting is used to mimic natural light, with several ways of colour adaptation to suit different hours of the day.

2. What about indoor air quality? 

The impact of air quality on employee wellbeing is equally as important. Many employees are accustomed to the deep, starchy hum of a central air system, but as well as on lack of temperature control within the office. Energy-saving cooling systems provide a multitude of benefits, including better tenant comfort and higher temperature and humidity control.

3. The organisation of office space with appropriate colours in design

Many studies have supported the universal links between productivity and office design.

Similarly, elements representing the natural world, such as indoor plants and natural colours like green, blue and brown, also made the top five valuable factors when choosing to work somewhere or being productive at work.

Colours, much like lighting, can have a major impact on mood. Certain colours imparted everything from a sense of serenity to dynamics and creativity. Greens, blues and browns are often associated with being restful and productive, while vibrant tones like reds and yellows can inspire motivation.

Colour can be infused not only via paint but also through the selection of colourful furniture, graphics or even carpeting. Also, it is always a good idea to select a palette that works for your brand, and not to be afraid to go bolder, louder on tones and colours.

Office wellness tips - restoring the quality of working hours

Office wellness tips for interior design that inspires activity is a great way of introducing workplace wellbeing. 

Most of the time it’s hard to inspire your workers to take fitness classes, to be active, to cycle to work, skip the elevator and use the stairs, so - in addition to that, incorporating fitness and office health and wellness corners, is considered effective workplace wellness strategy.

Wellness room at work - for employees to rest and regenerate

Provide your employees with wellness rooms in the workplace that they can use when in need to relax both their bodies and minds during the day. 

The workout they get from a brief yoga session, ping pong or a workout in an on-site gym can provide quick stress relief. This fitness-based office wellness tips for the interior concept serves as a communal space integrating a multipurpose wellness room at work, for a few minutes of repose.

Comfort is key - advantages of the outdoors and ergonomic furniture

And last but definitely not least important thing on our journey to make our office’s wellness acceptable is creating an outdoor - like space such as gardens, tracks or trails that will inspire your employees to take their meetings outdoors when the weather is nice.

Wellness friendly offices do an excellent job providing additional options for employees willing to get away from their desks and enjoy some fresh air. These small adjustments bring up to employees gaining more energy, and the increase of physical activity reduces healthcare costs and the number of sick days.

The desk is dead, long live the ergonomy

As we spend most of our working hours sitting, long periods glued to the chair combined with poor posture leads to back pain, and several other muscle and bone illnesses. By offering your staff wellness tips for office workers you can improve their posture and long term health at work:

• sit-to-stand desks

• foam mats 

• configurable tables with casters

• yoga balls

Standing while working for not more than 30 minutes a day has a remarkable impact in decreasing blood pressure, cholesterol and stress levels. It is also considered to be a more efficient form of going through appointments.

Biophilic impact on wellness office design

The best-kept secret of a great and enjoyable workplace are all the factors that implicate how your employees feel when at work, how they perform and the way they interact with each other. It is known that people seek connection with nature and that they are best motivated to work in natural surroundings.

The innate relationship between humans and nature has been heavily studied for over three decades now, only to be environmentally implemented by our biophilic concept that allows and supports adaptive human functions and psychological restoration.

We bring nature within your office walls! Elements that allow connection to nature via interior design using natural elements, nature-resembling colours and patterns, indoor plants and views of greenery can help us mentally recover and provide respite from our day-to-day activities, to maintain a positive state of mind.

These were a few of the many ways you can use wellness concept and design to help your employees feel better during their time at work. 

If you are still having doubts about how your office space contributes to employee health, Biofilico is here to provide the optimal consultancy and design adjustments for functional office spaces that fit the wellness interior concept, have great natural aesthetics and are cost-effective.

Workplace wellness strategies that will improve employee wellbeing

workplace wellness for staff wellbeing benefits

Interior design in a workplace environment should be conducted in the way of harnessing the power of nature for employee wellbeing and the long life span of all the used materials in creating such indulging and healthy offices and coworking spaces.

Yet despite what we know about the importance of health and wellbeing at work, many strategies and initiatives seem to fall down even in the beginning. There are numerable options to encourage and promote a healthier lifestyle at your workplace.

Some of these ideas require money or resources, while others are more cost-effective, long term improvements, not only for the environment but for the actions and behaviour of the employee.

1. Incorporate plants and refine air quality inside

When we think about pollutants, we often think about those found outside in the air, on the ground or in waterways. Indoor air quality, though, is just as vital to our everyday lives and health, and the pollutants found inside should concern us just as much, if not more - because all those dirty elements stay inside, with us, with no wind or rain to destroy them.

Breathing quality indoor air at work, where you spend most of your time is crucial for good health. Gases, chemicals and other pollutants can cause headaches, eye irritation, allergies and fatigue.

Serious pollutants can cause long-term health complications, and that dangerous stuff we breathe in can be found all around us: in paint, furniture and clothes.

Fresh air system can prevent many environmental health hazards such as asthma, which, according to some research, affects 25 million people in a given year.

How do we improve indoor air quality?

Incorporating a fresh air system that can significantly reduce pollutants, toxins and allergens can greatly improve your indoor air quality through air ventilation systems, energy recovery ventilators, purifying fans and air filters through the HVAC system or other standalone equipment. 

Other helpers that filtrate the air from pollutants and conciliates fresh air are plants! Research has shown that between six to eight air purifying plants are needed per room to have any meaningful impact. 

Plants look and perform best when carefully clustered in groups, like mini forests or jungles, so this can be a way of redecorating your workplace spaces, as well as “cleaning” them. A selection of different height Palms, Ficus, Chinese Evergreens, Garden Ivy, Boston Ferns and a Pothos and you’ll be ready to upgrade workplace wellness.  

2. Decorate with right materials and natural colour palettes

Biophilia is the theory and practice of creating buildings and products inspired by nature and incorporating nature into our everyday life. Researches on these topics have increased the understanding of the impact that nature has on the psychological and physical health and wellness of humans, particularly in office interiors.

Products which are made of or look like natural materials and the inclusion of living plants into the working environment can be of greater importance for developing willingness and motivation to be part of some company.

Less stressful and more productive atmosphere

A third (33 per cent) of office workers say that the design of an office would affect their decision to join the company, yet almost a fifth (19 per cent) of them say that there are no natural elements in their office and that they have experienced much stress while working.

This finding emphasizes the importance of identifying natural components and practices that can improve wellbeing at work. People have reported feeling happy when walking into bright office environments accented with green, yellow, lavender or blue colours.

Nature-resembling colours such as green, blue and brown have a positive impact on employee wellbeing, while grey and dark colours within the workspace lead to a significant negative impact on their stress levels.

What about the furniture?

Including plants, furniture features in office interiors also have a profound effect on employees. Living walls are becoming easier to manage and install. 

Advancements in technology have opened the doors for durable materials such as luxury vinyl tile, ceramic and porcelain tiles, counter surfacing products like carpets and rugs to be designed to look identical to their natural counterparts.

3. Adjust the lightning to suite the employees

Greater levels of stress were reported by those employees who didn’t have a window view. Window views of greenery and water were linked with lower levels of stress. 

Incorporating artificial light that gives off a natural glow is another easy element to update in your workplace wellness strategies. Natural-appearing lighting is everywhere these days, so ordering a few LED bulbs will change lighting fixtures.

Light and color temperature in the office impacts everything, from our wake-sleep cycle (at home) to our general health and workplace wellbeing. The advent of LED lighting gave us the ability to better control light.

Circadian rhythm management that inspires productivity and creativity - how so?

Researches have shown that tunable white lighting allows intensity adjustments and different colour quality, allowing us to mimic natural light, which can evoke human biological responses.

Office workers who receive a robust dose of circadian-effective light at work experience better sleep and show better performances when it comes to managing stress levels or depression.

Think of a classroom, if you want your students relaxed, you wouldn’t be able to have them like that under really bright, cool light. By bringing it down to more dimming, it gets to be a more relaxing environment.

4. Invest in fitness centres, initiatives and education

If you have the resources, offering a gym with workout equipment is an exceptional way to promote workplace wellness. Employees can workout during their lunch break or in the afternoon and then get back to their desks.

