WELL Building Standard: M07 Restorative Spaces

Biofilico designs restorative spaces for the WELL Building Standard (MIND M07)

Introduction to Biofilico: WELL Building Consultants

Biofilico is a green building, health and wellness advisory based in Barcelona, Spain and London, UK. We offer creative design and consultancy services for mixed-use real estate developments and hospitality brands.

Our experience is in delivering small-scale projects independently as well as working within a team on larger buildings and master-planned communities. Our mission is to have a positive impact on People and Planet through the built environment. 

What is the WELL Building Standard?

Among many green building standards and certification systems, the WELL standard completely re-wrote the rulebook of human-centric green building certification, going further than both LEED and BREEAM in its quest to promote healthy buildings. As a result, it pairs well with LEED or BREEAM as it goes deep into the health aspects of a building rather than its environmental impact per se.

Credit categories cover air, water, nourishment, light, comfort, fitness, mind and innovation with WELL Associated Professionals (a.k.a “APs”) playing the role of project lead, ensuring that the stringent demands of the standard are successfully implemented while Performance Verification is completed by an authorized WELL Performance Testing Agent (a.k.a an Assessor).

What is WELL MIND M07 Restorative Spaces?

WELL are looking for restorative environments that promote mental wellbeing by reducing stress and mental fatigue. They reference workplaces primarily as this is where most of our mental challenges will take place in a typical day.

Recharge rooms are a response to the phenomenon of workplace tiredness and stress. Biofilico designed one for a project in Switzerland working for the Hero Group’s Chief People Officer, see our case study here.

Nature interaction has been shown to boost recovery and productivity, whether indoors through the use of biophilic design or outdoors with direct nature contact.

See our project video here:

Nature-based restorative Spaces with biophilia

We have also previously delivered a scientific research study into exactly these benefits of exposure to nature, or Vitamin Nature as it has been called. Another topic specifically references in WELL MIND M07.

This explainer video shows more about that restorative space project we created for residential real estate development The Wardian by Eco World Ballymore in London.

Our response to WELL MIND M07 Restorative Spaces

So having established Biofilico’s experience in delivering exactly the type of restorative space that the WELL certification is looking for, how do we typically approach a project for this WELL feature?

We start with a Discovery process that involves a project briefing, a number of stakeholder meetings, we review the overall project plan and any existing concept designs for the rest of the development, agree on the project’s wellness & sustainability goals, then finally review occupant / user profiles, or work with the project team to define these if not already available.

We then move into the Development phase in response to WELL MIND M07 Restorative Spaces. Having agreed on a suitable location, we propose various possible uses or functions for a WELL MIND Restorative Space.

Once agreed, we begin work on the layout and floor plan, identify suitable healthy building materials and start to incorporate those into a restorative space concept design integrating biophilia / nature and wellness design features that match the WELL Building Standard feature precisely.

Wellness design features for WELL MIND M07 Restorative Spaces

These include wellness lights, calming sounds, thermal comfort, seating, nature, colours & privacy.

Finally, we provide content for the required signage and/or educational materials that WELL look for in the finished restorative space to help communicate its many wellness design features.

Delivery

What details are important in this WELL Mind feature?

At least one designated restorative space needs to be made available for all regular occupants, whether indoor or outdoor, whether one space or multiple smaller spaces.

It needs to be designated for this purpose, or at least not also used for work at certain times of day. Its dimensions need to be minimum 75sq ft but ideally closer to 2000 sq ft is feasible.

Dimmable lighting, nature sounds, shade from direct sunlight, biophilia or nature incorporation, comfortable seating arrangements that encourage relaxation, we recommend a relaxing colour palette of natural hues and textures, combined with enough visual privacy to ensure that an occupant can make full use of the space without concern of colleagues looking on from outside.

Finally, all of this has to be verified by Technical Document for the WELL certification process.

To discuss Biofilico’s WELL building design and consultancy services, contact Matt here.

RESET Air standard for healthy building & interiors

A healthy workplace consultant’s review

What is the RESET Air quality standard & certification?

RESET stands for “Regenerative, ecological, social and economic targets”.

The company was started by architects in Shanghai in 2001 adopting an eastern perspective based on a 5000 year history of health and regeneration, rather than the explicitly green / sustainable approach promoted in the west.

Unlike other green building or healthy building standards, such as LEED, WELL or FITWEL, RESET AIR does not insist on any set, prescribed paths towards achieving high quality indoor air results.

Their approach is simply to leave the door open to innovation, how each project gets there is up to the project team. It is the destination that matters most in this instance, RESET do not concern themselves with prescribing the journey.

In their terms, this is a biomimetic approach, that takes its inspiration from nature and the biosphere’s 3.8 billion year history. They talk our language in other words!

What standards make up RESET Air?

• Deployment and installation of monitors (APs are trained to create a professional monitor deployment plan

• Standards for qualified monitors (only Grade A and B, not retail grade C)

• Standards for collecting and reporting data via accredited cloud data providers (priority is data completeness and data on a project meeting targets for key pollutants of TVOC, CO2 and PM2.5 specifically) 

The goal here is effectively to make occupant health measurable leveraging technology, shifting the focus from prescriptive design to measured results, using cloud software and making building data ‘social’ (easily available to occupants).

Why should a real estate development engage with RESET Air?

Green buildings have been shown to have a positive impact on cognitive scores, even a 10% increase in productivity in an office or workplace can pay potentially for or greatly offset a business’s rental costs.

What’s more, health & safety are often the main criteria in building satisfaction for occupants. Deliver a healthy building with high quality indoor air and you add value to the property in other words.

It is worth stating too that RESET have launched with RESET AIR but recently announced a series of other declinations that shows the true ambitions of this young contender in the green & healthy building sector.

Next up is a MATERIALS standard, currently in pilot phase at the time of writing, that will be followed by standards for WATER, ENERGY, and waste or CIRCULARITY (all three still under development).

What makes the RESET Air quality standard different?

It’s all about integration of available technology that has been rigorously tried, tested and maintained to ultimately create buildings with feedback loops, buildings and real estate that ‘talk to us’.

So whether it be a Core & Shell or a Commercial Interiors fit-out, the data is king.

Pollution thresholds have been adopted from best practices from existing authorities such as ASHRAE, leaning on other specialist institutions in other words.

Why is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) so important?

Indoor pollutants such as CO2 have a negative impact on cognitive function and performance. the best solution is source control - nipping the problem in the bud, by not bringing harmful materials into the space that carry chemicals, VOCs or off-gases. For that, we need building materials and fit-out materials that disclose their chemical ingredients, ideally with a healthy product accreditation to back up their claims.

One of the main culprits in this sense are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) or chemicals that off-gas at ambient temperature from building materials such as particle board, glues, paints and carpet backing 

Particulate Matter PM2.5 and PM10 are made up of dust and synthetic materials decomposing around us from furniture, fabrics and so on. For RESET, Carbon Monoxide is only relevant for projects where combustion is present. As reference, CO reduces the amount of oxygen transported in the bloodstream, making it potentially lethal.

Sensor technology cannot cover every pollutant, other air quality sensors do exist but they are prohibitively expensive, so as the market for high-grade sensors steadily democratizes over coming years, new pollutants will be incorporated into the standard.

What air quality monitors are accepted by RESET AIR?

Direct read or hand-held instruments may be good for a walk-through survey or in detecting a specific pollutant but they have been deemed unsuitable for RESET as the standard requires high quality and constant air quality data in order to detect trends and patterns over time in a specific, fixed location. A lab test is good for a deep-dive but will only reflect a specific moment in time.

RESET provides standards for the deployment, location and installation of monitors that have been classified as Grade A (reference grade) or Grade B (commercial grade) only, excluding the increasingly common consumer Grade C.

It is RESET APs (accredited professionals) that are responsible for the monitor deployment plan, RESET then acts as the neutral stakeholder capturing data in the cloud. As all monitors will gradually drift over time and need to be cleaned / recalibrated, the occasional follow-up site visit is required to inspect the monitors, again by a RESET Accredited Professional.

To discuss Biofilico assisting with your project’s RESET Air certification process please contact us here.

Marine-based eco materials on yachts

This article was written for and first appeared on the BioBlu website here

Why use marine-based materials in an eco-friendly green yacht?

For us, there is a happy synergy in using materials sustainably sourced from the sea in a green yacht, what better way to align the interests of owner and ocean? So what are we talking about when we say "marine materials"?

A lot of attention is focused at the moment on seaweed and algae but we might also include eco materials that contain upcycled ocean plastic for a circular economy angle, or fish leathers as a byproduct from the fishing industry for example. More on each of these below.

See here for more information on our sustainability advisory services for green yachts and here for our eco materials consultancy.

 Marine algae decorative wall tiles

Ecolurian are an exciting Dutch eco materials company pushing the concept of using algae in wall tiles, a product we consider to be ideal for a decorative wall display aboard a green luxury yacht as it immediately creates a talking point whilst also adding sustainable credentials to the interiors.

Made from kelp algae sourced in the Pacific Ocean, one of the fastest growing species in the world meaning it is reassuringly sustainable eco material, the tiles are made using eco glue and a bamboo base. Each one has its own patina making it very wabi-sabi, as the Japanese would say!

  

Luxury organic mattresses onboard green yachts

We have had the pleasure to meet the founder of Coco-Mat natural mattresses, and to visit their headquarters in Athens, Greece. We also sleep on Coco-Mat bedding every night so have in a sense been product testing for the past few years.

A Coco-Mat mattress is truly a beautiful thing, despite being hidden beneath sheets and perhaps an additional mattress protector. The eco materials used include natural rubber, seaweed and coconut fibre - no metal, no springs for an unbeatable night's sleep onboard an eco-friendly yacht designed for wellness.

Biodegradable food containers for green yacht pantries

It is still relatively early days on this one but the sheer number of experimental projects happening at the moment suggest we are getting close to what could be a revolution in our thinking of how to store food onboard a green yacht or indeed any luxury yacht looking to improve its eco-friendly operations policies.

Already seaweed-based Notpla capsules filled with water or Lucozade are replacing plastic water bottles at running events. Already more open-mind food product brands are adopting plant-based plastic alternatives for their packaging.

Of course, taking reusable bags, or canvas bags for grocery shopping and refusing to accept single-use plastic bags even in markets, should be second nature for green yacht crews with a conscious.

Fish leather as a sustainable luxury eco material

A number of innovative companies such as Nordic Fish Leather produce exotic leathers from cod, wolffish and salmon, although we see this as more suitable for a handbag than a sofa on a green yacht interior. Nonetheless, such examples suggest further innovation in this space will yield more materials for a wider range of uses.

Stingray leather is another option, far more durable and hard wearing than fish leather meaning it can be used to clad bespoke furniture pieces such as side tables or chests of drawers.

Marine-based bathroom amenities for eco yachts

One final area in which we might look to integrate the health benefits of algae and seaweed is in a green yacht guest suite bathroom. We have written about this previously in greater detail here. Our tips for brands to consider include the likes of One Ocean Beauty and OSEA Malibu in the US as well as Haeckels in the UK. It's an easy switch so why aren't more yacht charter crews considering it?

Designing the perfect wellness kitchen

Wellness design applied to the kitchen

The concepts of design are often focused on aesthetic, or functionality, but recent trends have also leaned towards human wellness as an intrinsic core feature.

By incorporating wellness into a design, the modern architect is looking to promote a healthy mind and a living area which acts as a positive space for those dwelling within. Maybe design has focused on aesthetic and function too much over the years, with clutter, sharp edges and wide-open spaces not always conducive to comfortable and safe living.

There has been a recent shift in home renovations within the UK sector, with increasing numbers confined to the home and often with disposable income to invest. 59% of Britons will be investing in their home in 2021, with an average spend of around £6,500. Within that figure, there will be extensions, full renovations and the most popular projects, new bathrooms and kitchens.

The kitchen is a highly functional space which acts as a meeting place, a food preparation area and a key storage location within the home. Getting your design right is not always easy and with so many options available it can all feel a little overwhelming even at the design stage. If you are looking for a kitchen space that is functional, but also promotes the key principles of wellness, then it might be wise to incorporate some of the tips we have outlined below.

Glass Doors

One of the major concepts of a wellness kitchen is to promote a healthier diet by using the philosophy of a retailer. In your local store, the manager knows you will not buy a product which you cannot see, and often the ones featured prominently will sell quicker. A wellness kitchen works in the same way, but it promotes fruit and vegetables. This can be achieved by investing in a glass-doored fridge, for example. If you can see a nice crisp carrot or a fresh banana, you are more likely to reach for that than something hidden away behind a chunky door.

