When budgets are squeezed the office greenery is the first thing to get axed. Kenneth Freeman suggests that entrepreneurs ought to be spending their cash on plants for the office.
There is plenty of evidence to show that well-being at work affects efficiency and productivity. But what does this have to do with interior plants, you ask? Research carried out by Craig Knight and Tom Postmes at the Universities of Exeter and Groeningen has shown that items such as plants and art, or even fragrance, increases productivity, engagement and well-being.
Furthermore, work carried out in the 1980s and 1990s by Roger Ulrich has shown significant health benefits when people are exposed to scenes of nature or views to gardens or plant displays. There is also a huge body of scientific literature showing that symptoms of sick-building syndrome (SBS) are reduced when interior plants are brought into buildings. Such effects were initially thought to be related to the physical characteristics of plants, but the main benefits seem to be psychological.
Simple pleasures such as a walk in the woods or a visit to a park have been shown to reduce stress and feelings of anxiety. Anti-social behaviour in inner cities has been linked to the lack of access to open green space (so-called “Nature Deficit Disorder”) and doctors are even prescribing walks in the countryside as part of a healing regime.
Our need for nature was identified by the American biologist, Edward O Wilson, who found that when given the freedom to choose their ideal environment, people gravitate towards a location that combines three major features: positioned at height, overlooking the landscape (with open terrain and scattered trees), and being close to open water, such as streams or lakes.
Wilson’s ideas have been adopted by architects and designers for some time. In a book by Stephen Kellert, Biophilic Design, we see how architects have used these principles to connect their buildings with nature. But by using combinations of plants, art, lighting and sound effects as well as a more naturalistic style of design it should be possible to make significant improvements to well-being and employee engagement at a very low cost.
Creating a healthy and nature-connected working environment can pay huge dividends in terms of well-being, productivity and business effectiveness – a real return on a relatively small investment in interior design.
Kenneth Freeman is the head of innovation at office landscaper Ambius
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