Mid-day workouts could improve employee productivity all day long.

Offering free health and wellness books, you can provide employees with the resources necessary to learn how to implement and sustain a healthier lifestyle long-term.

If you have an office kitchen, consider stocking it with products bars, fruits, vegetables, or other healthy snacks. Alternatively, try offering healthier meals for lunchtime rather than relying on them ordering pizza.

Wellness challenge to encourage workplace wellness

Friendly competition can provide a strong incentive for employees to focus on wellness, so consider creating your own monthly challenge. You might offer a cash prize, a half-day off from work, or a donation to the winning team's chosen charity.

Workplace wellness is also good for business

How to Increase Biophilic and wellness-centred elements?

The workplace environment and the relation between the employer and the employee are the spotlights of every company. If you are fierce in the look for talent and recruitment of good workers - you have to meet some standards when it comes to their wellbeing at work.

Compelling employee experience and workplace wellness programs focusing on behaviours should be priorities for employers. The global trend shows that those offices that provide natural light, live plants, greenery and water features had a significantly higher level of employee wellbeing than those devoid of nature. Although it would be great if each office space could be a natural oasis of light and greenery, it’s not always possible, so start with smaller steps and build your way up to the workplace wellness strategy suitable for your team.

What are sustainable office buildings?

Sustainable office buildings or even eco friendly office buildings are made to contain office spaces demand a great deal of investment, futuristic viewpoint and long term willingness to improve health. This strategic alliance is formed between green interior experts, teams of several different architectural niches and urban designers - all aligned to create a better working environment that can benefit to all its users.

Our purpose is not to collide with architecture or interfere in the process of construction, but we are inclined to bring nature indoors, integrating biophilia (the love and need for nature)  into 21st-century urban interior design and creating sustainable office buildings and spaces.

How do we succeed in making eco friendly office buildings?

By incorporating the everlasting principles of nature-derived materials, healthy surroundings that improve mood, with a sustainable way of reusing materials - we are given all the key factors needed for a good and sustainable office building to grow.

Biophilic design and vernacular architecture symbiosis

Vernacular architecture is a completely autonomous field of study, made due to the present socio-cultural context focused on the bad influence of the industrialization and globalization, and the use of suitable and natural materials from the local environment.

This concept assumes a building activity without a project and without technical representation, but still establishing a perfectly integrated empirical knowledge based on local tradition.

Chalets made of bamboo in South-East Asia or evolved examples of Scandinavian or alpine vernacular architecture that reflect the characteristics of the local environment, climate, culture, natural materials, technology are the best examples of sustainable buildings at the moment.

The embodiment of sustainability

These principles developed for centuries in different communities can be the future reflections of how sustainable office buildings should look like and what are the principles of their constructions.

Biophilic principles are also evident in vernacular architecture, where buildings are constructed in a way that reflects the landscape around them. This particular type of architecture combined with biophilic interior design allows people to form bonds with the natural world around them in a more profound way. 

These two have to be in some form of symbiosis to work out the problem called sustainable office buildings primarily, and later on - the apartment building and houses.

Non-toxic materials for green office buildings

Transforming your office building into a more sustainable office building of a harmonious collection of natural elements will boost your mood, productivity and sense of wellbeing.

To make a sustainable office building we need to use sustainable, earth-friendly materials such as wood, bamboo, cork, marble, granite, limestone, porcelain, as well as natural patterns, colours, textures and finishes, also made in a sustainable process and through the use of renewable energy.

You can include natural lumber, clay, straw and mortar - all-natural materials that do not contain glues, dye coatings or processing chemicals that can release toxic gases.

A lot of business spaces claim to have sustainable office buildings but this easy labelling can be sometimes questionable when it comes to environmental friendliness.

How can you distinguish a genuinely sustainable office building?

1. Sustainable floorings and elevations give impeccable acoustics

Sustainability in office buildings comes from unique and natural materials.

Sustainable flooring materials should be also produced from sustainable materials and by a sustainable process that reduces demands on ecosystems during its life-cycle. This includes harvest, production, implementation and later disposal in the eco friendly office buildings.

Bamboo flooring eco friendly office buildings are not wood but is very easily found and obtained and is harvested under cultivated conditions. Cork is an important renewable cash crop harvested from Mediterranean cork oak trees.

Salvaged wood planks make great material for floors, lending them an antique charm and are often used to replace large wood planks. Meanwhile, some places in sustainable office buildings can be made of recycled rubber - fabricated from recycled rubber products, such as old tires. Rubber flooring tiles or rubber sheet flooring can be a great choice for recreation or workshop spaces.

What does FSC wood plants mean?

When you buy flooring products for your sustainable office buildings that are labelled as FSC certified, you can be assured that it has been harvested with the best interests of both forests and citizens in mind.

2. Walls and ceilings made for sustainable office buildings

Drywall panels, wood framing and salvage parts are made with as much almost 80 per cent recycled materials and can be a greater option for wall or ceilings.

Leaving these parts of your sustainable office building in concrete look will also add to the ecologically conscious environment, and concrete is also very attractive and interesting contemporary material that gives that industrial, minimal look to office buildings.

A variety of countertop materials and wall and floor tiles are available that make use of pulverized and recycled glass and wallpapers can be grasscloth based.

What about the roofing in a green office building?

Recycled metal for roofing panels made from recycled aluminium, steel, copper, or alloys that combine different metals, or even stone roofing that are chemical-free can be a great choice for a green roofs solution on green office buildings.

Sustainable office buildings with good lighting and clean air

For sustainability in office buildings, natural light is the essential building block of a healthy, green indoor. Circadian lighting systems follows the body’s natural rhythm with amber tones early and late to avoid sleep disruption, while blue-white tones in the middle of the day can help improve productivity, especially when combined with individual task lights on office desks for example. 

Wellness lighting is an instrument in extracting some of the most potent physical wellbeing benefits of biophilic design.

Water and air purifying systems

The biophilic design also incorporates nature-based components such as fresh or purified air in sustainable office buildings, combined with the healing powers of herbal aromatherapy, soothing nature sounds, and more - to transform any workspace into a sustainable office building where people like to spend their time in.

Putting air-purifying plants we improve CO2 levels, as fresh and clean air is one of the first things we notice when in nature - and one of the first things that make as leave someplace if we get the sensation of too much heat or asphyxiating air.

Water is also an important element that we subconsciously associate with nature, wellbeing and sustainability in office buildings. Keep lungs and bowels happy and healthy by clean deploying air and water, preferably one with a HEPA filter. This helps restore air and water supplies to its natural state by removing pollutants.

Plants as a source of healthy air in a sustainable office building

Plants are instrumental for harnessing the benefits of nature in biophilic design, which is why integrating plants into interior spaces of sustainable office buildings is a fundamental tenet of interior design.

Floral designers can create artworks and sculptures in both natural and, when appropriate, artificial plants for long-term installations. Natural wall murals showing scenes of prospect and refuge are known to have stress-reducing properties; nature-inspired wallpapers as an abstract alternative well suited to homes and offices.

The decision about using sustainable materials for flooring, ceiling and other amenities in the making of sustainable office buildings has become a worldly popular idea and the number of sustainable office building is constantly growing.

Biophilic Design for People, Planet and Profit

As the world becomes increasingly urbanized, lifestyle convenience and stimuli typically increase while access to nature and green spaces decrease. 

This represents a fundamental disconnect with our evolutionary history; biophilic design offers a time-proven solution to this contemporary challenge.

We define biophilia as the human love of or need for a close connection with nature and other forms of life.

When applied to modern lifestyles, ‘biophilic living’ is less about a return to hunter-gatherer times and is more to do with the respectful (re)integration of nature into our homes, offices, gyms, diets and beyond. 

The last two centuries have seen a massive process of urbanization as entire populations transition from low density natural environments to heavily built metropolises with limited access to greenery, open spaces, and wildlife. 

Simply put, biophilia and biophilic design are a modern response to that disconnect from nature.

It is an attempt to reunite indoor and outdoor worlds through the sensitive use of natural materials, shapes, breezes, colors, scents, and sounds in urban architecture and interiors.