Minimalise

It is easy to clutter the kitchen with gadgets and accessories. Look at your kitchen right now. Is there a microwave on the worktop? Maybe a toaster, too? Do you have a jar with utensils by the hob space, and maybe even plates and crockery on display? All this clutter makes the kitchen feel busy, complicated and muddled. A wellness kitchen should seek to have everything out of sight, with nice clear worktops and spaces for you to prepare food, or just relax in with the family. One popular aspect is to incorporate an ‘appliance garage’ in the space. Within this expansive cupboard, you might have your blender, coffee maker, toaster, slow cooker and a host of other useful appliances, but they will be out of sight until needed. As for the microwave, get rid now. Food has a better nutritional content without radiation.

Function

Another key aspect of personal wellness is time. If you have time to pursue the satisfying elements of your life, then naturally you will feel better about yourself. Today’s smart kitchens can help automate many jobs you have previously been forced to endure, and even some simple gadgets such as a hot water tap allow you to remove the traditional kettle, saving energy boiling water and time waiting for it to happen. Of course, if you do make functional changes to your plumbing system, it is worth adding in some peace of mind for yourself, such as plumbing insurance. HomeServe’s breakdown of insurance cover, details how protection for your system can be low cost, but a malfunction can be anything but. To maintain wellness and eradicate worry, knowing that a leak or a breakdown is covered for a nominal fee each week is another great option for your wellness kitchen. That can extend further, with cover available for the boiler, electrics and other aspects that could result in costly repairs.

In Summary

In the future, wellness kitchen guru Veronica Schreibeis Smith believes the Internet of Things will further develop personal wellness in our functional rooms, but until the tech catches up, there is still plenty you can do. Each aspect of a wellness kitchen will be tailored to you personally, your trigger points and personal needs. Hopefully, we have given you a good starting point, but if you want to keep up on all wellness and sustainability design news, be sure to pay regular visits to Biofilico.

Sustainable Materials in Buildings: Wellness Design Consultants

Sustainable textiles & fruit-based bio fabrics

sustainable textiles made from recycled materials and fruit byproducts

A Range of Innovative Fabrics Made from Byproducts of Banana, Pineapple, Apple, and Mango Production Suggest Nature-Based Solutions Have a Bright Future!

In the quest for sustainable building materials, the fashion industry has turned to nature, creating innovative fabrics from the byproducts of banana, pineapple, apple, and mango production. These sustainable materials offer a promising alternative to traditional construction materials, reducing waste and promoting a circular economy.

By utilizing fruit byproducts, these fabrics significantly lower the environmental impact of the fashion industry. Traditional materials often come with a high carbon footprint, but these fruit-based textiles offer a more sustainable choice. The production process of these fabrics supports sustainable agriculture, ensuring that the byproducts of fruit production are not wasted but repurposed into valuable materials.

Moreover, these innovative fabrics contribute to energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions, aligning with the goals of sustainable construction. As the construction industry continues to seek out sustainable building materials, the use of fruit byproducts in fabric production stands out as a forward-thinking solution.

This approach not only supports the environment but also enhances the quality and sustainability of the materials used in various construction projects.

A range of innovative fabrics made from byproducts of banana, pineapple, apple and mango production suggest nature-based solutions have a bright future!

A healthy material? The problem with the mass market leather industry and its carbon emissions

Creating high-end interiors often means specifying elements of leather, such as furniture coverings, bedheads, and so on.

Clients are unlikely to understand the full impact of leather on the environment and nor should we expect them to - the emphasis is on sustainability minded professionals to raise awareness of this theme, presenting innovative alternatives of equal or better quality, as and when appropriate.

As the range and diversity of such bio-based circular economy materials increases, so the mass market leather industry can be, we hope, gradually phased out, leaving leather to play a longer-term role in the luxury industry, thereby reducing the depletion of natural resources.

Poor indoor air quality from cheap vinyl fabrics

Besides the fundamental question of the long-term viability of ‘big farming' and our relationship with the cattle / beef industry in particular, leather tanning can involve hundreds of chemicals including toxins and heavy metals that stop it from decomposing.

These chemicals then off-gas from the leather over the first 1-2 years of its life lowering the indoor air quality around it.

So-called eco leathers or faux leathers are essentially PVC vinyl based and may look OK on day one but will gradually degrade over time as they are used, whereas high quality leather arguably looks better and better as time passes!

Swiss backpack brand QWSTION is known for combining design and functionality with sustainability. Since 2008 the design studio has been developing versatile carry solutions for everyday use – with an understated look and a low environmental footprint.

"We're delighted to present Bananatex®: the world's first technical fabric made purely from banana plants which are organically cultivated in the Philippine highlands. We've invested three years of research, testing and development to create a truly sustainable material that has our DNA woven into it, and offers an answer to questions we've been asking ourselves since day one."

QWSTION bags are designed and developed in Zurich, and manufactured in Asia and the EU according to highest ethical standards.

www.qwstion.com

www.bananatex.info

www.lauschsicht.com

Bananatex

Sustainable textile 1 - Bananatex

Waterproof and made in the Philippines**, Bananatex** relies on a natural ecosystem of sustainable forestry, it involves no chemical treatments along the way and is a natural fibre made from the abaca plant, essentially a variant of the banana plant but one that is farmed for its fibres rather than its fruit.

Bananatex also contributes to sustainability by absorbing carbon dioxide during its lifecycle.

The abaca trees are grown with no fertilizers or pesticides, it eventually converts into a fine yard (after several years of experimentation and research by the QWSTION team).

The output is a high-end material as shown in the Bananatex bag that could, if the owner chose to, leave it to decompose on the farm and turn it back into fertilizer for the abaca trees in a perfect example of circularity.

Pinatex

sustainable textile 2 - Pinatex

We first heard about the Pinatex waste pineapple leaf fibre textile made by Ananas Anam several years ago when it was being tentatively used in some experimental fashion items, already through this natural fibre alternative to leather was causing ripples within the sustainable design community.

Inspired by the Cradle to Cradle concept of circularity, Pinatex is made from a byproduct of the fruit industry, no animals were harmed in its production, we can at least be sure of that, and rural farming communities were given a financial boost in the process via this extra source of income.

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Orange Fiber

sustainable textile 3 - Orange Fiber

These silk-like fabrics made from citrus fruit byproduct in Catania, Sicily by Orange Fiber can be blended with other materials as needed but the citrus textile itself emerges soft to the touch and extremely lightweight, making it unsuitable for furniture but ideal for fashion..

Already the fabric has been picked up by H&M and Salvatore Ferragamo.

Recycled plastic is another innovative material that complements the sustainable approach of Orange Fiber.

More than 700,000 tons of citrus waste are produced in Italy on an annual basis with few if any alternatives available other than disposal so we applaud the Orange Fiber team for their work.

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Appleskin

sustainable textile 4 - Appleskin by Frumat

Another Italian brand, this time from Bolzano in the north and Florence in Tuscany, Frumat’s ‘AppleSkin’ contains around 25% apple waste recovered from the fruit juice industry, making it vegan and of course cruelty-free too.

By producing sustainable material that transforms food waste into a raw material that can be put to a myriad of uses, products like this surely have a bright future.

The challenge perhaps is to see how many of them can make the transition into the furniture textile space vs those that exclusively serve the fashion sector.

Similarly, the use of recycled steel in construction projects offers significant environmental benefits, such as reducing carbon emissions and saving energy, while maintaining material quality.

to enquire about our expertise in specifying healthy building materials and interior fabrics, contact us here

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Introducing the World Green Building Council Health & Wellbeing Framework

Our review of the Health & Wellbeing Framework, it’s benefits and uses in real estate

Six Principles for a Healthy, Sustainable Built Environment

Neither a green building nor a healthy building certification as such but rather an umbrella framework for thinking about both sides of the coin, this welcome model from the World Green Building Council strikes a conciliatory tone, making it eminently practical, user-friendly and comfortably aligned with current industry trends. In other words, we like it!

So what exactly is health and wellbeing in this context and how can it help guide sustainable development in the real estate industry?

Read on to find out more as we break down each section into bite-size chunks within the framework of sustainability health and wellbeing.

This is applicable to workplace health projects as well we employee wellbeing framework requirements and wellbeing strategy for residential developments, or indeed for those looking to maximize wellbeing benefits in mixed-use real estate developments.

If there are any up and coming health and wellbeing guardians looking to implement wellbeing initiatives in their organization, this is also a great place to start.

principle 1 / PROTECT HEALTH: Air Quality, Water Quality, Mental Health and Infectious Disease in Buildings

Indoor Air Quality: This feature looks at air pollution and airborne diseases in the context of human health and public health, specifically household pollution from solid fuel combustion, household pollution from gas appliances, pollutants such as VOCs present in fabrics and materials, and finally biological contaminants.

Ambient Air Pollution: Issues such as the manufacture of building materials contributing to black carbon emissions, the construction process itself and its carbon emissions and more generally the operations of buildings via heating, cooling and lighting, with their corresponding energy demands.

Raising awareness of these issues relating to wellbeing health is a valuable initiative, no matter whether led by the World Green Building Council or the World Health Organization.

Water Quality: Testing for contaminants, regular cleaning schedule in communal areas, Legionella management plan.

Mental & Social Health: Biophilic design, acoustic comfort, shared communal spaces, access to and views of nature, active space for exercise, post-occupancy surveys.

Reduce Transmission of Infectious Diseases: Integrate sensor activations in buildings, HVAC maintenance schedule, use of UV lamps, high touch surface disinfection plan.

principle 2 / Prioritise comfort: Thermal Comfort, Lighting, Acoustics, Visual, Ergonomic and Inclusive Design

Thermal Comfort: Airtight building envelopes and suitable ventilation, thermal massing, use of beneficial solar gain, insulation and glazing, retention of existing trees, Passive House design strategies, integration of traditional or vernacular design. These are fundamental well being principles common in any healthy building plan.

Natural and energy efficient lighting: Maximize natural light in a building whilst reducing glare, avoid using glossy finishes, specify light-coloured opaque shading systems

Acoustic comfort: Use of sound-absorbing interiors products, sound masking, vibration isolation devices

Multi-sensory comfort: Olfactory comfort (avoid unpleasant odours), ergonomic furniture and visual stimulation via aesthetics

Inclusive design: consideration for those with physical or mental disabilities as well as the vulnerable or ageing populations

principle 3 / harmony between natural and built environments

Occupant access to nature in buildings: biophilic design features, landscaping features, natural patterns and textures, opportunities for human interaction with nature

Occupant access to nature outside and biodiversity within the site: Green infrastructure such as green roofs or courtyards, native plant species, rehabilitate degraded land on site

principle 4 / healthy behavior

Active design: attractive stairwells, end of trip facilities (showers, bike storage, etc), access to nearby public transportation

Hydration, nutrition and social connectivity: Clean water provision, communal dining facilities, healthy food options (cafe/restaurant), food prep areas

principle 5 / social value

Protect human rights related to health: Social and demographic equity within project and construction team, inclusion of human rights and labour provisions in supplier tendering, Human Rights Impact Assessment and Supply Chain Mapping

Health of construction workers: Responsible construction practices, protection of worker rights, health & safety measures, educational programs

Improve local quality of life: Engage with the local community early on, reduce impact of construction site on local community wherever possible, implement organizational strategies to help support local economy (e.g. restaurants)

principle 6 / take climate action

Commit to net zero emissions: Improve lifecycle energy efficiency / reduce building energy demand, aiming for net zero operational carbon emissions in all new buildings by 2030, and net zero embodied carbon in all new buildings by 2050, measure and disclose carbon, generate power from renewables where possible and off-set the rest, use passive design measures, opt for low Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants

Design for Resilience: Plan for resilient systems, carry out environmental assessments, use vernacular natural ventilation strategies where possible, specify products and materials that will not off-gas in the event of a natural disaster, design for reduced dependence on complex building controls and systems for when the worst happens

https://worldgbc.org/health-framework

To discuss how we can help you implement this framework into your business, contact Matt directly here.

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Further Reading

• Well Building Standard / A 5-Minute Guide

• Biophilic Design And Wellbeing Interiors- An Evolutionary Perspective

• Wellbeing Strategy & Wellness Interior Design

• The Biofilico Guide To Workplace Wellbeing

• A Guide To Workplace Wellbeing Design

• Wellbeing Strategy & Wellness Interior Design

• Multi-Sensory Wellbeing Interiors

• Mental Wellbeing In Healthy Buildings

• What Is Wellness Design In A Healthy Buildings

• The Secrets Of A Healthy Building

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

• What Is Wellness Design In A Healthy Buildings And Wellbeing Interior Strategy

• Workplace Wellbeing With Wellwise In The Uae

• Real Estate ESG Frameworks

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

• Sustainable Hotel Resort Standards, Certifications And Ecolabels

• How Do Branded Wellness Residences Promote Mental And Physical Health Of Residents?

