General

Each year, I like to take note of the interior design trends. And each year, sustainable design trends become more and more prominent, This year, sustainable design is leading. Architects and designers are taking pains to make great-looking buildings that are also friendlier to the environment, and that approach shows in some of this year’s best new buildings. Sustainability adds more value for a building’s local environment as well as its occupants. Gensler’s Nellie Reed writes that “green [design] adds value—long-term environmental, social, and economic value. This is the growing consensus, and it’s starting to reshape the office real estate market.”

So what do the current sustainable design trends look like? Here are a few of the biggest sustainability trends that are redefining commercial architecture.

Biophilic Design Melds Sustainability and Wellness

From ArchDaily: Seattle’s Bullitt Center is one of the best examples of both sustainable design and biophilic design in action

Sustainable design trends often cross paths with biophilic design, which is also one of the largest trends this year. Both sustainable and biophilic design involve utilizing natural elements within design, although the two have different objectives. Whereas sustainable design aims to create more eco-friendly buildings, biophilic design works to make buildings healthier for humans. Some of the best and most progressive buildings in the world combine these two schools of thought, and the results are inspiring.

Take Seattle’s Bullitt Center, a six-story office space that’s billed as the “Greenest Commercial Building.” From the start, it was designed with sustainability in mind, and it boasts an extensive list of green accomplishments. The building is outfitted with solar panels, rainwater treatment systems, and a ground-source heat exchange system, all of which result in a net-positive energy environment. Additionally, the building materials were carefully handpicked so as to avoid 14 categories of chemicals. Impressively, as of 2015, the Bullitt was the world’s largest certified Living Building Challenge (LBC) facility.

From the Miller Hull: The Center’s stairwells offer ample light and shadows providing biophilic benefits to occupants

Best of all, the Bullitt Center exhibits many biophilic features as part of its sustainable core. The Bullitt Center is the first timber-framed structure to be permitted in Seattle since the 1920’s, workspaces use ample amounts of reclaimed wood to connect workers to nature, and large, fully operational windows provide unobstructed views of the outdoors and fresh air. In addition, the long vertical windows provide ever changing patterns of light and shadow particularly in the staircase that truly encourages occupants to take the stairs. The Center chose clean biophlic building materials as fewer chemicals make the built environment healthier and reduce building-related illnesses like Sick Building Syndrome.

Buildings like the Bullitt Center have led the way for more recent projects to combine sustainability and biophilia. That more contemporary buildings are following in the Center’s footsteps is proof of its innovative design.

Multi-use Spaces Reduce the Need for New Buildings

From Decoist: This contemporary, multipurpose workspace brings modular design to the office

Sustainable design is about more than green building materials and environmental initiatives. For a building to be sustainable, its architects and designers have to consider the long term impact. This is a major part of programs like LEED, which considers long-term commitment to its standards when certifying buildings. Usability also factors into the long term impact of a building. Namely, a multi-use space will be more sustainable over time because it can change and adapt to new occupant needs.

One of the biggest benefits of multi-use spaces is a reduced need for new construction. Instead of building spaces for specific functions, architects and designers are creating buildings that can serve a wide range of uses. Many offices are also considering different types of work and collaboration when building, resulting in multifunctional lobbies and adaptable workspaces. As Building Design & Construction reports, multipurpose spaces and load sharing opportunities will be major concerns for interior design this year and beyond.

From ArchDaily: BOY Siam Square Salon’s modular rail design provides unique flexibility for occupants

This is also why many buildings are starting to use more modular design, which is incidentally another one of this year’s interior design trends. Modular design helps to unlock the potential of a space and allow occupants to change it to meet their needs. CallisonRTKL architect Grace Lennon notes that modular combines necessity and creativity in design. This pairing is evident in buildings like BOY Siam Square Salon in Bangkok, which a modular rail-based design to allow occupants to use mirror and shelving units throughout the space.

Green Certifications Are Going Mainstream

From HOK: The HOK-designed NOAA Inouye Regional Center received LEED Gold Certification

Due to the ever-growing interest in sustainable design, buildings now have more options than ever for pursuing certifications that prioritize environmental friendliness and wellness. LEED is undoubtedly the industry standard. Its rigorous requirements and keen focus on sustainability make it the building standard of choice for architects and designers seeking to be more mindful of the environment. In 2016, there were already over 80,000 projects around the world participating in LEED, and that number is steadily increasing.