THE TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE

The Triple Bottom Line (TBL) is a way of breaking down a business model by evaluating it from three different angles: human health, environmental sustainability, and financial gain - People, Planet, and Profit.

People: Measures social responsibility, what is a business doing to further the health and wellbeing of its customers, or users, and the community around it

Planet: Measures environmental impact, how is a business protecting or positively influencing the earth

Profit: Measures what is gained, and there needs to be financial gain in order for the business to survive and continue to do good for People and Planet

PEOPLE: SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Only more recently has there been emphasis placed on People in terms of our built environment. 

Current thinking however posits that buildings and interiors should not only be green but also healthy, actively contributing to the mental and physical wellness of its users, be they residents, office workers, patients or students

Biophilic design falls in line with this view, as people who spend time in biophilic spaces experience a plethora of benefits that extend to both physical and mental health. 

Here are a few noteworthy examples:

A BIOPHILIC HOSPITAL EXPERIMENT

A 1993 study by Dr. Roger Ulrich focused on biophilic design applied to various settings, one of which was a windowless, hospital emergency room. 

They traded blank walls and artificial furnishings for a design that aimed to connect people with nature through potted plants, furnishings made from natural materials, and a colorful wall mural of plants and animals in a Savannah-like setting. 

The result? A significant decrease in stress and aggressive behavior among patients, as well as improved recovery speeds of 8.5% compared with those facing brick walls. Multiply that small gain out over the entire healthcare system though, and the cost savings are considerable. 

Not only did the results of this study give us a glimpse of the power of a connection with nature, it showed that the positive impact can also be present when nature is indirect and merely representational. 

This simple biophilic design element is a potent way to improve the hospital experience—biophilic design doesn’t have to be difficult to be powerful. 

Hero offices Switzerland, Biofilico consultancy

A HEALTHY WORKPLACE

Hard evidence for the power of biophilic design in the workplace comes from a recent study undertaken by Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health Sir Cary Cooper entitled ‘Biophilic Design in the Workplace’ that surveyed a sample of 3600 office workers across Europe and the Middle-East. 

The results showed that office environments incorporating natural elements such as internal green spaces, natural light and an abundance of plants ensure higher levels of employee creativity, motivation, and wellbeing.

RECHARGE ROOMS

In an era filled with high-stress jobs and tech fatigue, recharge rooms are a growing trend in workplace wellness programs. Whether presented as somewhere for stretching and yoga, a quiet room for focused bursts of concentration and productivity, as a chill-out meditation space or even a games area, recharge rooms are somewhere for workers to — you guessed it—recharge their batteries during the workday. 

This can help lead to less stress, better productivity, more creativity, as well as better physical and mental health.

For more on Biofilico’s healthy office project for HERO Switzerland see this page.

PLANET: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

FITWEL, standing for Facility Innovations Toward Wellness Environment Leadership, was launched in March 2017 and has currently impacted over 250,000 building occupants with over 380 projects around the world. 

They take a data-driven approach with a database of over 3000 academic studies backing up their efforts to inspire healthier workplaces and residential communities specifically. 

Certification systems such as the US Green Building Council’s LEED have given architects and interior designers a clear structure and format to follow, as well as increasingly prestigious ratings that add tangible value for building owners (Profit) and their occupants (People) whilst reducing the impact of buildings on the environment

Hero offices Switzerland, recharge room by Biofilico

Buildings and interiors that respect the planet, doing no harm to the environment and in some cases even giving back, are often described with terminology such as green buildings or sustainable buildings. 

This approach—one that priorities concerns for nature—is literally built into the biophilic design value system. We love what nature can do for us, so we respect and protect her in return, it's a symbiotic relationship. 

One key insight here is that the materials chosen for an interior space will not only influence the final ambiance but also impact the users’ health and wellness, largely by avoiding materials that off-gas harmful toxins and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). 

Opting for materials that are natural and sustainable will help ensure that both a room’s users and the planet stay healthy. Good materials to consider in this sense include FSC wood, bamboo, linen, cork, and ceramic. 

Using organic material can lessen the presence of harmful chemicals that are regularly found in building materials and furniture—think benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene. 

PROFIT: RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

Although organic design stretches back as far as the 30s, sustainable, eco-friendly buildings, and biophilic design in particular are concepts that have been introduced into mainstream design only over the past 20 years or so. 

As we have argued above however, the inspiration is simply to seek a more evolutionary concordant relationship with nature whilst living a 21st century existence.

OUTSIDE-THE-BOX GAINS: EMPLOYEE RETENTION

We’re seeing more and more biophilic design used by large companies dealing in billions of dollars of annual revenues and tens of thousands of highly qualified, highly sought-after knowledge workers, Why?

Employee satisfaction and office productivity are crucial in maintaining a competitive edge. Yes, these companies are intent on using responsible architecture and renewable energy sources but they are also exploiting the latest research that explores the intersection between neuroscience and biology. 

Other examples of ‘profit’ derived from biophilic design include: 

• Improved productivity & creativity for staff in the workplace

• Higher prices on real estate sales and hotel rooms with a view of nature

• Opportunity to improve brand image through the office environment

Conclusion

While it may be instinct to devote your focus purely to profits, turning some attention toward environmental efforts and social consciousness holds an arsenal of benefits—which often includes increasing profits.

Biophilic design is a way to tap into the power of not only nature, but of the 3 P’s: People, Planet, and Profit. And in time you will find that they often overlap and feed each other to cultivate a happy, healthy, and thriving business in today’s society. 

Creating healthy interiors for home & office

Healthy interior design - the basics

Our approach here focuses on creating natural, healthy and sustainable spaces via eight different applications: plants, light, colours, sound, scent, materials, air quality and decor.

Natural light

Fill your space with natural light whenever possible but when the sun’s rays aren’t available, find a lighting system that uses blue-white tones in the middle of the day, and amber tones both early and late in the day as a way to replicate the body’s natural circadian rhythm. The Philips HUE system does a decent job of this.

Neutral colours

When choosing a colour palette, notice that bright tones can energise while tonal neutrals will create a more calming, grounded interior. Try opting for colors that you might see in the wilderness, like browns, beiges, and greens. Still looking for a pop of bright color? Try a dash of sunshine yellow or a bright sky blue. There will be plenty of green anyway from all the plants!

See our blog post here for more on smart circadian lighting.

Curated acoustics

Nature can provide us with soothing sounds to help us drift off to sleep as well as invigorating scents to help us wake-up or concentrate. Try exploring some acoustic, world music and have a nature playlist or two lined up for your morning alarm. have used birdsong in our wellness rooms to great effect.

Aromatherapy

High quality, organic essential oils such as frankincense, cedar or lavender, preferably diffused into the air for around 60 mins at a time can be especially beneficial while taking a relaxing bath for example. Go for zesty lemon, bergamot, pine or rosemary during the day for a subtle energy boost. Read more on this topic here.

Non-toxic materials

Opting for materials that are natural and sustainable will help ensure that a room’s users stay healthy by avoiding harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Good materials to consider include FSC wood, bamboo, linen, cork, and ceramic. Do away with plastic wherever possible.

Indoor Air Quality

While plants and purifiers are a great method to filter the pollutants that get in, going organic is a preventative measure that will help ensure their presence is minimal from the get-go. Rather like taking your shoes off before entering a home so as not to bring in the dirt from outside. Joined-up thinking is the way to win this battle, see this blog post for more details.

Generally though, aim to keep lungs happy and healthy indoors by investing in an air purifier—preferably one with a HEPA filter. This helps restore air to its natural state by removing pollutants that off gas from furniture or, more likely, drift in from the streets outside. 

Nature-inspired decor

Natural wall murals showing scenes of prospect and refuge are known to have stress-reducing properties; they are especially useful for small enclosed spaces such as spare bedrooms.

Healthy interiors

When attempting to roll-out a truly conscious approach to crafting your home, office or even designing a hotel room it can initially be a little overwhelming as you realise just how much plastic manages to find its way inside, or the polluted air entering via the windows and so on. 

