@Oliver _Heath @human_spaces

Biophilic Design – How improving the human connection with nature in the workplace benefits the triple bottom line

Introduction and Concepts Biophilic Design: Why now?

• Stress related illness primary cause of sickness by 2020• In 2015/16 stress accounted for 37% of all work related ill

health cases and 45% of all working days lost due to ill health.• Total working days lost due to stress in ‘15/’16 - 11.7 m days• 90% of UK now urbanised – up from 79% in 1950’s• We spend 90% of our time indoors• 93% of U.K. adults have smart technology 1/3 admit to

checking smart phones in the middle of the night.• Yet when we choose to go on holiday we choose to surround

ourselves in nature: forests, mountains and beaches.

BiophiliaBiophilia – The innate human attraction to nature and natural processes

Image: Michelle Karpman

Our Genetic Heritage: survival; savannah landscapes; animals; food; water; clear views; vantage points; shelter; defence; warmth

Image: Hoo-Yong

Savannah Theory – Ultimate Landscapes

Key constructs of Biophilic design

Contact with natureWater, trees, plants, light

Human spatial responseEnergising, relaxing, restorative

Natural analoguesEvoking a sense of nature

Image: Human Spaces

Principles – 1. Direct connection with nature

Direct contact with real forms of nature

Visual connection - plants Non visual connection - The senses -sounds, smells, touch

Non rhythmic – Heraclitean movementRipples across water, fish, leaves swaying in a tree

Connection with natural systems - seasons Incorporating water features Thermal and airflow variability

Contact with direct nature

Principles – 2. Improve access to natural light

Circadian Rhythms - The effect of natural light on the body’s 24 hour clock

Image: PhotonStar LED Group PLC

What happens when we don’t sleep properly?

The Importance of SleepThe UK and Germany both lose just over 200,000 working days a year due to sleep deprivation. Sleep deprivation is linked to a higher mortality risk, diabetes, depression.

Why Sleep Matters: Quantifying the Economic Costs of Insufficient SleepMarco Hafner and Wendy M. Troxel

Limit the use of electronic items before bed

Make use of circadian lighting systems

Walk or cycle to work and reap the benefits of a photon shower

Principles3. Quality of air– toxins, air movement, CO2, temp/ humidity

Principles: 4. Natural Analogues- indirect connection Natural forms, patterns, materials, textures and colours

Natural analogues - evoking a sense of nature

Biomorphic shapes and forms

Natural analogues - evoking a sense of nature Natural materials and textures – sensory benefits through touch, vision or sound

Colour: The Ecological Valence Theory

Blues and cyan: calm and relaxation

The theory suggests (Palmer & Schloss 2010) that people are naturally more attracted to significant everyday objects that tend to provoke positive emotions

Green: calm and creativity

Red: excitement and concentration

Yellow and orange: energy and happiness

Colour: case studies

Biophilic design aims to incorporate colourful and patterned surfaces which are representative of the variety of elements within nature

Natural patterns - complexity and order – visually stimulating Natural analogues - evoking a sense of nature

Principles5. Prospect – elevated and enticing views through spaces

Principles: 6. Refuge – recuperative spaces to retreat into

Offices – Alleviates stress, reduces absenteeism, increases productivity and staff retention

Image: HOK London

Natural Light and access to windowsOffice workers were found to perform 10% to 25% better on tests of mental function and memory recall when they had the best possible view versus those with no view.

Image: The Sky Factory

Heschong, Lisa. Heshong Mahone Group (2003) “Windows and Offices: A Study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor Environment” – California Energy Commission

Views onto natureviews from plants have been shown increase productivity by 15%

The Relative Benefits of Green Versus Lean Office Space: Three Field ExperimentsMarlon Nieuwenhuis, Craig Knight, Tom Postmes, and S. Alexander Haslam2014

Natural textures, colours and patternsWhen natural features have been applied a 15% reduction in absenteeism has been reported

Romm, Joseph J. and William D. Browning (1994) “Greening the building and the bottom line.” Rocky Mountain Institute, Colorado

Attention Restoration TheoryRachel and Stephen Kaplan¹, suggests that nature can help to replenish our mental and attentional capacity. Interaction with nature can be called ‘effortless attention’ and helps to replenish our directed attention².

¹Kaplan, R. Kaplan, S. (1989). The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. Cambridge University Press. ²Grinde, B., & Patil, G. G. (2009). Biophilia: Does visual contact with nature impact on health and wellbeing?. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 6(9), Page 2334-2335

Directed attention Micro recuperative workplaceEffortless attention

Image Courtesy of World Green Building CouncilHealth, Wellbeing & Productivity in Offices report

Google Mountain View campusThomas Heatherwick, Studio BIG

www.humanspaces.com

BRE project: Biophilic design in the workplace

@Oliver _Heath @human_spaces

Biophilic Design How improving the human connection with nature in the workplace benefits

the triple bottom line