• Mental Wellbeing In University Environments

• What Is Biophilic Design And The Biophilia Hypothesis?

• Boutique Hotel & Real Estate ESG Consultants

• Posts tagged healthy materials

• Posts tagged frameworks

• Posts tagged materials

• An Introduction To Biophilic Design And Wellbeing Interior Concepts

• The Secrets Of A Healthy Building: ‍9 Essential Principles For Optimal Wellness And Sustainability

• Wellness Interior Design Consultants

Introducing the WELL Health & Safety Rating

Our review of the new WELL Health & Safety Rating

Who is the WELL health & safety rating aimed at?

Having spent some time digging into the available literature online, WELL’s new healthy building rating system appears better adapted to the remit of an in-house facilities management team looking after the interests of their workforce than, say, an owner intent on enhancing a property’s health and safety features either prior to occupancy or in collaboration with tenants and the Facilities team post-occupancy.

This may represent a source of frustration for some forward-thinking developers as there is scope to implement around 50% of the features independently pre-occupancy but the remaining 50% are only deliverable by an HR department on behalf of its workforce.

To receive the WELL Health & Safety rating applicants need to hit at least 15 of the 20 features and by our calculations at least, that is practically impossible to deliver as a conscientious landlord. There are simply too many features linked to the workforce and HR policies for a building owner such as a developer or real estate fund to implement this rating system alone.

On this basis, it would be interesting to imagine an alternate path to certification for landlords acting independently. That said, for businesses keen to protect their staff by implementing a range of scientifically backed operational measures, this new rating hits the spot.

What policies does the WELL health & safety rating require?

Cleaning & Sanitization Procedures

• Support hand washing (appropriately hygienic soap dispensers, hand dryers and signage prompt

• Reduce surface contact (touchless faucets and water fountains, hands-free operation of entry doors, lift doors, washroom doors, window blinds, light switches, waste / recycling bins)

• Improve cleaning practices (a highly detailed and professional cleaning plan that documents all relevant processes and procedures)

• Select preferred cleaning products (all products to be ISO14024 Eco Label compliant)

• Reduce respiratory particle exposure (a range of more intrusive distancing measures, only applicable at times of higher incidence of respiratory disease)

Emergency Preparedness Programs, a.k.a ‘resilience plans’

• Develop emergency preparedness policies (undertake a risk assessment and draft plan)

• Create business continuity plan (BCP) for operating under disruptive circumstances, such as a pandemic

• Plan for healthy re-entry (a set of strategies designed to protect occupant health when returning to the workplace after an emergency evacuation)

• Provide emergency resources (information indicating emergency procedures, at least one first aid kit per floor, a building emergency notification system, occupant training in CPR, designated emergency responder, security / crisis response team in place)

• Bolster emergency resilience (designated space for emergency responders in case of emergency, shelter-in-place plan for emergencies in which occupants can’t leave the building)

Health Service Resources

• Provide sick leave (employers to offer short-term and long-term sick leave)

• Provide health benefits to all eligible employees

• Support mental health recovery to employees at no cost

• Promote / provide flu vaccines to regular building occupants

• Promote a smoke-free environment (ban indoor and outdoor smoking within project boundaries, restrict sales of tobacco products on-site)

Air & Water Quality Management

• Assess ventilation (professional assessment of building ventilation supply rates, potential improvements, air recirculation rates)

• Assess & maintain air treatment systems (complete system inventory, air treatment assessment by a qualified engineer, device maintenance with accompanying evidence of new filters or UV lamps)

• Develop Legionella Management Plan (risk assessment of all water assets, documented maintenance program)

• Monitor air & water quality (on-going data from air quality monitoring system, annual chemical / biological water quality assessment

• Manage mold & moisture (moisture management plan for building operations, annual mold and leak inspection data)

Stakeholder engagement & Communication

• Promote health & wellness (set a health mission for the building, communicate around health & wellness resources to regular building occupants)

• Share food inspection information (applicable to on-site food establishments)

Healthy & Safe Building Innovation

• Innovation within the rating standard, taking it forward in some way

• A WELL Accredited Professional (WELL AP) on the project team

• Implement one of the main WELL certification requirements

• Reach Pre-certification phase for the main WELL certification

We discuss the main WELL Certification on our green & healthy building certification page here.

https://www.wellhealthsafety.com

Upcycled ocean-plastic fabrics in eco yacht interiors

this article first appeared in my BioBlu website here

How eco yacht designers can lead the way

There is fundamental change afoot in the yacht industry as awareness increases of the overall environmental footprint of the refit yards, ship builders and of course yachts combined all have.

As a sense of collective responsibility  in the face of climate change grows ever stronger, so will the demand for more eco-friendly alternatives for engine power, boat building materials, interior fit-out materials and even onboard operations.

Upcycled ocean-fabrics have a small but important role to play in this process, alongside natural and sustainably sourced fabrics such as organic cotton. The added value in an ocean-fabric based material though is that it has effectively already made a valuable contribution to cleaning the seas.

That journey from ocean plastic to yacht furniture upholstery may not have been straightforward but it is now very much a possibility, meaning the emphasis is on eco yacht designers and eco yacht brands in general to support such initiatives. Here's how...

Ocean clean-ups removing plastic from the oceans 

It is now easier than ever for businesses in the yacht industry to make a give back to Non-Governmental Organizations playing their part in cleaning and protecting the ocean in response to the estimated 12 million tonnes of plastic dumped into the oceans each year. Read that again.

Yes, that means each and every year. What's more, only around 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled, with a total of 400 million tonnes of plastic being produced globally each year according to the Seaqual Initiative (see below).

Examples of NGOs supporting ocean clean-ups include The Ocean Cleanup , PlasticBank and the ReSea project, amongst many others doing invaluable work in the sector.

Making the journey from ocean plastic to yarn

The Seaqual Initiative is based near Girona, Spain and acts as a loose community that connects ocean clean-ups around the world with waste management and recycling industries to transform marine litter into Upcycled Marine Plastic, which in turn can be used by manufacturers in their own fabrics, yarns or products.

In this sense at least, the Seaqual Initiative may not yet be on the radar of most eco yacht designers, and perhaps understandably so but their work represents a fundamental link in the often lengthy chain of organizations involved in this process.

Just imagine that PET water bottles may only be around 5-10% of the waste collected by fishermen, and even beach clean-ups only reach 40% of PET bottles, meaning the rest still needs to be sorted and dealt with in a responsible manner.

Manufacturing Upcycled Marine Plastic fabrics for interiors

UK manufacturer Camira's Oceanic range picks up the baton from the Seaqual Initiative's post-consumer recycled plastic yarn and turning it into a contemporary recycled polyester with a purpose. Each metre of the Oceanic fabric is made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester including 50% Seaqual yarn, the equivalent of 26 plastic bottles per metre. 

The fabric is Certified to OEKO-TEX Standard 100 and Certified to Indoor Advantage™ "Gold", coming in a range of colourways with a natural inspiration, ideal for the onboard interior fit-out of an eco yacht.

BioBlu sees great potential in specifying Oceanic upholstery and others like it in an eco yacht interiors new build or refit project as a way to add a degree of Circularity, giving new life onboard an eco yacht to what was once discarded plastic waste destined to pollute our seas for many hundreds of years.

To find out more about BioBlu's interior consultancy services and our expertise in sustainable, healthy materials, contact Matt or Paolo at info @ bioblu.org or via the contact form here.

Biophilic design for green yachts

This article first appeared on my BioBlu website

Why use biophilic design on a green yacht?

Wellness, nature & sustainability

Biophilic design combines elements of sustainability and wellness with inspiration from the natural world, making it, in our view, an ideal solution for green yacht interiors and a unique selling point for the next generation of sustainable yachts.

So why has it made so little impact in the industry thus far? Perhaps partly this is due to lack of awareness amongst specialist yacht interior designers, or simply that an owner has a preferred style that differs from this more organic aesthetic. Current eco yacht certifications also do not currently cover materials, focusing instead on a yacht’s engine room carbon footprint.

The real opportunity here then is surely in leveraging biophilic design in the new generation of green yachts and, in future, being awarded by eco yacht certification systems for using the type of natural, sustainably sourced materials that are biophilic design’s trademark.

Another benefit for a green yacht with biophilic interiors is the added wellness benefits for the user, thanks to the healthy interior design strategies that we offer via our yacht consultancy services.

By leveraging the latest insights into healthy interiors, we create indoor spaces optimized for owner wellbeing, from deeper sleep, to greater concentration in a work area, reduced anxiety and improved mood. To achieve this our multi-sensory yacht interior concepts incorporate texture, lighting, sound and a sense of place – in this case inspired by the sea!

Blue nature on green yachts

Bringing the outside world in through nature-inspired design strategies that create harmony between onboard living areas and the ‘blue nature’ surrounding the yacht is a unique feature of biophilic design applied to the world of yachting.

Common strategies of biophilic design we might use on a green yacht interior include the use of fractal patterns, organic non-GMO fabrics, what the Japanese call ‘wabi-sabi’ finishes, the patina of age and generally a focus on honest materials in a neutral colour palette designed to create a restorative environment that is at one with the natural world outside.

Other design details integrating blue nature might include the use of marine materials in furniture fit-outs, for example dried seaweed embedded in an all-natural mattress, sustainably sourced seashells in a tabletop or a coral–inspired artwork full of textural detail.

A green yacht needs sustainable interiors

Adopting an environmentally-friendly approach to yacht interiors requires extensive knowledge of materials and their life-cycle. Thus far we have seen less uptake from the industry of this theme with energies focusing on the engine room and how to user cleaner energy forms to take the yacht from A to B.

Clearly this is fundamental and there remains a lot of work to do in this sense to go beyond the current diesel-hybrid engine solution. So as we collectively start to look ahead to what comes next for the yacht industry, the opportunity is to widen our collective scope to include not just the yacht’s engineering systems but also its interior fit-out and onboard operations.

Sustainability is a 360-degree picture, there is nowhere to hide. This can be daunting, even over-whelming for those without expertise in the field as the plethora of product and material certifications on offer, from Cradle to Cradle to the Declare Red List and beyond.

Our priority is to help guide a client to the right combination of form and function, keeping an eye firmly on the organic, natural, chemical-free, and recycled or upcycled materials.

To enquire about our green yacht interior consultancy services and biophilic design expertise, please contact us here to discuss your project. We are always open to collaboration!

Wellness Architecture for Healthy Buildings

The ‘Green & Healthy Places’ podcast series takes a deep-dive into the role of sustainability, wellbeing and community in real estate, offices, hotels and educational facilities.

Pati Santos is the Founder of The Good Thing, a new architecture practice focused on health & wellness in London, UK. Pati worked with world renowned landscape architects Lily and Charles Jencks for many years where she developed an interest in environmental psychology and biophilic design, eventually certifying in the WELL Building Standard and setting up her own practice.

wellness architecture with the good thing

Pati Santos is the Founder of The Good Thing, a new architecture practice focused on health & wellness in London, UK.

biophilic design & the well building standard

Pati worked with world renowned landscape architects Lily and Charles Jencks for many years where she developed an interest in environmental psychology and biophilic design, eventually certifying in the WELL Building Standard and setting up her own practice.

green buildings / healthy buildings

We discuss the distinction between design components and operational policies within the WELL system; the role of natural and toxin-free materials in creating green and healthy buildings, the potential of timber in constructing urban buildings, the connection between sustainability and wellness within a client's brief, the benefits of circadian lighting systems, the new WELL Health & Safety Seal as a response from commercial real estate to the Covid crisis and the shift toward healthier, greener homes equipped for both work and exercise.

to discuss collaborating with Biofilico on your next wellness interiors or biophilic design project, potentially with Pati as well (!) please contact us here

5 Things To Do Before Your Baby Arrives

It doesn't matter whether you are expecting your first kid or your third, conceiving a child can be a joy ride of feelings and bring with it a corresponding impact on mental wellbeing. Having another child can be pure euphoria, yet it can also be overwhelming and exhausting.

Especially during infancy, you might find the routine tasks demanding due to the shortage of time or energy or both. To help you with getting ready for your child, the following are a few tips to help you best prepare for the baby and before you conceive an offspring that relish those valuable newborn moments.

Set up All the Baby Gear

Before the baby comes into this world you ought to have specific things bought, gathered, and test them to ensure they work fine and you know how to best use them. It's best to believe in the "less is more" philosophy considering getting the essential stuff for your baby.