Focus on making that first, all important step, no matter how small a change. The benefits of biophilia seem to be cumulative, the more you layer in natural touches, the better the space starts to feel!

Biophilia in the bedroom

There are an array of different ways to layer biophilia into a biophilic bedroom interior without necessarily filling it up with plants. 

Consider what is known as ‘indirect biophilia’ instead - low-maintenance preserved moss panels on the wall for example, botanical wallpapers or natural landscape photography, a coconut fibre mattress and organic linen sheets, a smart circadian lighting system and a birdsong alarm to wake you up each morning, even a bedside aromatherapy diffuser with lavender or cedar wood oil. Have fun with it! 

Plants, plants and more plants

Research has shown that between 6-8 such plants are needed per person per 25sqm room to have any meaningful impact on air quality… so don’t hold back! In any case, plants look and perform best when carefully clustered in groups, like mini forests or jungles, so this is a win-win. For more details on plants see this previous blog post.

for details of how to integrate ergonomic furniture into a healthy office design see our separate blog post here.

Barri Studio architecture & landscaping, Barcelona

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Biofilico partners with Barri Architecture & Landscape (Barcelona)

Biofilico is proud to have partnered with Barri Architecture & Landscape in Barcelona, Spain. 

This strategic alliance means our healthy, green interiors expertise is now vertically aligned with a team of architects, urban designers and landscape architects, equating to even more competitive pricing and an extended service offer.

About Barri Architecture Landscape services in Barcelona

Barri Studio’s work incorporates a careful blend of environmental, social and historical influences. 

Recent projects of note include a 15,000m2 public park commission just outside Barcelona and a boutique hotel courtyard garden right in the city centre. 

Ultimately, the team’s vision is to combine research and practice to reveal the ecological and cultural potential of our shared built environment.

Workplace productivity and how to increase it

Workplace productivity is a measure of efficiency one employee uses to complete his tasks.

We often assume that productivity means and depends on more things getting done each day, but - the reality is a bit different and workplace productivity is important to get things done consistently, no matter what you are working on.

We could say that workplace productivity has some important variables that are crucial when work efficiency becomes critical and we get the need to increase productivity at work.

These variables made to increase productivity at work are: labour and money related, but a great part of workplace productivity-boosting tool is also the art and science of space management.

The great importance of workplace productivity

Workplace productivity helps to motivate the employee and boost morale, producing an even better company environment. When a firm is highly productive, it eventually becomes successful, and because of this, incentives are bound to be made available to the employees.

Things that affect workplace productivity are the same ones that increase it!

The good thing to know is that the things that can affect our workplace productivity are the things that can put it back on track and increase productivity at work. 

A working environment is a place where employees perform their job and a place where they spend the greater part of the day. The physical environment influences their health, their work performance and productivity, as well as relationships between the colleagues. 

Factors like temperature, air quality, lighting and noise conditions in the workplace affect the productivity of the workers. Other factors that affect workplace productivity are the ones we will talk next, and try to point out how we can use the same situation to improve work efficiency.

Organizational and interior factors impact on workplace productivity

How to increase productivity in the workplace?

The production of all departments should be properly planned, coordinated and controlled. The right quality of raw materials should be used for production. Authority and responsibility of every individual (staff) and department should be defined properly so conflicts can be avoided.

• Personnel factors

The right individual should be selected to get a suitable job done. They should be given proper training and development, better working conditions and work environment good enough to properly motivate them. Financially, non-financially and positive incentives are also much needed.

Once screened, hired, and on the job, training is a crucial part of ensuring workplace productivity. There are a lot of skills you can help your employees develop to increase productivity at work.

• The Importance of office interior design.

Office design is vital to both employees and clients/customers. Employees often spend more time in the office than they do at home. With that in mind, it makes sense that well-designed offices can increase employee morale, productivity, efficiency, and overall attitude.

A wonderfully designed office interior inspires the willingness of people who are able to operate independently - to take actions. Granting workers freedom over when, how, and where they work creates proof of their work ethic in a way that trying to control them cannot ensure.

The impact and influence of the proper decoration cannot be underestimated and they play a very important role in enhancing the mood and set a perfect ambience for any type of event or job.

For information about ergonomic furniture within a healthy office design context see our blog post here and for healthy coworking offices see here.

Attracting customers

Working with an interior designer closely in order to let them know the types of customers you want to attract so that they can design a space that will truly work for your business and target audience.

How technical and space management factors influence work productivity?

Productivity largely depends on technology. These include proper location, layout and size of the machinery, the correct design of machines and equipment, research and development, automation and computerization, etc. If the organization uses the latest technology, then its productivity will be high.

• The usage of non-toxic, organic materials supports performance

Using sustainable, earth-friendly materials such as cork, FSC wood, rubber and bamboo, as well as natural patterns, colours, textures and finishes can increase work productivity. Sustainable materials also avoid unnecessary impact on the environment.

Coworking spaces possess a huge potential to support environmental sustainability due to their inherently sharing-oriented constitution. The steps taken may be large or small, with every effort adding to the whole cause makes a coworking space much enjoyable.

You may have lots of other ways to handle stress, investing in innovative, positive, healthy and appealing coworking space design is, actually achieving maximum wellbeing for office workers while keeping an eye on their performance and output.

• Firm management factors

The management of the organization should be scientific, professional, future-oriented, sincere and competent. Managers should possess imagination, judgement skills and willingness to take risks for the optimum use of the available resources to get maximum output at the lowest cost.

• Location factors makes going to work more enjoyable

To boost productivity also means the dependence of location factors such as infrastructure facilities, nearness to market, nearness to sources of raw materials, skilled workforce, etc.

Location decisions can have a big impact on costs and revenues. A flexible culture is great for morale, trust and job satisfaction - there's no doubt that having one is absolutely worth it.

From this viewpoint, business-friendly and economically developed locations should be considered. For instance, New York can be a beneficial location choice.

Due to its high reputation for being the desirable location for any business, the city may provide you with a variety of modern office spaces, co-working areas, and shared offices.

Among this variety of options, you can choose one of the NYC office suites for business, which is a great contribution for each successful business, as they are fully furnished with all the necessary amenities.

Whatever your business does, its location could have a huge impact on productivity flow, even if you're not a particularly goods-heavy business like restaurants and hospitality places.

• The nature-inspired decor and lightning that inspires awareness

An example of a functional, healthy approach to designing a productive workplace surrounding is the use of nature-like habitats and botanical motifs when increasing productivity in the workplace. 

Biophilic interior design transforms your space into a harmonious collection of natural elements that will improve your mood, boost productivity and sense of wellbeing. Our purpose is to bring nature indoors, integrating biophilic interior design into 21st-century urban living.

Biophilic design incorporates natural components such as fresh or purified air, the healing powers of herbal aromatherapy, soothing nature sounds, intelligent lighting and more to transform any space into an oasis for positivity and workplace productivity.

Office design concepts by Biofilico starts by looking for ways to introduce healthy, biophilic principles into the layout, floor plans, elevations and sections phase, often collaborating with a team of architects to evoke positive emotions in their users.

It seems like more and more companies are adopting the motto “do more with less”. So - where does that leave an employee? Scrambling to complete tight deadlines, wearing 30 different hats, answering hundreds of emails and phone calls - the point is very clear.

The goal of this post is to help you find ways for you and your team to increase productivity at work. Instead of trying to do a bunch of these at once, find a couple that you can implement right away. There’s a lot of technology being developed to help you organize your life, use your time effectively, and make your life easier.

With Biophilic design studio, your office can become a more natural, healthy and sustainable place to work in, delivering you more concentration and work efficiency due to natural decor, smart lightning that suits your mood, scent and sound that will inspire you to be more productive and have additional wellness benefits.

Designing Sustainable Offices: Make Your Office More Eco-Friendly — Wellness Design Consultants

Making green improvements to an office design has a beneficial impact not only for energy costs but also on employee wellness and productivity. Sustainable office space is more comfortable to work in, has better air quality, uses less energy, and reduces the carbon footprint compared to offices that have not made green office improvements.

There are many ways to upgrade to a green office and help make it a more sustainable office space. This guide is a selected list of tips on how to make a sustainable office space or how to make your office more eco friendly. The ideas are easy to implement and they will make a considerable difference over time, optimizing an office for success.

