Up until recently in human history, nature was the office space of choice. We are naturally more wired for grass than cement, which explains why today’s urban office spaces can tend to create stress and even stifle productivity among employees. This is the very problem that the hottest trend in AZ office spaces, biophilic design, aims to solve.
What Is Biophilic Design?
Humans are naturally drawn to the great outdoors, but many of today’s cities and structures have stripped us of this connection. One look at most Phoenix commercial lease properties and you’re likely to see that today’s offices are more concrete than green. What this can leave us with, then, are work environments that promote stress and solitude rather than productivity and wellness.
Studies have found that humans are both healthier and function at a higher capacity when exposed to nature. Unfortunately, it’s unrealistic to propose every office simply uproot and move outside. The biophilic design suggests a far simpler solution: we bring nature to us.
This is the main goal of biophilic design—to fix this disconnect by integrating nature into the office space, ultimately boosting the overall health and productivity of employees.
This does not, however, mean simply adding a plant here or an extra window there. Truly biophilic designs are entirely integrated, creating more of an ecosystem than a stagnant design. Employee exposure to natural elements should be consistent and incorporated into every aspect of the space.
Benefits of Biophilic Design
Biophilic designs tend to encourage much more sustainable development. Rather than creating concrete jungles, incorporating biophilic elements preserves and even encourages the growth of nature. This makes for much greener office spaces.
The benefits of biophilic design aren’t just environmental though. Employees can greatly benefit from this trend—the main goal of this style is, after all, to boost employee health and productivity. Natural elements have the ability to affect employees on a physical, mental, and emotional level. Studies have shown that exposure to nature is incredibly effective in lowering stress levels. This, in turn, can boost overall employee well-being—and it’s no secret that a healthy employee is a productive employee.
The utilization of natural design elements can also tap into people’s emotions, allowing them to feel more personally connected to a space. This serves as both motivation for performance and creates a sense of belonging. Employees who identify with the places they work are typically happier and perform better. Absences shrink and employee engagement rises, again boosting the productivity of your AZ office space.
Incorporating Biophilic Design Into Your AZ Office Space
Biophilic designs utilize both direct and indirect exposure to natural elements. Direct exposure, just as it sounds, entails incorporating natural light, open air and weather, plants, and other organic elements into a space that employees will come into direct contact with. Indirect exposure, on the other hand, encompasses elements that are reminiscent of nature. These can be color palettes, images, simulated natural light or air movement, or even naturally occurring geometric patterns.
Effective biophilic designs require a good deal of planning. From ensuring the ecology of the natural elements is balanced—one species of plant, for example, won’t smother the rest of them—to structuring the building itself to be conducive to natural elements, designs must be holistic and living. Even after they’re implemented, designs have to be flexible enough to allow for natural elements to grow and change.
Are you looking for an office space in AZ that’s designed to boost employee happiness and productivity? Take a look at some of our available properties to find the right spot for your business.