The main thing you need to get for the baby is a properly fitted car seat, a crib, the best nursing pillow and a good supply of wipes and diapers. In case you think you need other things like a changing table or a swinging crib, you'll need to gather those too. A few things you won't use until the child is grown a bit, for example, a stroller but you still can buy it while you have the time and money. 

Make and Freeze Meals

In the weeks paving the way to your due date, consider pre-making and freezing dinners so you are not scrambling for things to eat or depending on fewer take-out choices and fast foods. Some of the time your loved ones will propose to prepare dinners for you to meet the child, yet you can't entirely depend on that. It's easy to get fully committed to looking after your baby but new parents must also care for themselves and prepare healthy and nutritious meals. 

Baby Proof the House

This will not be required until the child is more mobile and older. But gathering ideas and making arrangements for things you want to do can't do any harm. Many parents say that it's beneficial to start to babyproof early if you can manage it. Sooner than you know Your child could be running around and trying to get into everything quickly. Therefore it's a great idea to use this free time to get essential things and prepare to babyproof your house.

Save Some Time for Yourself

The time before you have your child is very important for checking things off your list. Getting some personal time for yourself, both alone and with your partner, is very important. You'll cherish the time with your new child in an all-consuming way, yet you may in any case miss having alone time or a peaceful moment with your spouse.

Take out time to enjoy together and do fun things before the new baby comes. If you can't go out on a vacation, don't sweat it. You can always arrange a day out on the weekend or even spend quality time at home with your spouse.

Prepare for the Birthing Center or the Hospital

As the due date draws near, you ought to plan for your visit to the emergency clinic. This includes knowing the best route to the hospital or your birth centre and gathering and packing your stuff to have everything available in case you want to leave in a rush. Once more, remembering to keep it simple would be ideal. Most of the essential things would be provided to you at the medical clinic.

Designer Gym Flooring Selection: An Eco Gym Perspective — Biofilico Wellness Interiors

Zandur flooring looking mighty fine with a nature mural, wood rowers and leather sandbags

10 Tips on Gym Flooring and fitness centre flooring by a Gym Designer

1. GYM design budget and commercial gym FLOORING PRICES

First up, pricing of gym floors. For some it may come as a surprise that gym flooring is so expensive however this is also one of the most important decisions in the gym design process, bar none.

In terms of tangible numbers then, how much is enough for a gym flooring budget? We recommend allowing GB£60 per m2 -GB£80 per m2, in order to tick as many of the boxes outlined below there are simply no shortcuts.

Yes there are cheaper gym floor options out there such as rolls (rather than tiles) of Made In China ‘rubber' gym flooring that does not come with any kind of product declaration and almost certainly contains a multitude of VOCs and other chemical contaminants.

Many gyms will make some sacrifices, for example in sustainability terms, in order to economize with gym flooring closer to £30 per m2 especially if they have a large lifting zone or free weight areas where weights will be dropped frequently.

Colour options will be extremely limited however as mentioned, the flooring will not meet our own standards for wellbeing interiors / healthy interiors due to its affects on indoor air quality.

Hotel gym design tends to come with a different set of constraints, see our dedicate page here.

2. gym design and ACOUSTICS / NOISE REDUCTION

Depending on the chosen heating, cooling and ventilation system for a gym, there may be temperature considerations to factor into a gym flooring choice.

For example, underfloor heating systems in cooler parts of the UK or Scandinavia may come with certain requirements around what can be laid directly on top of them. It is worth checking with the supplier if an underlay beneath the gym flooring is recommended on this basis.

As long as the gym flooring has modest to good heat conductivity, there shouldn’t be an issue here.

Why might an underlay be useful? Let’s take an example from an urban environment such as a gym located on the first floor of an office building with ground-floor retail below and offices above.

Heavy loads dropped onto a thin 5mm laminate flooring tile laid directly onto the inherited flooring is likely to send the sound of clanging metal pretty efficiently in all directions, causing noise pollution that can come back to bite the gym owner.

Better to layer in an acoustic underlay made of dense eco-friendly and non-toxic fabric, ideally at least 2-3cm thick. This not only helps with noise reduction by absorbing and dampening the sound of heavy weights and equipment but also adds comfort underfoot. This is especially important in a home gym space where protecting domestic flooring and reducing noise for other household members is crucial. Yes, it is a modest extra expense but you won’t regret it. Gym users will thank you for the added comfort underfoot as well.

If you opt for a denser, hard surface such as wood or bamboo flooring, clearly there will need to be some areas of the gym such as around the squat racks where a more heavy-duty rubber tile will be required on top of the wood or bamboo to protect it, this in turn has an impact on the overall aesthetics of the space too.

Gym design budgets could therefore potentially include an underlay, the main flooring tile or rolls, as well as additional tiles on top on the heavy lifting area.

3. gym design and THE ROLE OF different gym flooring types for user comfort

We are fans of natural materials such as solid wood floorboards, whether salvaged from old train tracks for example, or sourced from sustainable forests within the region.

They provide a natural solution that does not give off harmful airborne toxins and they look great but, and this is a big BUT for a gym, they are unlikely to encourage much interaction with the floor by clients once the gym opens.

This is where training style and gym design inter-lap and is often the hardest part to communicate to an architect studio or interior design studio in charge of a gym design project.

If the training concept behind the gym involves an element of natural fitness or ‘functional training’ then one way to facilitate that type of activity is to install a flooring tile with a softer feel such as a vulcanized, non-toxic rubber that is not going to prevent a gym user from attempting a forward roll for example, or a cat crawl on all fours. For home gyms, durable and stylish home gym flooring options, like non-slip rubber flooring, are ideal as they support heavy-duty use while ensuring safety and comfort.

When did gyms stop becoming about agility, physical movement and play anyway?

The connection between flooring choice and the type of movements a gym user will feel comfortable performing in the gym may appear a subtle point but in fact it has a significant psychological impact on the end user experience.

Softer flooring solutions encourage more experimental movement by a gym user, harder flooring solutions do the opposite, from our gym designer perspective this is an undeniable fact. Softer flooring can still support heavy equipment while promoting a variety of movements.

Of note is that a classic gymnasium flooring material is in fact a spring floor, offering unparalleled bounce for gymnasts - however this is not much use for every other type of gym, except perhaps natural movement training!

4. GYM FLOORING AND INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Until early 2020 very few people were talking about indoor air quality in gyms but Covid changed that and we are unlikely to forget what we have learnt. In a way this is a good thing. More awareness of harmful VOCs in our furniture and flooring means more support for natural materials such as bamboo, cork and rubber, sustainably sourced please.

Clearly we want to stay away from installing anything with harmful toxins such as formaldehyde but we also need to control what is brought in from outside, especially in dense urban environments such as a city centre. Wearing the same shoes on the streets as you train in is going to have immediate consequences on the indoor air quality inside the gym, there is simple no escaping that. Additionally, using a pH neutral cleaner is crucial to maintain indoor air quality and avoid introducing harmful chemicals.

We now recommend additional attention be paid to the HVAC filters in a gym to ensure they are high grade, preferably MERV 13 or above, unless there is the option for natural ventilation in an indoor-outdoor space. Failing that though, we need the mechanical engineer on the project to be one step ahead with the ventilation rates to ensure a steady changeover of the indoor air throughout the day, even with our preferred option of eco-cork / rubber flooring tiles on the gym floor!

In terms of specifics, we want a gym floor that contains no PVC, phthalates or halogens and we really must insist on it being Red List** chemical free**

Other references might include a material that exceeds California IAQ (CHPS) indoor air quality standards (the gold standard for such things in many respects).

Many suppliers are now joining the dots between their products and green building systems like LEED or healthy building systems like WELL by illustrating where their products score points in each of the respective score cards. every manufacturer with a conscience and an eye on the future should be doing this!

5. sustainability & gym flooring

We would highlight cork and eco-rubber as top choices for sustainability, either as separate solutions or indeed in a cork-rubber blend as in our favourite Zandur tiles that combine both in one innovative solution.

We could also highlight bamboo flooring and solid wood planks but when we take into consideration all of the points mentioned in this article, cork and eco-rubber stand out as our first choices.

For a full Life Cycle Assessment approach to choosing a gym floor we now consider not just where the raw materials come from but also where they will go at the end of their life, in a decade from now say. some suppliers now offer take-back recycling programs that provides additional peace of mind for the gym owner. A small detail perhaps but details count in this game. Avoid adding to landfill waste that future generations will have to tackle eventually; instead select a fully recyclable material for your gym floor.

6. GYM FLOOR DURABILITY & IMPACT

Durability is a key factor as most gyms are going to have metal weights being lifted, carried, and dropped by gym users who have just exerted maximum effort in their last rep. The flooring needs to withstand the impact of heavy weights to ensure durability and safety. These things happen so as gym designers we have to plan to accommodate them.

Dumbbells and barbells frequently get dropped so we are looking for a solution that is especially hard-wearing in the strength zone in particular. And there should always be a strength zone! Additional rubber tiles on top of the gym floor will do the job, providing around 30mm of protection.

For barbell areas, there are Olympic lifting platforms that will fit in / around a power rack. Here again, it is worth investing in high quality solutions that will be able to resist even heavier weight drops, here we can be talking about 150kg-200kg in any serious gym, possible being dropped from overhead height, so count on at least 2 metres drop height.

For stretching areas, functional training zones (with sandbags, ropes, etc.) and cardio zones a lighter, softer material of 5-10mm can be useful but strength areas require a solid 20-30mm rubber tile system that is basically bombproof. This is especially important for home gyms where high-impact weight training and Olympic lifting are common. Rubber floor tiles provide soundproof and shock-absorbing benefits, making them ideal for home gym settings.

Anything less is going to cause you headaches in the long run, maybe not on day one, maybe not on day 365 but eventually the tiles will start to become a health & safety risk if they do not fit together perfectly. As gym designers, we have seen this happen too many times not to mention it here!

The one other caveat is strength machine areas (as opposed to free weights and barbell zones) as the static machines remove most of these risks from the equation completely, nothing is hitting the floor unexpectedly in this training zone. Yes there is considerable load placed on the flooring but it is a steady, constant load rather than an actual ‘impact’.

Regular cleaning with a damp mop is essential to maintain the durability of the flooring and ensure it remains safe and hygienic for all users.

7. THE AESTHETICS OF GYM FLOORING

Have you ever noticed that most gym designs specify flooring options that all look more or less the same?

We can identify a number of groups in this sense, for example CrossFit gym designs and budget gym designs around the world almost universally feature solid black or black speckled rubber tiles. Why?

They are fundamentally a cheap option, readily available from any number of gym equipment suppliers, they are functional and will likely last 3-5 years without any issues… nobody ever complained about this type of flooring, ever!

If we move into the realms of boutique gym design standards and even more so with premium or luxury gym design standards facilities such as resort gyms however, a number of different options emerge, not least natural cork tiles or an eco-friendly cork-rubber mix, sustainable FSC wood, eco bamboo flooring, even wood-effect LVT tiles for a cheaper but no less sustainable solution.

High-end rubber tile solutions from the likes of Pavigym come in a wide range of colours ensuring complete aesthetic integration into each specific site, this is another one of our preferred flooring options as a hotel gym designer.

Gym locations with limited natural light for example may do well to opt for a brighter colour rather than the standard dark black. We are fans of a terracotta colour in certain facilities as well as a Zandur leafy green for natural fitness training areas. After a certain price point the choice becomes vast, giving the gym designer plenty of room for creativity.

8. HYGIENE & GYM FLOORING - A NEW FRONTIER

Manufacturers are now producing detailed cleaning guides to ensure that hygiene standards can be higher than ever without putting the flooring tiles at risk, in part this is thanks to the material’s resistance to chemicals or disinfectants.

Equally porosity is key here as we do not want sweat or other liquids to penetrate the surface of the flooring tile.

A high quality virgin rubber tile will ensure that no odours linger around at the end of the day, the surface can be wiped clean and sanitized professionally, and also will not absorb any spillages of water bottles, protein shakes and the like.

Already the terms micro-bacterial and anti-fungal are appearing with increasing regularity in marketing materials but with good reason so be sure to select a gym flooring tile that performs well in both aspects.

We are fans of athletic turf tracks used for sled pulls such as those produced by Sprint Tracks in the Netherlands. Sprint tracks are custom made and can be created in 4 weeks in any combination of colors. However, the Polyethylene plastic used to make it is a concern from an indoor air quality perspective as well as from a single-use plastic perspective as this type of materials appears to be non-recyclable, thereby contributing to the world’s growing plastic problem.

Any manufacturers of athletic turf that is non harmful to People and Planet are invited to contact us to make our lives as gym designers easier!