Is sustainable same as eco-friendly? - Terminology problem.

What’s the difference between green, sustainable and eco-Friendly?

Being environmentally friendly office simply means having a lifestyle that is better for ecosystems and the environment. Environmentally friendly office is also known as eco friendly office space, nature-friendly, and green, but ecologically approved doesn’t necessarily mean sustainable. Choosing office furniture made from eco friendly materials is a key aspect of creating an environmentally friendly office.

Equally as confusing can be the adjectives that are used to describe these terms, such as green, ethical, fair trade, clean, organic, non-toxic, conscious… The careless practice of using these terms lightly and synonymously, has created a bit of confusion.

Green office vs. eco-friendly vs. sustainable office space

The meaning of the word “green office” has long outgrown the colour. It's now frequently used in a colloquial manner of speaking and applies to almost everything related to benefiting the environment, from architecture to coworking spaces.

Eco-friendly isn't quite so broad. It means that something doesn't harm the planet, while sustainability at the office sets the focus on the future.

Sustainable office space is the most precisely defined term and represents the wide scope of issues and activities that compromise the ability of future generations. This means that the environment, economy and social lives are benefiting, while not using too many resources or causing pollution.

Compared to ‘”green office” an eco friendly office sustainability has much higher standards. Sustainability at the office includes eco-friendly activities and green products, but green doesn't necessarily mean sustainable.

For instance, products made from renewable resources are considered green, yet if a life-cycle analysis shows that it requires a lot of energy to manufacture or ship, and if there isn't a proper way to dispose of the product - then it's not considered sustainable.

Conscious vs. Thoughtful

Term conscious refers to consumer awareness and high standards regarding health and the environment. It can sometimes include spirituality and wellness too. The conscious consumer knows how to read labels and will spend extra money on a product that is organic, sustainable, or animal-friendly.

The definition of thoughtful means consideration of other people's needs and being well-informed on a topic before making a buy. Being truly thoughtful is embracing a new lifestyle, where less is more - embracing slow fashion, buying less and getting rid of excessive items in your home.

How to make an eco friendly office space?

How to be more environmentally friendly at work?

Making green office improvements to a coworking space has a beneficial impact not only on energy costs, but also on employee wellness and productivity. Reducing energy consumption through energy-efficient appliances and sustainable materials can lead to lower energy costs and improved employee wellness. Energy efficient spaces are more comfortable to work in, have better air quality and use less energy. Some of our five sustainable office space ideas will help optimize an office.

1. For an eco friendly office space consider material efficiency

Material efficiency is crucial to any green building, including a green office. This means selecting materials that are sustainable, for both exterior and interior, with a lower level of VOCs, or that are made from a high percentage of recycled content. Choosing sustainable office furniture made from responsibly sourced materials can contribute to material efficiency. This can be as simple as selecting efficient materials whenever it’s time to replace current ones.

For example, when the exterior begins to show signs of wear, switch to a greener material like wood and include other upgrades such as insulating beneath the cladding to improve the building’s energy efficiency at the same time.

2. Increase insulation for an eco friendly office space

Harvard University found that workers in a green office were more than twice as productive as those in conventional offices. In part, this was due to the increase in natural lighting within the office building.

Natural light in an environmentally friendly office has a positive effect on people and their health, can lead to a positive impact on energy usage, as it allows you to reduce the artificial lighting throughout the building. Incorporating energy efficient lighting can further reduce energy usage and enhance the benefits of natural light.

Increasing natural light can be done by introducing more windows or skylights into the design of an sustainable office space, but also opens the possibility for office plans that can keep areas from being shut off from natural light sources.

Glass walls or a lack of partitions can help maximizing natural light within the green office interiors. Changing the layout of working areas to position them closer to natural light sources can also help.

Begin with insulating below the exterior cladding or look into materials that include insulation, such as insulated concrete blocks. Add interior insulation inside walls and beneath the roof, then seal gaps surrounding windows and doors. Doing so can increase the energy efficiency of the building by as much as 40 percent.

3. Water usage and efficiency in environmentally friendly office

Office workers are going through a lot of water consumption on a daily basis, so if you haven’t made changes to your water efficiency within the building, that means also that electricity usage is also maximized, not only water, which increases the environmental impact of the office.

Consider a dual plumbing system that will allow you to recycle greywater for toilet use. Investing in low-water use toilets and faucets can save thousands of gallons of water over the year.

4. Rethink unused space to make a sustainable office space

Many offices and office buildings have space that is either underutilized or not used at all. These areas are still being heated, cooled and provided with electricity - in one word - they are raising energy costs and taking away the energy efficiency of the office and building. Integrating renewable energy sources can further enhance the energy efficiency of the office.

Two of the most common methods of dealing with these spaces include:

1. Reconfigure the office layout to use every inch of space, benefiting at the same time of increasing flow through, ventilation and light.

2. Shut off unused spaces by closing vents and disconnecting power sources that are being drained.

5. Insert greenery for a green and eco-friendly office

Greener office buildings are not only more cost-effective, but they also have long-reaching employee benefits - from higher productivity levels to fewer sick days. Employees working in a green office are much more efficient as well, allowing for green improvements to pay for themselves over time.

Incorporating greenery into office design demonstrates a commitment to a sustainable future, positively impacting the corporate image.

How to make an office more sustainable and efficient?

The typical office provides lots of opportunities for going green. Embracing natural light, paperless meetings, and working from home can help your company save both money and energy.

The important thing to remember is that integrating sustainable practices can both raise awareness and accomplish more. That includes starting or enabling a more successful recycling program, and informing of purchasing decisions on energy-efficient appliances and green cleaning supplies.

Educating staff through informational lunch-and-learn sessions with local departments of water and power or waste authority is yet another form of increasing awareness and sustainability at the office.

Create monthly green challenges in your green office

Monthly team challenges can be a fun way of combining competition and going green. For example, you can challenge the office to go a month with no plastic, and reward those who stick with it by offering small prizes, such as gift cards or healthy snacks.

Upgrading to LED lighting can be a part of monthly green challenges to reduce energy consumption.

Bring a desk plant.

If you’re able, bring in a desk plan to improve indoor air quality and bring some nature into the office environment. Plants produce oxygen, offset chemicals released into the air by furniture and make a cleaner, happier space for your people to work in.

Everything-off-at-night rule for an energy efficient office

Turn off electronics, lighting, and heat every evening upon leaving the office as a great way of saving power and money. In fact, your equipment must be switched off at the main plug, and, If someone forgets to do that - they have to donate some money in your Green Jar.

Opt for better office products and embrace renewable energy

There may not be room in your budget to buy exclusively sustainable products, but you can focus on certain areas that have a huge overall impact, such as more efficient electronics. 

Purchased greener electronics will ultimately avoid the disposal of 124 metric tons of hazardous waste. Also, green power sources, including solar and wind energy, are more accessible today, with options of installation on the rooftop and large-scale wind farms.

Go paperless for a futuristic green office

It's as easy as keeping digital files on on your computers and mobile devices, not file cabinets. 

Get in the habit of reviewing digital documents on-screen, rather than printing them out. By completely moving to digital, we could reduce the greenhouse gas emissions by 1.45 million metric tons - the equivalent of taking 280,000 cars off the road for an entire year.

Mother nature gave us everything we could ever need to sustain our health, help our mental and physical wellbeing, and improve concentration whenever we acknowledge the need for it. 

The solution of embracing green office design has become increasingly popular over the last few years, proven to boost productivity improve mood and enhance concentration while delivering an interior design that is environmentally sustainable. 

biophilic design we use a technique and principles that respectfully harness the restorative, energizing properties of Mother Nature and implement them for physical and mental health benefits of our clients.