9. gym design and eco-friendly installation

It may sound obvious but being able to not only install your own floor tiles but also remove them, move them around or replace them at a future date gives you that extra bit of flexibility should circumstances change in the future, or your gym needs evolve.

Typically a good option is an interlocking tile system with connector plates on the underside of the tiles. A pack of 4 x 50cm2 tiles would therefore give you 1m2 of flooring that can be lined up with the next square metre and so on.

Ramped edges and corner sections ensure there are no health and safety risks with sharp differences in height between zones, for example between the entrance and the main gym training area.

Be sure to specify no-VOC adhesives or backing so that no off-gasses are introduced into the gym space during the fit-out process that would damage the indoor air quality.

10. gym design and health & safety concerns

Last but not least, if it needed saying, your gym flooring tiles should meet all relevant fire and smoke standards.

For Biofit gym designs we are usually working with European and North American standards; opting for cheaper Chinese solutions in particular can expose a gym owner to risk in this sense so it is always worth checking twice before proceeding with a purchase.

By way of an example, Zandur Sustain Sport gym flooring has slip resistance that surpasses that of most safety flooring and exceeds UL and ADA recommendations, meets all North American and European standards for fire and smoke, and it STILL manages to exceed California IAQ (CHPS) indoor air quality. Beat that if you can!

For more information about our gym design services see here or contact us via email here

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Further Reading

• We Design Recharge Rooms, Restorative Spaces & Wellness Rooms

• Biophilic Design Consultant

• Sustainable Interior Flooring Zandur

• Hero Corporate Offices

• Best Examples Of Biophilic Design In Learning Environments

• Designing A Hotel Gym

• Biophilic Design And Wellbeing Interiors- An Evolutionary Perspective

• Hotel Gym Design - A Consultant's View

• Healthy Building & Wellbeing Real Estate Consultants

• Indoor Air Quality In Gyms

• Design Consultants For Leisure Spaces, Wellness Facilities & Gyms

• An Introduction To Biophilic Design - Nature, Wellbeing And Sustainability

• Biophilic Design In Gyms & Spas

• Wellness Interior Design Consultants

• What Is A Healthy Building Material?

• Benefits Of Active Design In The Workplace

• What Is Wellness Design In A Healthy Buildings And Wellbeing Interior Strategy

• Organic Interior Design: Connecting Nature & Interior Design

• Restorative Recharge Room Designers

• Biophilic Design Consultant & Interior Designers

• Best Examples Of Biophilic Design In Offices

• A Guide To Workplace Wellbeing Design

• Sustainable Boutique Hotel Brands UK

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

• Designing A Hotel Gym or Resort Fitness Facilities

Design Inspiration From Nature: Exploring Relationships and Their Benefits — Wellness Design Consultants

Throughout the vast history of the human race, we’ve always seemed to be synchronized with nature and its processes. However, the harmony between our species and nature has been somewhat disrupted over the course of the last two centuries.

Badly drawn up designs in dense urban areas rapidly grew over the course of the last century, thus making cities all over the world look like real-live concrete jungles. This has led to a slow eradication of natural patches in the cities, making contact with nature a real luxury to their inhabitants.

Throughout this text we’ll be discussing of nature design relationships and its impact on the psychosomatic health of humans. So, bare with us in order to find out more about this topic, including the limitless possibilities of design inspired by nature and how the design process incorporates these elements.

Do modern day cities have enough room for the natural world?

People living in big cities all over the world spend the majority of their time in their offices, apartments or public transport. Whatever the case may be, the sad fact is that the modern day humans are slowly losing their ties with nature by being surrounded by concrete on a daily basis.

Detachment from nature has been linked to numerous psychological and physiological health issues such as depression, insomnia, joint pain and various lung diseases among many others. This has been a growing issue since modern-day cities have more population than ever.

Luckily numerous professionals on the subject have worked together on finding a solution to these problems, and have thus concluded that the relationship of nature and design must be in perfect accordance in order to have a more positive impact on the psychological and physiological health of humans. Nature-inspired design can address human problems related to urban living by emulating nature’s time-tested patterns and strategies through biomimicry.

What is Biomimicry design mimicking nature?

Since the beginning of time, nature has always been an infinite source of inspiration to humans all over the world. Designers, artists, architects and even scientists have used patterns in nature and its processes as ground zero for their inventions and products.

Design thinking plays a crucial role in biomimicry, involving an interdisciplinary approach to reverse-engineer nature for real-world problem-solving.

The practice of solving design challenges in a sustainable, practical and healthy manner inspired by nature is called Biomimicry. In short, Biomimicry design is the process of developing nature-inspired solutions for the problems of modern-day humans.

While it may sound like a new trend that has been developed during the recent years, the practice of Biomimicry design has been around for ages and can be traced all the way back to ancient times with buildings such as the “Hanging gardens of Babylon” often being taken as one of the best examples of Biomimicry and Biophilic design.

The term Biomimicry has been derived from greek words “Bios” which represents life and “Mimesis” which roughly translates as “imitations”.

How does nature influence our mental and physical health?

The relationship between the natural world where we spend the majority of our time and our emotions is indisputable.

State-wide survey results have shown that up to 84% of people claim that their job has contributed to deterioration of their mental health, out of which only around 40% of them feel that the companies they work for have taken adequate measures to improve their mental state.

Even though we’ve seen companies take more initiative when it comes to improving the mental health of their employees by offering free gym memberships and the occasional opportunity to work from home just aren’t enough.

It’s a well known fact that nature has a great influence on our mental health. Contact with nature can help relieve stress, improve memory and increase creativity, happiness and the feeling of kindness. However, water is a key element as well when it comes to taking care of our mental well-being. In fact, the impact of water on our mental health is so big that numerous studies have confirmed that our brains are hardwired to have a positive reaction to seeing or hearing water.

The impact of organic architecture on mental health

In all honesty, the spectrum of mental health is an extremely broad term whose causes depend on a lot of different variables in one’s direct surroundings. However, research has given evidence that the natural interior design of spaces we spend our time in can not only relieve the feeling of stress and anxiety, but can awake the sensation of serenity, peace and motivation.

Natural light also plays a crucial role in improving mental health by enhancing mood and reducing stress levels.

Now, more than ever, people are losing their connection to nature.

With the current estimate of more than 50% of the world’s population living in cities, a number which is expected to rise, the architects, designers, urban planners and biologists have tried their best to incorporate the soothing effect of nature design, be it architecture inspired by nature or natural interior design, it is of key importance that the spaces in which we work and live have plenty of greenery.

Nature inspired design concepts

The majority of products available today, whatever their use may be, have their shape or fundamental purpose inspired by the processes that occur in nature on a daily basis. From laptops closing like sea-shells to buildings that resemble a termite nest, nature has really played a crucial role when it comes to shaping the modern world. Engineers often look to natural selection and adaptations in the natural world to derive innovative solutions for modern design challenges.

Butterfly wings have inspired new types of solar cells and innovative product designs, such as color creation without pigment and eco-friendly paint technology for cars.

In summary, it’s safe to say that the future of design lies within nature, and while we may not know what surprises biomimicry may have in store for us just yet, we can guarantee that it won’t be boring. Cooling devices inspired by the African Namib Desert Beetle’s water collection mechanism are being developed for building cooling and cleaning up toxic spills.

Comprehending the way that the mind reacts to is crucial to approaching psychological issues of any human. Noise pollution from the Shinkansen bullet train was reduced by redesigning it with a long beak-shaped nose inspired by the Kingfisher bird. Similarly, shark skin’s microscopic patterns have been replicated to create a ‘riblets’ film that reduces drag and deters microorganisms from attaching to surfaces. Our team of LEED certified Bifiolico designers is composed of some of the best experts in the field of biophilic design, organic interior design and nature inspired design concepts in general. Serrated edge wind turbines, inspired by the bumpy protrusions on whale fins, offer a more efficient and quieter alternative to smooth blades.

Sustainable solutions inspired by nature’s patterns and strategies address human challenges in an environmentally responsible way. The ventilation system of the Eastgate Centre in Harare, Zimbabwe, mimics termite mounds to regulate air and achieve self-cooling.

Waxy hydrophobic materials repel water, fat, and oil, inspired by the lotus flower’s nanostructures. Wind turbines have also been inspired by the aerodynamic abilities of whales, specifically the unique bumpy protrusions on their fins.

Feel free to contact us for any additional info or nature inspired design services you may need.

Visual connection with nature within our interiors — biofilico wellness interiors

Interior design is a unique mix of creative and precise processes that work in conjunction to enhance the interior of a certain space, be it a building, an office or a home.

Modern-day humans tend to spend more time in the office than ever, that being said, they spend less time outdoors, thus the connection between the people and nature has reached an all time low.

The importance of visual connection with nature is often being taken for granted and is, more often than not, treated as a commodity rather than a necessity which provides significant psycho-somatic benefits to humans.

As luck would have it, architects and designers around the world have found a way to bridge the gap between the ever-growing amount of time humans tend to spend indoors and the importance of having a visual connection with nature in the built environment.

Thus the ground-works for biophilic design have been laid and the trend became an overnight success due to its many benefits.

The importance of connection with nature, it's elements and processes 

We believe that the spaces where people spend the majority of their time should not only be functional and well decorated, but also have a positive impact on our well-being. It has been proven by various studies worldwide that the visuals of greenery and animals lowers the stress levels, our blood pressure and awakens the feeling of serenity. The psychological and physiological importance of viewing nature cannot be overstated.

It is true that everyone has a different opinion on what the beauty of nature really is, for some it may be a luscious waterfall, while to others a beautiful sight of nature may reflect the vast and golden savanna. Whatever the case may be, it is of utmost importance for humans to feel connected to nature on a daily basis. This connection often involves engaging with natural systems and understanding natural life cycles, which can heighten our awareness of seasonality and the cycles of life.

There are several ways humans perceive the feeling of being connected with nature such as:

• Visual connection with Nature

• Non-visual connection with Nature

• The Presence of Water

• Dynamic and Dispersed Lighting

• Proximity to Natural processes

• The exposure to Thermal and Airflow changes

Visual connection with natural elements 

Visual connection with nature has an enormous impact on humans. Creating a visual experience inspired by nature can be both stimulating and calming. For these reasons more people today are incorporating nature inspired designs in both their work spaces and homes as well. Green walls are a common example of bringing the presence of nature into a space.

These connections can be established by a variety of different elements. By using biophilic interior design, the designers are able to successfully narrow the gap between the modern-day humans and nature.

That being said, stimulating views of natural elements, living systems, and plants have an enormous effect on both our mind and our body. The material connection with nature, through the use of natural materials, grains, and textures, also plays a significant role in reflecting the natural environment and enhancing cognitive performance.

Non visual connection with nature and it's elements

Apart from the visual stimulus, the non visual connection with natural elements is highly important to us as well. By simply hearing and/or feeling certain familiar incitements from nature, our mind can be stimulated to relieve stress and work more efficiently. Non rhythmic sensory stimuli, such as the gentle sway of grasses in a breeze, can provide mental breaks and enhance our well-being.

One of the easiest ways to incorporate different elements that simulate the feeling of being out in the wilderness is a mechanically powered water flow with varying water pressure which is one of the most efficient practices when it comes to biophilic design.

Other ways that promote the feeling of non visual connection with nature include the stimulus of other senses through touch and smell. With the main goal of increasing mental health and focus, the sound of water, a crackling fireplace, and the smell of pines are one of many tools that are being used when trying to bring nature closer to us. Incorporating natural analogues, such as organic shapes, materials, and patterns found in nature, into artwork, furniture, and décor can also trigger a biophilic human link to nature and inspire a sense of well-being.

Dynamic and Dispersed Lighting

Various studies have confirmed that people find it soothing when the indoor light is being used to mimic the circadian processes in nature since unpredicted lighting patterns are a natural occurrence that people are exposed to on a daily basis. 

However, the effect of dynamic and dispersed lighting can only be pleasant if it's carefully designed and placed in a way that doesn't directly affect anyone. This type of lighting should only be used to enhance the atmosphere, and is in no means meant to illuminate the entire room. 

This being said,  it is extremely important that the space we're spending the majority of our time in is well exposed to natural light.

Proximity to Natural processes

Proximity to natural processes, such as changing of the seasons and even the weather, is highly important since it affects our visual connection with nature itself and gives humans the feeling of being connected to the events taking place outside. Incorporating natural materials like wood, granite, and leather into design can further enhance this connection and elicit positive cognitive or physiological responses.

Whether the interior design of your work or home space is leaning more to the visual or the non-visual aspect of biophilic design, the certain thing is that it does wonders for our personal sense of peace and our motivation. Implementing space patterns, such as non-rhythmic sensory stimuli and visual and non-visual connections with nature, can optimize the physical environment and strengthen our connection with natural systems.

The summary

One of the biggest goals when it comes to biophilic design is helping to create a space that promotes a multi-sensory experience that provides its inhabitants the feelings of calming and stress-relieving sensations. Mimic natural environments by incorporating subtle changes in air and surface temperature, humidity, and airflow across the skin to enhance thermal and airflow variability.

By providing the visual elements such as views of stunning landscapes, beautiful plants and animals in the wild, or stimulating other senses through fragrances and sounds, biophilic design is helping people increase their productivity, self-confidence and general well-being.

Biophilic design is a complex process and in order to truly experience its real advantages, the entire operation should be handled by an experienced professional.

We hope that you now have a clearer picture when it comes to benefits of being connected to nature. LEED certifiedBiofilico designers offer high quality service when it comes to interior decoration and design, so feel free to contact us for any additional services when it comes to biophilic design.

Visual Comfort in Buildings: The Key to Focus and Concentration in Offices — Wellness Design Consultants

Most would agree that one of the most important aspects of workplace interior design is visual comfort, largely to do with the quantity and quality of light hitting the eye’s retina.

Get it right and a workplace wellness designer has the power to make office workers feel relaxed, focused and able to concentrate throughout the work day. Get it wrong on the other hand…

Visual comfort in office buildings is often about achieving a certain natural harmony within a particular space, combining considerations around material selection, glare, shadow and the colour of electric light within the indoor environment at different times of day.

But have you ever wondered how visual comfort in buildings can help people maintain****focus? In order to give you an accurate answer, let’s start with the

What does “visual comfort” in an office context mean? 

Visual comfort is best described as an individual’s reaction to the light inside a particular space, in this instance an office, or an area within an office such as a meeting room, open-plan desk area and so on.

Just as workplace design with a wellness focus takes into consideration both acoustic and thermal comfort as well, visual comfort in office buildings is a deal-breaker in today’s highly competitive office design scene, we simply know too much about how to get this right - there are no excuses!

So visual comfort can be a combination of both natural and artificial light, including views out onto the surrounding area, ideally not looking directly into an adjacent building and at least able to see some sky above. The luminous environment, including background luminance and luminance intensity of glare sources, plays a crucial role in influencing visual comfort and the perception of discomfort glare.

Glare control meanwhile is about managing the light coming into an office building from outside, ensuring it does not cause distractions for those working indoors, for example by hitting computer screens or bouncing off a reflective desk surface and distracting a worker from their task.

Interior designers are very cautious when it comes to this element of design, since it’s easy to exaggerate or lack in the level of the light. Different levels of lighting can evoke different vibes and experiences of space.

How does visual comfort in buildings affect our focus?

The impact that lighting inside one space has on people should not be neglected. Natural and artificial lighting have a great influence on how we feel, think, and react to things. It is proved that a good light quality, luminosity, views of outside space, and absence of glare have positive impacts on mood and productivity.

In order for people to be creative, motivated for work, and, most importantly, focused well inside a room, there has to be adequate light conditions. Many studies have shown that daylight can boost learning. Daylight illuminance is a key factor in evaluating the quality and sufficiency of light in a space.

It is because the certain parts of human eyes are connected to the parts of the brain that secrete sleep and alert hormones such as melatonin and cortisol. When the light enters human eyes, it engages a non-visual system which is responsible for cognitive performance of people and the timing of their sleep-wake cycles. Poor lighting conditions can lead to visual discomfort, affecting both physiological and psychological well-being.

The significance of the blue light 

Blue light has been shown to have stimulating effects on us as it is the light we experience naturally from the sun during the day, it is the colour of digital screens and LED lights, causing us to be more active and alert, so when a blue-white light is used in an office building, it is there to have a very specific effect. 

The problem comes however when that same light is used after dark and those working late are not able to adjust to a warmer amber tone that will not disrupt their sleep patterns later on.

The famous study in the elementary school in USA

The impact of appropriate lighting is shown in a famous study in an American elementary school where students exposed to higher daylight levels during the day had 26% higher reading scores, 20% higher math scores, and improved cognitive performance over other students without the same exposure to intense natural daylight

Ways of measuring visual comfort 

In order to ensure high levels of visual comfort in office buildings, we measure light by its intensity, illuminance, and various glare metrics to assess visual comfort. Useful daylight illuminance is a metric used to evaluate the quality of daylight in a space.

Daylight illuminance is measured to ensure adequate light levels and occupant visual satisfaction.

On the other hand, when we speak about radiometry, it is possible to measure light by its wavelengths and characteristics which are specific to an electromagnetic wave.

Natural light is great for productivity and focus

Knowing how vital good visual comfort in office buildings can be for productivity and focus results in many of those who design biophilic spaces will go out of their way to maximize access to natural light and artificial lighting wherever possible, not just as a way to promote a connection to nature but also for its wellness design benefits on cognitive performance and all-round productivity. Energy strategies can further enhance visual comfort and productivity. Good glare control is essential for maintaining visual comfort and productivity.

Meaningful design - what impact does it have on human senses?

Designing an interior space is a creative process that engages our imagination as we are forced to think across multiple planes, from colors to shapes, textures, fabrics, materials, light, and plants.

But have you ever thought about how meaningful design affects the human senses? How might one design impact a person and his experience of that environment, versus the same design and a different person?

Interiors need to do more than just look good nowadays, the evidence proving that our environment can have a direct impact on our mood, stress levels, anxiety, and happiness is beyond doubt. Changes in ambient lighting, for example, can significantly affect these emotional and physiological responses.

It is for this reason that Biofilico and the wider community of biophilic interior designers and wellness interior designers aim to create environments that are ‘human senses friendly’, genuine oases of positivity.

Introduction to Multi-Sensory Design

Multi-sensory design is an innovative approach that takes into account the full spectrum of human senses, including sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. This method recognizes that human perception is a complex interplay of multiple senses working together to create a rich and immersive experience. By designing for multiple senses, designers can craft environments that are not only visually appealing but also engaging and memorable. This holistic approach to sensory design ensures that spaces resonate on a deeper level, enhancing the overall sensory experience and making a lasting impact on human senses.

Brief History of Multi-Sensory Design

The concept of multi-sensory design has been evolving for decades, gaining significant traction in recent years. During the 1950s and 1960s, artists and designers began experimenting with multi-sensory experiences, utilizing light, sound, and smell to create immersive environments. This era marked the beginning of a shift towards sensory integration in design. By the 1970s and 1980s, these techniques were being applied to product design, resulting in items that engaged multiple senses. Today, multi-sensory design is a rapidly growing field, with designers and researchers continually exploring new ways to create immersive and engaging experiences that captivate all the senses.

The Importance of Considering Multiple Senses in Design

Incorporating multiple senses in design is crucial for several reasons. Firstly, it allows designers to create experiences that are more engaging and memorable. By stimulating multiple sensory modalities, designers can craft environments that are immersive and interactive, leading to increased user engagement and satisfaction. Secondly, considering multiple senses in design promotes accessibility and inclusivity. By designing for a broader spectrum of sensory experiences, designers can create spaces that are accessible to people with disabilities and enjoyable for individuals of all ages and backgrounds. This approach ensures that the sensory qualities of a space cater to a diverse target audience, enhancing the overall user experience.

How do people perceive spaces and objects around them?

Often when you enter a room, you get a specific feeling or vibe that will immediately promote an emotional response that is highly individual and linked to our past.

Human beings receive information from the outside world through our senses, all of which are intricately connected, meaning humans perceive spaces and objects through multiple sensory stimuli including vision, sound, and touch.

In the simplest of terms, the sound is all to do with physical vibrations**,** while sight relies on light hitting our retina, and touch is connected to our somatosensory system that includes touch receptors and nerve endings.

The Science of Human Senses

Human senses are incredibly complex and capable of perceiving a wide range of stimuli. While the five traditional senses of sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell are well-known, they are just the beginning. There are many other senses that play a crucial role in our perception of the world. For instance, the sense of balance and proprioception (the sense of body position and movement) are essential for our ability to navigate our surroundings. Understanding the full spectrum of human senses allows designers to create environments that engage all the senses, leading to a more comprehensive and enriching sensory experience.

The Five-Sense Myth: Understanding the Complexity of Human Senses

The notion that humans have only five senses is a myth that has been debunked by scientists and researchers. In reality, humans possess a multitude of senses that are capable of perceiving a wide array of stimuli. For example, the sense of touch extends beyond the skin to include pressure, temperature, and vibration. Similarly, the sense of smell is intricately linked to taste and the ability to detect pheromones. By acknowledging the complexity of human senses, designers can create experiences that are more engaging, memorable, and effective. Designing for multiple senses allows for a more immersive and interactive experience, ultimately leading to increased user engagement and satisfaction.

By integrating these new sections, the article will provide a comprehensive overview of multi-sensory design, its history, importance, and the science behind human senses, all while maintaining a consistent tone and style.

How can people get tied to space and objects via senses? 

Since human beings are destined to perceive the world around them via their senses, interiors that make use of multi-sensory design strategies and consider various sensory aspects can have a huge impact on mood.

Whenever you step into space, a specific smell or a sound can evoke an emotional response, perhaps nostalgia, sadness, or optimism.

The multisensory connections inside the human brain have the capability to make us remember emotions in response to the physical environment we find ourselves in. Consequently, we can all become tied to certain spaces, objects, and experiences.

Why is meaningful design so influential on sensory experience?

Multi-sensory design, or ‘meaningful design’, has physical aspects that affect our mood, energy, how we think, act and feel. Our perception of comes to us both consciously and unconsciously in fact.

In order to design a multi-sensory environment one must understand how we as human beings engage with the spaces around us. Understanding sensory engagement is crucial for designing multi-sensory environments that challenge visual dominance and promote a more inclusive understanding of space. We tend to be influenced by what we see, hear, touch, taste and smell. All those senses are responsible for memorable human reactions at the level of wellness interior design.

For healthy interior design consultants like us who want to make residents or office workers feel comfortable and in a positive mood, green interior designhealthy environment strategies help to evoke a certain emotional response.

How to design space that stimulates human senses through multi sensory design?

Now that we are aware how much meaningful design can impact senses, the question is - what might that type of interior design look like? How can we evoke certain experiences or moods through our interior design choices?

No matter whether it is the color of a wall, the sound of walking across a certain type of flooring, the choice of lighting in a room, or the textile and materials used for the furniture, each and every element, including sensory features, can collectively amount to a specific feeling. For us, choosing the right materials is especially important to this process.

The importance of choosing the right biophilic design materials 

Vision is one of our most evocative senses so we tend to notice furniture, flooring, textures and materials first when walking into a room. Natural materials such as wood, brick, stone and bamboo help establish a connection with nature indoors.

If an interior design features an abundance of air-purfying plants and elements of water such as fountains or aquariums,  a healthy interior at home can become an oasis of productivity and creativity. 

For a truly meaningful design that is multi-sensory in every way possible, natural lighting is one of the other key elements to consider for a wellness design consultant.

Ambient lighting has a great impact on the mood and productivity

Did you know that natural light has numerous health benefits? It's presence in the interior can reduce the risk of many diseases, can prevent weight gain and even help skin absorb vitamin D that is essential for overall health. It also affects the secretion of happiness hormones that make people feel productive, happy, and motivated. 

If natural light isn't possible in the interior, LED lights could be a great substitute since they are the least harmful type of indoor light. However, the combination of the natural light and natural materials is ideal for a wellness design or meaningful design concept that will impact the human senses. 

Biophilic + meaningful design - a match made in heaven

Biophilic design, for instance, can translate as meaningful in so many ways - it is based on natural, healthy principles, sustainabilitywellness, which is why we strongly believe that it can be a good start in your search for your own urban oasis. 

A wellness design space can activate the five basic senses helping to ensure you feel happy, motivated and relaxed in your residence or workplace, or why not, even a gym!

Designing a hotel gym or resort fitness facilities

INTRODUCTION TO HOTEL GYM DESIGN

Designing a successful hotel gym layout or fitness facilities for a resort is quite a different skill set to being, say, a hotel architect or designer, despite the understandable desire on the part of such firms to own the gym space creatively as well as the common areas, rooms and hospitality spaces.

It’s no surprise that most hotels simply give the exercise space or yoga studio over to an equipment supplier, install lighting and air con, neutral flooring and the job is done; gym designers are nowhere to be seen.

It therefore takes a certain type of hotel or resort to seek out a specialist hotel gym designer to go one step further and really consider the gym design architecture.

This was the case for us when Singita Safari lodges contacted us back in 2018, and again with our current client work in Italy for a new sustainable luxury wellness hotel brand opening in 2021.