For more on ergonomic furniture in a healthy office interior see our blog post here

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Further Reading

• Sustainable Design Consultants

• The Best New Green & Healthy Office Buildings In Barcelona, Spain

• Best Examples Of Biophilic Commercial Developments

• An Introduction To Biophilic Design In Sustainable Buildings

• Carlo Battisti - A Vision For Biophilic Architecture And Interiors In Regenerative Real Estate

• Biophilic Buildings - The Eco-Friendly Concept Of The Future

office interiors & outdoor workspace, porto montenegro

branding, signage and landscaping

interior styling, furniture procurement and landscaping

exterior workspace / chillout area, styling and furniture procurement

exterior workspace / chillout area, styling and furniture procurement

For our take on ergonomic furniture in a workplace wellness strategy see here.

Coworking space design - a secret to productive coworking space

Mother nature gave us everything we could ever need to sustain our health, help our mental and physical wellbeing, and improve concentration whenever we acknowledge the need for it. So, why do we insist on moving away from the “free of charge” benefits we were born with?

Furthermore, why don’t we just keep a generous part of nature in spaces where we usually need the most help with our mental health - in our homes, but more importantly - in our offices.

The solution is embracing renewable energy with green office design!

Green office design has become increasingly popular over the last few years, and there is a good reason behind it. The green office solutions promote a healthy biophilic design, proven to boost productivity amongst staff, as well as improve mood and enhance concentration while delivering an interior design that is environmentally sustainable.

Natural, healthy and sustainable coworking space

Healthy, natural and sustainable office design implemented through some of the most important factors oriented to contributing natural benefits to coworkers is the use of materials and natural habitat-based colours in the coworking space interior design, adjustable LED lighting, quality of air that does not contain filth, smog-based chemicals, mould and other polluting elements that may cause diseases, allergies and even death to humans.

Green office design includes scientifically confirmed facts based on numerous case studies and model that you can use to build a suitable environmental management system for your organisation, allowing you to reduce your workplace’s carbon footprint and use natural resources sustainably.

Science and art can help you create an optimal coworking space design.

Coworking offices design that does not implement natural light or views of nature, no living plants, stale indoor air and bland decor - is pretty much guaranteed to have a negative impact on employee productivity. 

In short term, it could potentially produce damaging effects to the company itself, with the final result being the long-term sick person with difficulties attracting or/and retaining, not only concentration but wholesome health.

Investing in innovative, positive, healthy and appealing coworking space design and the environment is, actually achieving maximum wellbeing for office workers while keeping an eye firmly on their performance and output.

Biophilic coworking space design with a vision for future

Gaining responsibility and status on the sustainable office design, biophilic coworking space design is in charge of the new way of designing an eco-friendly office for many headquarters, making this concept contribute to the mental and physical wellness of its users, while delivering long-term value for the brand.

The key to maximizing the impact of biophilic coworking space design is adopting a cohesive and multi-sensory approach. It is of great importance to execute the dissonance between the visual, sonic, tactile and olfactory senses.

Decoration of plants and “earthy” colour palettes for healthy office

The materials you choose for your coworking space design will not only influence the final ambience but also impact the users’ health and wellness by reducing harmful toxins present in the office. 

Opting for materials that are natural and sustainable, but also in tones of natural elements - will help ensure a healthy environment. Good materials to consider include wood, bamboo, linen, cork, and ceramic for the bigger parts of the green office design.

Natural and plant-based coworking space design attracts new people, increase satisfaction, as well as create a non-polluting, toxin-free workplace for every employee. Luscious indoor plants add personality to any space and make any office - healthy office!

They can be as simple as a few large leaved plants arranged around the corners in natural terracotta pots or as expansive as a vertical garden wall - the “living wall”. Terrariums and even aquascapes with living fish are also creative ways to bring the outside world in.

Amazon spheres for a healthy office - best of coworking space design

Buildings called “The Spheres” are an excellent example of biophilic coworking space design and environmentally friendly design in general. It basically means thousands of plants from all over the world, including a variety of “living walls” - 4,000 square feet of the vegetated surface.

This giant 'recharge space' or natural, indoor lungs are a way that aims to connect employees and visitors with nature in an urban setting. Glass domes are made for letting in an abundance of natural light that in turn sustains all the plants.

Lightning that inspires awareness and concentration

Implementing a circadian lighting system that follows the body’s natural rhythm can help improve productivity of the workers by day and, eventually, sleep quality when workers return home in the evenings. Lightning in coworking space design is primarily used to skew relaxation and energy.

The right light to use in making an environmentally friendly and sustainable office design are LED bulbs that imitate natural light whenever possible or needed. When the sun rays aren’t available, deploy a lighting system that offers blue-white tones in the middle of the day, accompanied by warmer, more amber tones at sunrise and sunset.

Light arranged like this will ensure the awakeness, awareness and concentration of your employees.

Mimicking the sound of nature for stressless coworking space design

One of the most soothing things in nature are her sounds. Chorus of birds, running waters and splashes or rustling leaves - the human need of these sounds is well known and described from an evolutionary perspective and the term “biophilia”. 

Recreating these suiting sounds during the coworking space design will improve concentration, reduce stress levels, enhance mood, give a vigorous sense of vitality, give comfort and enhance wellbeing.

High air quality and scents for functional coworking space design

Modern coworking space interior design seems to be neglecting the state of indoor air quality and keeping lungs unhappy. 

To restore air to its natural and nature-like state one needs to deploy an air purifier - preferably one with a HEPA filter. This filter removes all the pollutants of furniture gasses or the access dirt that drifted in from the streets outside, helping

to reduce allergies and promote cognitive function at the same time.

The subtle use of diffusers or other scented little helpers can make a room, bathroom or office much more enjoyable. 

Clean and fresh scents such as forest-inspired pine and cedarwood will replenish any sanitary related area, but citrusy tangs of lemon zest combined with bergamot are great for the “morning welcome” to work. Herbal mixtures of peppermint, sage, rosemary during the day will aid in mental clarity during the long day at work.

The sustainable office design can only improve our business world if companies’ management systems are committed to it. With green office design and sustainable coworking space interior design, we can build an active, green and healthy oriented way to promote environmental issues in any organisation, and eventually - improve the general state of the planet.

For information about ergonomic office furniture within a healthy office context see our blog post here

Resort Kids Clubs Design - The Importance of Clubs for Kids — Biofilico Wellness Interiors

Kids clubs are real life children havens, packed with everything children can wish for, making them a family-friendly option for vacations. A good kids club is essential in providing a valuable experience for both children and parents, offering elevated and imaginative spaces and programming. Parents can enjoy a few hours of relaxation and freedom while their children are entertained and cared for by the hotel staff.

This new age concept is a result of the modern age we live in - the scarcity of time we have on our hands, and the constant inability to spend enough quality time with our children. For that purpose, kindergartens have become a necessity, and together with them - the concept of a kids’ club.

What is a kids’ club?

Kids’ clubs can be a fully equipped mini playground or a complete village designed specially for children, but their actual purpose is to engage the children (and oftentimes - educate them), for however long their parents need it. Kids’ clubs can offer a wide range of activities such as - art and music classes, dancing, maritime and animal experiences, but also, language lessons or nature experiences.

Whatever the concept of the kids’ club might be, we are here to explore the kids club design, what impact does it have on the entire setting and have biophilic principles found their way towards this kid-friendly space.

Kids club design elements and how they fit their purpose

Kids club design concepts are mainly oriented towards storytelling, which makes perfect sense, since this kind of concept can help create everlasting memories for children, but their parents as well.

The principle of storytelling can help create a form of identity for the kids club itself, as well as play spaces alike, using different design and spatial elements. This also involves some custom made play units and mascots, to increase the atmosphere of the story. An art room for creative activities can also be included, providing opportunities for children to engage in artistic pursuits.

A kid club concept should also involve integration for different children age groups, created as play areas that are safe, engaging, and whole lot of fun. Having in mind that every child loves to play and that every childalso loves a good story, it is obvious that children need more than cool designed space and over the top play units. A basketball court can be part of these play areas, offering another fun activity for kids. Rock climbing can also be included, providing an exciting and challenging activity for children.

They need a space with a purpose, whose energy and soul they can basically touch.

They need a unique concept that will capture their imaginations and make them feel as if they are in a truly magical environment, where they can obtain all kinds of new experiences.

Kids club concept in family friendly resorts - more than just an extra service?