VIU Hotel, milano gym design - wood flooring, neutral grey walls and ceiling, Technogym equipment

DO HOTELS NEED A SPECIALIST GYM DESIGNER?

In our experience with gym design, the most likely candidates for seeking out a specialist hotel gym designer are high-end hospitality brands, and those with an existing connection to wellness, health or a natural lifestyle.

They may be looking to upgrade their gym offer to become a Unique Selling Point, rather than simply following the usual option of a lower-ground, space with no natural light packed full of Technogym cardio and strength equipment.. sound familiar?

Luxury hotels and resorts increasingly see the standard of gym and fitness studio that their guests are using when at home in their primary residence, then compare that with the gym experience on offer at their property and realise the gap is too wide to ignore.

DEFINING A CONCEPT FOR A HOTEL GYM

Not every successful hotel gym is created equal. We have identified a number of ways to differentiate a hospitality fitness offer and to add value to the guest experience whilst ensuring a hotel stands out from the crowd in a competitive market.

The key component is a well defined gym concept that connects the hotel guest’s fitness preferences and their expectations of what a hotel gym will do for them, with the personality of the hotel in question.

This can be a delicate balancing act but all too often the default mode is to go with the classic Technogym equipment set-up with mirrored walls, TV screens, bright lighting and an aggressive air con system. This is pure vanilla, you could literally be in any hotel gym in the world. Guest motivation levels will likely fall off a cliff and workout times will drop. The industry can and should do better.

Go too far in the other direction though and the risk is that a guest feels lost, uncertain or out of place in the gym. Luxury hotels are about frictionless guest experiences, meaning this could become a pain point assuming no staff are on hand to explain how everything works.

soul cycle fitness studio design, 1 hotel south beach, miami

BRANDED HOTEL GYM CONCEPTS

Just as branded F&B concepts provide hotel operators with the halo effect of being associated with a world-class dining concept, a big name gym or fitness studio brand can do something similar if chosen well.

Having a cult fitness name such as SoulCycle operating a spinning studio at street level no doubt helped 1 Hotel South Beach, Miami to foster closer links amongst a certain local demographic for example, whilst also providing hotel guests with an on-site solution for the type of experiential workout they are used to at home - and the polar opposite of a solo workout in a soulless hotel gym!

London’s BXR, a boutique fitness concept built around boxing’s heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, collaborated with Daios Cove Resort in Crete to create a retreat concept complete with a dedicated on-site functional fitness training area on a converted outdoor tennis court.

This is an example of a software-heavy proposition, where there is in fact relatively little hotel gym design in the collaboration, meaning less CAPEX into hardware for the hotel.

Where BXR delivers a killer jab-hook-cross however is with its aspirational positioning, expert boxing / conditioning coaches and an existing tribe of loyal followers in London, ensuring the Daios hotel can tap into a new market segment during its quieter shoulder seasons.

functional fitness gym by at six hotel, stockholm

HOTEL GYM FLOOR SPACE - HOW BIG IS BIG ENOUGH?

A lowest common denominator approach would suggest that 50m2 is sufficient floor space for a modestly sized boutique hotel of up to around 50 rooms. Given this is not a revenue generating facility, the inclination is to prioritize a spa or treatment room first, squeezing the gym into whatever corner is left once priority has been given to sales revenues. This is an all too common conundrum. Our response is usually - “well, let’s make the gym so great that it has a direct, positive impact on the guest’s stay!”

There are of course gym usage formulas we could propose for how big a hotel gym design should be based on the total number of rooms, average hotel occupancy and an estimate of how many or what % of guests actually make it to the hotel gym during their stay (probably far less than you’d imagine.. especially in spaces with no visible signs of an interior designer being involved!).

This approach does not account for less tangible factors though, such as a boutique hotel owner’s passion for fitness, or a resort’s particular brand.

As a rule of thumb however, a gym needs to be a minimum of 25m2 and only really becomes a genuine feature from around 50m2, whilst at the other end of the spectrum, even the most generous resort gyms are not going to offer more than 500m2 in total including an allocation for a swimming pool.

A new generation of dedicated fitness hotels such as Equinox Hotels are challenging that distinction, integrating fitness into the guest experience at various touch points during the customer journey. For most boutique size hotels however, an allocation of around 100m2 for a gym is a reasonable figure to aim for.

BXR retreat outdoor hotel gym design, crete

THE HOTEL GYM EQUIPMENT QUESTION

Gym equipment suppliers will, perhaps understandably, sell as much of their equipment as possible to a less-informed hotel owner, insisting on the presence of endless isolation weight machines, from leg extensions, to leg curls, chest press and lat pull down machines.

The trend towards more open space in gym design does not sit well with a sales rep on commission. So what’s the answer? Hire a specialist hotel gym designer who is paid to create and implement a unique gym concept, ensuring a more neutral perspective on what equipment needs to be in the hotel gym.

For example, a functional fitness inspired facility would focus on cardio machines, free weights, movement areas and a rig for attaching equipment to - be it a punching bag, ropes, or a loaded barbell. This negates or at least drastically reduces the need for isolation machines, meaning a lower overall CAPEX investment that more than covers the hotel gym designer’s fees.

For the right kind of hotel with a younger, urban demographic, this type of concept would be far more in line with the type of training they are used to. See the above image from the At Six Hotel in Stockholm for an example of how to get it right.

On the other hand, clearly this would NOT be applicable for a classic 5-star hotel gym design oriented towards a more mature demographic who may be working around injuries or limited mobility - in which case, a wider selection of cardio machines would be in order, as well as some isolation machines and perhaps more space given over to mobility and balance work.

To enquire about our hotel gym design services contact us via email here.

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Further Reading

• Hotel Gym Design - A Consultant's View

• Gym Posts

• The Mental Empowerment Office Gym With Katharina Naumann

• Fitness Posts

• Posts In Gyms

• Sustainability & Wellbeing Advisory For Real Estate & Hospitality

• Wellness Real Estate and Interiors Consultants

• Posts Tagged Fitness

• Best New Hotels Resorts Using Biophilic Design Interiors

• Posts Tagged Exercise

• Sustainable Hotels In The Uk - Independently Owned

• Posts Tagged Hotels

• Sustainable Boutique Hotel Brands UK

• Indoor Air Quality In Gyms

• Benefits Of Active Design In The Workplace

• Winning The Mental Game In Physical Activity Programs With Martin Ebner

• Building Wellness & Sustainability With Evalore Spain

• Well Building Standard: Movement v08 Physical Activity Spaces & Equipment

• Wellness Eco-Luxury Resorts With Revivo

• Mental Wellbeing Clinic Design - The Soke, London

• Opo Wellness Content For Hotels And Real Estate Developments

• The Aficionados On Sustainability At Independent Hotels

• Posts tagged Gym

Multisensory Design - Interior Design Approach to Workplace Wellness

Our senses are the very first receptors that introduce us to the space we are in. The feeling we have when we enter a new building or room comes from what we hear, smell, or see, all aspects of human perception. This is the core information for the multisensory design, created to adjust the interior design to our senses.

Let us introduce you to the multisensory approach to workplace wellness, which should provide the best conditions for people working hours, increasing their productivity and putting them in a good mood.

What is Multisensory Design, and How Does the Idea Start?

Multisensory interior design aims to engage multiple human senses, creating spaces that evoke pleasant experiences beyond visual aesthetics. While sight is often prioritized, this approach recognizes the significance of other senses in shaping our perception of a space, such as temperature, smells, sounds, textures, and flavors.

Origins of Multisensory Design

The idea of multisensory design emerged from realizing that human experiences involve multiple senses, prompting designers to consider a holistic approach that integrates sensory features and qualities. Through sensory integration and using natural materials, this design philosophy seeks to enhance well-being and foster deeper connections between individuals and their environments by focusing on sensory qualities.

Connecting Senses to Feel Good 

The idea is to connect all senses when designing a room, apartment, or building. Doing it right, we make sure that we will feel good every time we enter that space while having more energy. 

Naturally, this idea got a chance to change our workplaces, considering how much time we spend there. Workplace wellness is one of the most important topics in interior design, and that's why different approaches strive to provide the best work conditions. 

Workplace Wellness Improved by Multisensory Interior Design

As we said, workplace wellness is a great field for interior design innovation, and that’s why multisensory design has its idea of creating a good and healthy working environment. Innovative solutions such as the multisensory virtual reality apparatus can also be explored to enhance workplace wellness.

The idea is to improve productivity, to minimize the stress, and to create a space where all the workers are in peace. For instance, removing all the sources of distracting sounds will help the workers to concentrate. Also, good lighting and a peaceful background sound can increase calmness and productivity.

The solutions created by multisensory approaches not only remove the bad impact on our health, but they also tend to connect the sources of good and calming feelings that awake our senses.

The Impact of Multisensory Design Divided into Senses

To describe the benefits of multisensory design as precisely as possible, we should describe its impact on each sense. 

Let's get into it!

Smell - where the memory is hidden 

The scent is the sense most strongly connected to our memory; that's why we can travel so fast in our memory every time we recognize a smell. 

Have you ever noticed how some retail stores or shopping malls have signature scents that make them recognizable? This is how these places create a memorable multisensory experience for their customers. 

The same thing can be done in the workplace. Choosing a pleasant and calming signature scent will help all the workers feel better whenever they come to work because they'll connect the smell with a good feeling. 

Sound - create good vibrations

The worst triggers at work are probably bad and distracting sounds. This can be a big problem in open space offices. That's why implementing multisensory design can solve this problem. 

You can play appropriate music in common spaces to create a feeling of divided offices in open spaces. You should pick the music without vocals or words if you want to concentrate. Different companies can choose different music based on their field of work.

You can use sound-masking technologies and materials that minimize sound concentration to eliminate distracting noises. These materials are often natural and are part of healthy buildings' interiors.

Touch - where the comfy feeling comes from 

At the workplace, we get in touch with many materials, so there is no chance to avoid the ones we find unpleasant unless we consider using a multisensory design. 

The basic idea here is to choose comfortable materials for the things workers need to come into contact with. The advantage is natural materials, such as wood, are softly crafted to feel comfortable. For the fabric, always use natural ones, like cotton and silky thread. 

When decorating a workplace, you can play with aesthetics, materials, and fabrics.  If you have a chill area at work, you can add comfy sofas and little wooden coffee tables. 

Sight - look at the brighter side of work 

Regarding architecture and design, sight comes first, without a doubt. Aesthetics is critical, but multisensory design gives it another level. 

The multisensory approach suggests visual access to daylight and nature to create a wellness interior at work. Also, it is important to provide exposure to sunshine. This helps us maintain better concentration and allows us to synthesize vitamin D, which promotes bone health and reduces inflammation. 

Colours are also essential for our sight. The warm-toned ones have biophilic effects on the workplace. You should be careful when choosing colours for walls, or big elements in your office furniture. Plants can also give a nice and calm tone to your office.

One of the most important things is to avoid a sense of crowded space, which is why you should forget about adding too many details to your workplace.

Find Balance and Make a Perfect Workplace Using a Multisensory Approach

After dividing all senses to create perfect conditions for each, the final touch will connect everything to stimulate synesthesia - overall enjoyment for all senses. 

That perfect balance and pleasure for all your senses is what multisensory design is created for and what will bring you the ultimate goal of happiness and productivity at work.

Benefits of Using Multisensory Design in Interior Design

Enhanced User Experience

Multisensory design enriches the user experience by engaging multiple senses, creating a more immersive and memorable environment. By incorporating elements that appeal to sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste, interior spaces become more inviting and enjoyable for occupants.

Promotion of Well-Being

Multisensory design has been linked to improved well-being, as it can positively influence mood, reduce stress, and enhance overall satisfaction with a space. Natural light, soothing sounds, and pleasant aromas create a calming and rejuvenating atmosphere, promoting mental and emotional wellness.

Increased Brand Engagement

Incorporating multisensory elements into interior design can strengthen brand engagement and loyalty. By creating unique sensory experiences that align with brand values and identity, businesses can leave a lasting impression on customers, fostering a deeper connection and encouraging repeat visits or purchases.

Enhanced Creativity and Innovation

The multisensory design encourages creativity and innovation by challenging designers to think beyond traditional aesthetics and consider the holistic experience of a space. By exploring the potential of all senses, designers can push boundaries, experiment with new ideas, and create truly distinctive and impactful environments.

Improved Functionality and Accessibility

Consideration of multiple senses in interior design can lead to spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also more functional and accessible. By addressing sensory needs and preferences, such as providing adequate lighting, minimizing noise distractions, and incorporating tactile elements for navigation, designers can create environments that accommodate diverse users and promote inclusivity.

Why Multi-sensory Design Helps Clients Stick to your Brand?

Multi-sensory design enriches workplace wellness by engaging all the senses, creating a positive atmosphere that fosters brand loyalty. By incorporating sensory aspects such as natural light, music, and pleasing scents, brands elevate the sensory experience, leaving a lasting impression on individuals and cultivating strong connections.

Incorporating elements that appeal to the five senses, including vision, sound, touch, and scent, enhances sensory engagement and creates memorable experiences. Whether through the design of common spaces or eliminating unwanted noise, brands strive to curate the ultimate sensory experience for users, fostering a personal connection that encourages long-term loyalty.

Through multi-sensory design, brands aim to provide individuals with a sensory-rich environment that appeals to their experiences and preferences. By paying attention to sensory details such as texture, visual aesthetics, and good smells, brands create a world where users feel valued and immersed in an unparalleled sensory journey.

What is ‘Non Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli in Design

Non rhythmic sensory stimuli is biophilic design in nature, it triggers visual stimuli which makes people feel calm and relaxed.

The natural environment is always in motion,  something is always changing, so nature is never still. This natural flow is also known as a  natural rhythm, and it is a part of a human being too, only we don't think about it often enough. 

Do you find yourself tired spending hours in front of your TV or computer, listening to the static sound you can't avoid? People spend a lot of time indoors, surrounded by all these static sounds of technology.

That's why we need balance, and the key for it is NRS in interior design. 

Understanding Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli and the Natural Sounds We Need

Non rhythmic sensory stimuli or ‘NRSS’ are a part of the concept and they are created as a substance for calming nature sound we can hear outdoors. This imitation of natural rhythm is important not only for creating a pleasant vibe in a room but also for providing health and wellbeing benefits by increasing our wellbeing, happiness, and overall health.

Have you ever noticed how watching a fish tank makes you calm? Or how the raindrops sound good on a rainy day? Nature is made of all these sounds dynamic patterns and motions, and we are perfectly aligned with it. So NRSS in design strives to redeem this lack of natural sound by creating a space without too many static sounds.

How the Installation of NRSS in Design Works? 

These stimuli from the natural environment create natural rhythm in different workspaces, apartments, and indoor surroundings, we spend the most time in. This can be arranged with technology solutions, such as designed lighting animations with natural elements and sounds.

There are examples of the digital garden, with the sounds and motions that imitate natural ones. This kind of technology solution is often implemented in places such as waiting rooms, airports, doctor’s offices, where people often feel a lack of calmness.

Technology Free Solutions for the Implementation of the NRSS 

Without technology, there is still a way to create a natural rhythm indoors and be perfectly aligned with nature.

Indoor Plants

This is all a part of the wellness interior concept, that you can try, for instance, by putting a lot of plants in the room and creating a natural breeze.

Biophilic designers often work with horticulturists because plants are one of the biggest sources of the natural rhythm we can bring indoors.

Swaying grass or shimmering water features implemented in the interior design, which mimic natural motion, can also help you feel calm and relaxed.

Animals as Creators of Natural Rhythm

Interesting thing is that animals can also be participants in creating NRS in design of interior environments. As we’ve already mentioned, fish tanks are perfect for creating a relaxing vibe in the room. The motions of the fishes are so pleasant to watch, and the colours are usually pretty calming.

Examples of Biophilic Design That Evoke NRSS

Natural Lighting 

Creating a beautiful vibe with perfectly natural sounds and motions, wouldn't be much without good lighting. As you may predict so far, natural lighting is very important, so bringing natural light source as much as it can be brought is a big part of this story.  It fosters a connection to the outdoors, promoting well-being and productivity.

Advantage goes to healthy buildings because these are created from scratch to be the best example of biophilic design.

Water Features

Incorporating water features, such as fountains or reflecting pools, leverages simulated stimuli to enhance sensory experiences within the built environment. The repetitive natural motion of flowing water creates a mental respite for occupants, promoting environmental health and user well-being. These rhythmic sensory elements provide a contrast to the static beings of the office space, offering visitors exposure to non-rhythmic sensory stimuli that evoke a connection to natural environments.

Even a stunning computer generated waterfall is satisfying to watch after exposing too much screen time when you're at the office.

Exposed Elevators Inside Buildings

Exposed elevators within buildings offer a unique architectural element, integrating natural motion with the functional aspect of transportation. By providing transparency and connectivity between floors, these elevators stimulate the senses and promote user engagement with the built environment. The overall eleavator journey view might be brief but welcome distraction.

Their presence leverages naturally occurring stimuli, such as programmable lighting animations, to create a visually stimulating experience with shortened focal depth, inviting occupants to interact with their surroundings and fostering mental respite in the bustling urban environment.

Dichroic Glass

Dichroic glass, with its ability to reflect and transmit multiple colors depending on viewing angles, creates an ever-changing visual experience reminiscent of natural phenomena like the play of light on water or through foliage. Its incorporation into design elements adds vibrancy and intrigue, stimulating the senses and evoking a connection to the outdoors within indoor spaces.

Dichroic glass can increase sensory stimuli if a glass wall is not convenient in a rural environments.

Indoor Plants Integration

Incorporating indoor plants into the design not only enhances aesthetics but also positively impacts air quality, decreases blood pressure and mental well-being within an open plan office environment. These green companions contribute to a biophilic environment, reducing stress and facilitating creative thought processes among occupants. By bringing elements of nature indoors, they counteract the visually monotonous effects of digital technology, promoting user well-being and providing whimsical movements that rejuvenate the space.

Glass Walls for Outdoor Connectivity

Integrating glass walls blurs the boundary between indoor and outdoor spaces, providing an opportunity for occupants to regain correct focus and alleviate physical discomfort in an open plan office environment. By offering unobstructed views of the rural environment and unexpected stimuli, these installations facilitate creative thought and enhance user well-being. Furthermore, the presence of glass walls supports biophilic design considerations, inviting visitors to experience whimsical movements of kinetic sculptures while promoting connectivity with nature.

How Does Natural Rhythm Affect Our Health? 

After explaining what non rhythmic sensory stimuli stands for, alongside how to implant it in our indoor environment, let’s explain why you should even consider this kind of interior design.

Natural sounds and motions are important for our health because a part of our perception picks up the rhythm of our environment. That’s why the natural rhythm has been shown to improve our heart rate, improve blood pressure too, and have a positive effect on the sympathetic nervous system. Also, natural, such stimuli and sounds help us feel more calm, happy and relaxed.

Even if you can’t see the difference, your subconscious can. It is because of one very interesting phenomenon known cognitive neuroscience as the peripheral field of vision, which is linked to sympathetic nervous system activity.

Where are the Peripheral Zones of our Field of Vision?

If our computer is in front of us, that means that it is in the centre of our field of vision, everything that is set on the left and right is in the peripheral zones of our field of peripheral vision.

The important thing thatNRS in the design stand for is putting all correct focus on the plants and sources of natural sound in these zones. By doing this you make sure that your subconscious will “pick up” all the good vibes natural rhythm is creating in surrounding environment.

So, if you want to implement some of subtle benefits of the natural rhythm factors in your working or living space, you should follow these tips in order to feel the health benefits.

Where Should you Implement Non Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli? 

To answer this question ask yourself what place makes you feel stressed or tired? If it is your home - implement some of these stimuli there. Unexpected sensory stimuli, such as rhythmic and moving artwork, can create a calming and safe environment. However if it is a workplace, then you should consider some changes there.

Not only does non rhythmic stimuli bring you better health conditions, but it also makes you more productive and energetic by incorporating objects or materials in consistent yet unpredictable motion. Additionally, visual stimuli can prevent low-level physiological stresses by periodically adjusting short visual focus focal lengths. So, a great idea is to follow these rules in creating space for work out too.

This text should help you to understand better environmental psychology and the health benefits of natural rhythm, and to start to think about our subconscious, that always strives to be perfectly aligned with nature. When the same sound is repeated in a static environment, non-rhythmic sensory stimuli can improve visual comfort and productivity, and even help in healthcare settings to relax and distract individuals.

3D interior design concept and how it benefits your business

Do you lack form, space, texture, or even light, colour and patterns in the making of your interior design concept? The answer you seek is 3D visualisation and an experienced guide to lead you through the magical world of interior conceptualization.

3D visualisation is an easy to use tool that balances out the art of interior design and the science of taking all the elements and aspects of planning into account - for a uniquely build and decorated environment to work, live or train in.

With 3D visualisation, Biofilico balances these aspects to create a feeling of equilibrium. We harmonically link the elements and emphasise the parts that are in more “danger” to seem either scattered or boring to an occupant. Proportion and scale are the two most important factors used to create symmetry and an interesting “flow” in the room.

Paired with that knowledge and practice, Biofilico team creates beautiful and pleasant homes to live in, with proportions already present in nature! See how a carefully conducted 3D interior design concept can benefit your homes, gyms or hospitality spaces.

How can we benefit from the 3D interior design concept?

The look on some virtual reality space and the amazing feeling when blank sheets and spaces become rendered into comfortable and spacious rooms with texture, details, colours, implemented with furniture, lights, furnishing, floors etc. - in everything!

As professionals, interior designers are expected to use the best rendering tools in the market for their clients. 3D interior rendering is undoubtedly a gateway into a market success! Having a look at a 3D realisation of some future building, anytime and anywhere, can be the ultimate decision-maker. 

Maximizing the value of interior design and increase profit

Figuring out what a customer wants is vital when contemplating any 3D interior design concept, whether for a whole building or “just” decorating a home, office or you have a completely contemporary gym interior design concept in mind.

By using 3D interior renderings, combined with good communication skills, you can narrow in down clients wishes in a short period. With the 3D interior design concept, you make it possible for the clients to see and conceptualise fast, giving them the nudge to hire you on the spot.

Giving something upfront - knowing what to expect

While a variety of technologies make images appear in a more printed and non-alive way, the 3D imaging gives a greater sense and depth of spaces. People feel like they can touch the final product, and this 3D possibility gives them hope and certainty that everything will go according to their wishes and plans.

In a 3D interior design concept, you feel as you could walk right into the environment, the brain perceives and accepts the illusion of greater depth. The experience could also be augmented by interacting with physical wheels, buttons, dials etc.

The only three reasons why you need 3D interior design

As previously mentioned, a 3D interior design concept is a form of configuration technology used to virtually and better present a product, offer od customize our interior concept ideas to a client.

It is used in many industries for creating excellent graphic content consisting of images, diagrams, animations etc. - overall contributing to better communication and understanding of “digital real-life” experience.

3D visualization software plays a great significant role in architecture and interior design by making the working process faster and more effective.

Fast adaptation of alterations - reflects professionalism

A 3D visualization is a great tool for demonstrating whether a prototype or a finished product. Providing fast conceptualization and solutions is a sure winning strategy, and it has been saluted by many clients.

To be able to quickly and consistently adapt to new situations, without losing the contract, we utilize 3D interior renderings. Digital visualizations can also be developed on the spot or altered later on.

Highlight key points - meeting customer concerns and wishes

Interior designers capable of establishing the goal for a client are more likely to win a contract. With 3D rendering, they can manufacture and construct elements, diminishing the possibility for errors because everything is conceivable with 3D visualization technology.

Provide multiple version upfront - shows resourcefulness

Furthermore, each render we make is customizable and adaptable for making it possible for you (and us) to show your capabilities and resourcefulness. Clients are known for their wishes to take a glimpse of their project before the work even starts, and 3D interior design concept provides the opportunity.

One or multiple layouts of the building, exterior or interior design concept can be visualised with lighting, textures and geographical station even before the development process takes place.

CGI and 3D visualisation within Biofilico design studios 

Interior designers within the Biofilico team are delivering a special kind of interior design concept, based on a biophilic understanding of the world and inhabitation. Our goal is to obtain wellness and sustainable design services to our offices, homes, gyms and any hospitality sector.

With a network of talented people, architects, graphic and interior designers, we have built a professional background in real estate development and hospitality, with multiple interior design concept ideas and examples to back it up.

If you choose us as your green real estate and building consultants, you can expect contemporary CGI (Computer-generated imagery) and 3D visualisation of our interior design concept - Biofilico concept, with the incorporation of key elements such as the use of plants and flowers, colours, patterns, textures and materials, as well as circadian lighting. 

The final piece of a word: by utilizing 3D interior renderings, we offer an effective method for creating life-like and real-time buildings. 3D visualisation makes it possible for you us, designers and you as a customer to transform our ideas into a contract and winning digital impression. 

3D visualisations are versatile enough to withstand any alterations a client may request or insist on. Together we come up with a plan to create a unique atmosphere and the aesthetics of your interior design concept.