Even though kids’ club concepts in hospitality interiors are available as a source of revenue, they have also become a necessity in family friendly resorts.

A great example is Alana Beach Club, a family-friendly resort in Croatia, which offers a well-designed kids club with a wide range of activities for kids aged 2-17.

Regarded as an extra service in hospitality, often times kids’ club design in hotels is not put together in a way that captivates the children’s imagination. Kids’ clubs are available in house to both resident and non-resident guests. We’ve already established that children appreciate (or better said - love) a good story, which is why the interior designers who specialize in this kind of concept should try and deliver one.

Storytelling as such should be weaved into the fabric of the kids’ club design and overall concept - the story material should be immersed in the design detail, but not only in that front.

Immersing storytelling into kids' club activities for younger kids

What do we mean by that?

Aside from having a great story showcased in the kids’ club interior design, it should also become an integral part of the activities offered in the kids’ club - molding one great adventure, instead of just a series of unconnected events that do not make much sense together. Storytelling activities can be tailored for older kids and younger kids, ensuring age-appropriate engagement and entertainment.

Kids clubs also offer special birthday parties, providing tailored and dedicated services for children celebrating while on vacation.

Immersing storytelling elements should be kept simple, but also, relevant - they should be based on local myths and generally known fairy tales presented in a way that gives children an extra insight of the country they are staying at.

In addition to that, if the fictional characters act as fun educational ambassadors, than the story becomes a powerful narrative that captivates children’s minds, enabling them to learn while having fun and playing with other children.

Biophilic design in the kids club concept

The principles of biophilia have taken the world by storm - mainly it the field of interior design and in terms how it can help people be healthier and more productive, but also how to reconnect with nature once again.

Biophilic design** in kids clubs aims to provide a dedicated space** with a focus on biophilia, in order for children to play, nap and above all else feel well, promoting well being as important as playing and relaxing. Planning kids club activities during school holidays ensures that families can make the most of their vacation time. A private beach for relaxation and water sports can further enhance this experience, including activities like stand up paddleboarding.

This healthy concept introduction to children’s clubs, that can be dubbed as biophilic kids’ clubs, exist to promote a space that is both healthy for our environment, and for our children. Accommodations with private pools offer a more personalized experience, adding to the luxurious feel of the stay.

Biophilic design in kids’ clubs rests upon the notion that not only working grown-ups, should be surrounded by materials that are responsibly sourced, recycled and possess a low-impact. The space that those materials formshould provide a good air-quality, be exposed to natural lighting as much as it can and promote outdoor activity too.

Children should reconnect with the natural world as young as they are and understand the importance of having environmental experiences, in order to cultivate awareness that nature has in our everyday lives.

Biophilic kids clubs exist to enhance the children’s well being, through the incorporation of basic biophilic principles, that in turn weave the outline of the specific narrative the spatial elements want to tell.

Through nature inspired decor, wellness lighting and the unavoidable presence of plants, biophilic design in kids’ clubs is a sort of a future legacy - a way to show our children that nature and our connection to it matter and that it’s something that should be valued.

Organic Construction Materials and Their Benefits — Biofilico Wellness Interiors

Organic building materials are a new-age remedy for battling the environmental pollution to whom we are exposed all the time.

The amount of energy that is used daily, and the contamination created in the process of using man-made construction materials is astounding and terrifying at the same time. The construction industry is increasingly recognizing the potential of organic building materials to transform its practices. There is a noticeable shift from traditional building materials like concrete and steel to more environmentally-friendly options in sustainable architecture and design. Harmful chemicals used in growing all the time, lead to many people becoming sick or allergic.

Hence the need for eco friendly building materials as the alternative, and if you want to know what eco friendly construction materials we refer to and what are their benefits, be sure to read the rest of the blog.

Features of natural building materials

The eco building materials, also known as organic building materials, are grown from seeds and their main feature is to absorb carbon dioxide while they grow. Unlike synthetic materials, organic materials are sustainable, require less energy to produce, and have a lower impact on the environment. After harvesting, their special property is to isolate the greenhouse gas, instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.

The usage of natural building materials leads to healthier buildings thanks to their ability to “breathe” by absorbing and giving off moisture for a healthy indoor environment. Materials such as wood, straw, cellulose, bamboo, natural plants, oils, and waxes are used to create more energy-efficient buildings that are solid and safe, but at the same time, better for the environment.

Given the fact that the emphasis is on the energy efficiency and sustainability, it is no wonder that eco-friendly building materials are meant to pave the way to a more natural approach in construction, and here are some of them.

Straw bale - old is new again

Why did we say that?

Well, the thing with straw bale as an eco friendly material, is that was used a long time ago, and now this technique is reintroduced and updated for the 21st century. 

Straw bales are made from the waste of the agricultural industry, as lumber substitutes, with an ability to isolate carbon.

Homes made from straw bales have thicker walls than it might seem at first, offering a great insulation and fire resistance, matching your favorite aesthetic at the same time. Straw bale homes keep warm in the winter, and cooler in the summer, which is makes them a great choice at all times. 

Rammed earth - one of the oldest eco building techniques

Earth construction has been known for ages, so it is wonder it is still used today, given it is one of the most durable construction techniques. 

The practical features of the rammed earth are their use as a thermal storage, which allows the sun to warm it during the day, and then slowly release that warmth in the evenings. 

This low-carbon technique functions in a way where soil and binder are placed in layers, and are pressured afterwards, allowing it to create a hard and durable surface, that is now often seen in luxury homes with dramatic and durable walls that resemble sedimentary rock. 

Bamboo sustainable building material - an alternative for wood

Not only that bamboo resembles wood aesthetically, but it also belongs to the grass family, meaning it can regenerate fairly quickly in comparison to trees. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on the planet, with an ability to grow up to three meters per day, depending on the type. 

Bamboo might just be the perfect alternative for wood, and it's not just the speedy growth rate that makes it so. Since we are talking about eco building materials for construction purposes, bamboo can be harvested up to every 3 years, while that period being very prolonged in case of trees, going up to 25-50 years in case of some species. 

Bamboo is a perfect sustainable alternative even when it comes to applications - it can be used for tiles, flooring, lumber, decking and countertops. So, not only does it help forest regenerate thanks to its' rise in popularity, but also enables you to be creative and use it however you want.

Mycelium -  futuristic mushroom insulation

Even though it sounds as something that comes straight from a sci-fi movie, among the organic building materials known as biocomposites (products derived from plants, bacteria, animals and fungi), mycelium is a champion when it comes to bioplastics that can be used in construction purposes. 

Mycelium is mushroom-based organic building material that can be used in creating construction materials stronger than concrete, more insulated than fiberglass and completely disposable. 

Mycelium comprises the root structure of fungi and mushrooms, and can be encouraged to grow in the composite of other natural materials such as ground up straws or molds. They can also be air-dried to create lightweight, but very strong bricks or other shapes. 

Green living roofs in the core of biophilic design

As you know, the base of biophilic design is comprised of plants, and green living roofs are another proof how applicable biophilic design is in terms of sustainability and organic building materials. 

These vegetated roofs consist of a waterproof membrane, growing medium (soil), and vegetation overlying a traditional roof. This might be a perfect example how biophilic design works when it comes to sustainable architecture and construction. 

The benefits of green roofs are many, but some of the most important ones are their durability, obvious energy efficiency and improved air quality, noise reduction and water retention.

Tree bark as a sustainable material

Sustainable forestry is all the rage now, and we couldn't be happier about it!

New practices involve using tree bark as a sort of organic building material. In its' essence, bark is a highly durable, attractive, economical, and it goes without saying - sustainable option for siding and shingling. 

In case of sustainable construction, the bark used comes only from the trees that are already cut, for usually it's tossed away as debris, burned or used to make mulch. 

Siding made from bark can last 75 up to 100 years, without any regular maintenance required, painting or sealants, which also means there is no chemical runoff. After it's removed from the trees, bark is kiln dried - sterilized against fungus and pests. 

This sterilization technique involves no pesticides or any other harmful chemicals, but also, it will never warp or shrink upon installation. 

We could say that the future of sustainable organic building materials is secured, or it gets more so at an amazing rate. With just a little ingenuity, planning and mainly use of the organic building materials available to us - it will be possible to construct buildings with a very high sustainability index exceeding couple of hundred years, and Biofilico will be there to support it.

Best Plants for Office No Windows: A Guide to Plants That Don't Need Sun — Biofilico Wellness Interiors

Have you ever wanted to make a radical change and decorate your living or office space, especially an office with no windows, using biophilic design?

Some of the most important principles biophilic design is based on introducing as much natural lighting as possible, but that is virtually impossible in cases when you can’t open windows due to various building regulations or simply because the room does have windows but they not in the right position for flowering plants due to low natural light levels?

If you are wondering about what plants for windowless office, in other words, plants that dont need sun directly on their leaves, read on to learn more.

What then?

Well, circadian lighting that imitates natural one is the way to go in case of no or low light conditions, but what about plants?

Well, that can be covered too, by opting for houseplants that don’t need sun, and if you want to find out what are the best plants that don’t need sun to thrive - keep up with us.

Plethora of indoor plants for low light conditions

It’s very well established that plants need some sunshine at least, but there are some low maintenance plants that need less than most, or none at all, in order to survive, as they can thrive in artificial lighting as well.

Here are some of the best plants that grow without sunlight and can add a much needed touch of greenery to your home or office.

Chinese evergreen plant

Among the office plants that need no sunlight, or next to none, is the Chinese Evergreen. To many people, this low-maintenance plant is a great kind to start with if you are new to houseplants in general.

The older Chinese Evergreens produce flowers that are similar to calla lilies, and look the best on the floor next to furniture, while the younger version is compact enough to fit on your desk, tabletop, or shelf.

Speaking about their sun preferences, this plant's needs depend on the color of its leaves. Therefore, if they have darker leaves, they thrive in low light, while the varieties with pink or orange leaves prefer medium light. Either way, they shouldn’t be placed in direct sunlight.

Chinese Evergreen made its way to NASA’s list of air-filtering houseplants, which should say enough about the benefits of owning one!

Snake plant & spider plant love the gloomy corners

Snake plants and spider plants are incredibly indulgent, and can thrive in those gloomy corners of your house or office, that barely any sun touches. They are not even that demanding when it comes to watering as they need to be watered only when the top layer of the soil is completely dry.

Snake plants have pointed leaves, motley coloured that can look equally beautiful, whether in a small pot or in a larger planter. They are adaptable to various light conditions, including low light, and are known for their air-purifying qualities, making them suitable for office spaces and busy households. They need to be watered only when the top layer of the soil is completely dry, and that usually takes about two to three weeks.

Spider plant is usually used as a hanging plant, and it grows like weed, so it needs to be trimmed regularly. As they are prone to rotting, you have to keep the saucer and a pot with drainage underneath, in order to avoid that.

Vibrant Bromeliad

Bromeliads are tropical plants, and can also be enlisted among the houseplants that don’t need sun, or not a lot of it at least.

Bromeliads are unique looking, and resemble some tropical plants with vigorous pops of colour, which makes them a perfect option for a houseplant that will look good wherever you put it - on the shelf, tabletop, or even on the floor, depending on the species.

Most Bromeliad species prefer indirect sunlight, which means that it’s not directly hitting the plant. If you do happen to position it under the direct sunlight, the extended exposure will damage its’ leaves, so it’s best to keep near a window for example, not in front of it. Another great thing about bromeliads is that they can thrive on fluorescent lighting if the natural is not available.

Maidenhair Fern - beautiful but complicated

Maidenhair Ferns are one of those beautiful plants that don't need sunlight, but are a bit complex when it comes to the watering part. Ferns must not be over or under watered, they have to stay humid at best. 

They thrive better if they are planted in a clay pot, and instead of being watered from the top, you have to put small stones in the saucer beneath the pot, and put water directly in the saucer. This is how you create a humidity dome around the plant, but another safe option is to keep it in the bathroom. 

Semi - dangerous Dumb Canes

These beautiful plants are a common ornament both in homes and office spaces, and are called dumb canes because of the parts of the plant that are poisonous, which is why 

it's advisable to keep them away from children and pets. 

Dumb Canes can thrive anywhere between low and high filtered lighting (the sunlight that shines through a curtain or a covered window), depending on the species. Most of theme can survive really well in the low light, but some of the probably won't grow anymore. 

The cascading Ivy

The Ivy varieties might some of the most popular plants that don't need sun out there. Some of them are green, while others can have white or green diversification. 

Ivys are quite tolerant of any form of neglect, so you can only water them when they've completely dried out, cause you don't want them to feel soggy. When it comes to their appearance, you can always trim them if you want to keep them looking sumptuous.

The English Ivy variety is the to turn any gloomy wall or corner into a piece of art, but it's also great for fences and other places you can decorate with vines, but keep in mind that vines take a longer period of time to grow. 

The English Ivy prefers bright indirect light, but can survive in the low lighting conditions as well. The thing is - the more light it gets, the brighter green it becomes, however, it shouldn't be exposed to it too much. 

The extravagant Staghorn Ferns

Staghorn ferns are one of those unique, excessive plants that can be very picky when it comes to their living conditions, which also applies to lighting. 

The Staghorns prefer bright indirect or filtered lighting, but never direct sunlight. It should also be noted that the plant can not survive in the artificial light, and it can be a bit high-maintenance in terms of watering - like Maidenhair Fern, the soil has to be damp, but never wet. 

Pothos for beginners

If you are new to plant care, the plants that don’t need sun (or not a lot of it) are a great start, but how to choose when wanting to cultivate plants without sunlight, is whole other dimension.

We believe Pothos is a great beginners plant - it prefers bright, indirect light, and can even tolerate low light conditions. It is commonly known for its’ oval leaves and pinkish veins, thanks to which it looks great in hanging baskets. Pothos can also thrive under fluorescent light, making it a versatile choice for various indoor settings.

However, even though Pothos is considered to be quite the low maintenance, if it doesn’t get enough light during the day - it will close its’ leaves over night and won’t reopen them anymore, or the leaves will start to fade, so make sure not to put it in the shade.

The vibrant Bird of Paradise

The tropical looking Bird of Paradise is not only the future replacement for all of your other plants, it’s is also enlisted among the lower maintenance plants that can live without sunlight. Another great option for windowless offices is the cast iron plant, known for its hardiness and minimal care requirements.

This vibrantly coloured plant has a unique look, but doesn’t require a ton of care at the same time, which makes it a perfect household plant. You should always make sure the soil is damp though, so your Bird of Paradise would thrive.

The bottom line now that you know what kind of plants that don’t need sun, or not much of it, are, than you are ready to start decorating your home, or your office, with the right green touches of some air purifying, mid-maintenance plants that make any space instantly brighter.

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Further Reading

• Biophilic Design For People, Planet And Profit

• Biophilic Design: Botanical Wallpapers & Nature Murals

• Biophilic Design Consultant

• Vertical Farming For The Workplace

• Creating Healthy Interiors For Home & Office

• Air Purifying Plants In Biophilic Interiors

• Best Examples Of Biophilic Design In Offices

• How To Bring Nature Into Your Home Via Biophilic Design

• A Guide To Biophilic Design In Offices & Coworking Spaces

• An introduction to biophilic design in sustainable buildings

• Connecting People, Places And Plants: Biophilia With Junglefy, Australia

• Biophilic Design And Wellbeing Interiors- An Evolutionary Perspective

• Living Walls In Biophilic Design With Urbanstrong Nyc

• How To Know If Your Workplace Fits The Wellness Office Concept

• What Are Biophilia And Biophilic Design?

• Biophilic Design Consultant & Interior Designers

• Restorative Recharge Room Designers

• Coworking Space Design - A Secret To Productive Coworking Space

• Examples Of Biophilic Design Interiors Cannabis Retail Stores

• Best New Hotels Resorts Using Biophilic Design Interiors

• Wellbeing Gardens And Biophilia With Dr. Lauriane Chalmin-Pui

• Mental Health Benefits Of Biophilic Indoor Environment In Virtual Reality - Harvard Research Study

• The Aficionados On Sustainability At Independent Hotels