LEED also provides a springboard for further implementation of green building elements, inspiring designers to go above and beyond the basic requirements. In a press release, Perkins+Will President and CEO Phil Harrison said that “LEED certification is just one marker of our commitment. We strive to go beyond what’s currently accepted to create buildings that move the marker of what’s considered sustainable forward.”

From USGBC.org: The LEED Gold Certified Denver Union Station boasts excellent design and a sustainable foundation

In the last several years, a host of other standards have risen up to provide complementary programs to the stalwart LEED. The Living Building Challenge encourages built environments that are self-sufficient, biophilic, and beneficial to natural systems. Seven performance areas, called Petals, are analyzed during the certification process to evaluate the positivity of a building’s impact on its environment. In terms of energy efficiency, Energy Star and Passive House are two other standards that encourage net zero and/or net positive energy usage. The WELL Building Standard, like LBC, has a biophilic focus. WELL looks to advance human health and wellness by creating healthier buildings.

Many buildings choose to pursue numerous certifications, as various programs overlap and thus work hand in hand. The Bullitt Center, for instance, has earned both Living Building Challenge and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Project (the first commercial building to do so in the US) certifications. The two programs mesh nicely. FSC Project Certification is specific, requiring the timber used to be FSC certified. LBC focuses on positive sustainability on a large scale, requiring wood be FSC or salvaged. Many businesses opt to use especially eco-friendly FSC certified reclaimed wood. Recently, LBC and WELL have begun working collaboratively to find ways to align their two rating systems.

Sustainability is Adapting to Mitigate Climate Change

From GB&D Magazine: LEED Gold Certified buildings at Nestlé Purina’s St. Louis campus maintain a low carbon footprint

Today’s buildings must adapt to the effects of climate change in order to be truly sustainable. Sustainable design––which reduces energy emissions, promotes green building materials, and positively affects the local environment––is instrumental to this overarching goal. In fact, many built environments are turning to sustainable design chiefly to adapt to climate change. To that end, green standards like LEED encourage building design that consumes fewer precious resources and emits less carbon dioxide, both of which can help alleviate climate change.

Of course, building materials play an important role here. Using materials that are less taxing on the environment is ideal. This explains the uptick in reclaimed wood usage; it’s one of the best ways to lower a building’s carbon footprint and avoid further greenhouse gas emissions.

On the other side of the coin, architects and designers are seeking to improve resiliency in order to defend buildings from the effects of climate change. Many buildings are susceptible to flooding and other natural disasters due to climate change, so resiliency is fast becoming a key focus for sustainable design. As a result, new initiatives like RELi are emerging to enhance resiliency. RELi is an up-and-coming resiliency standard developed by Perkins+Will senior project engineer Doug Pierce, and it aims to create a codified system to protect buildings from calamity. Pierce argues that “resiliency is the next step in the entire green ecological design framework,” and it’s a concept architects and designers will need to think carefully about from now on.

Conclusion

This year’s trends underscore the fact that sustainable design is shifting to meet the environment’s needs, and they’re indicative of where the Architecture & Design industry is headed as a whole. Understanding these trends will ultimately allow architects and designers to create buildings that are better for the people who occupy them and for the future of the earth and the climate.

Toyota has long been a leader in sustainable practices in the auto industry – and that stretches far beyond the Prius. Touting a company-wide commitment from the top down, they have made great strides to reduce water consumption, materials waste, carbon emissions, and have even gone so far as to protect biodiversity and wildlife habitat. This environmental stewardship is a result of a larger production system – lean manufacturing. The term is based on Toyota’s system of eliminating waste and anything that does not add value, all while maintaining or increasing productivity. The recent opening of the One Toyota North American Headquarters just north of Dallas in Plano, Texas, hoped to take this principle one step further.

“One Toyota is a philosophy, a way of working together and a goal we must strive to achieve every day. It represents our highest potential for collaboration, innovation, productivity and service to our customers, and we achieve it when our goals and actions are perfectly synchronized as one company.” – Toyota

From Cision PR Newswire: Toyota’s new North American Headquarters in Plano, Texas.

As a response to high growth in the US, the new North American HQ aimed at bringing together sales, manufacturing, and other key sectors into one central location – taking principles of their production process and applying it to the workplace. Faster, more efficient, unified, better. The challenge was, how could their new campus be designed in such a way that brought these lofty goals to reality? Enter Corgan. One of the leading architecture firms in the country, the Dallas office has worked with several high-profile clients on major projects – including 73 (and counting) LEED certified buildings. It was no question that they would be the ones tasked with creating a modern realization of Toyota’s long-held concepts on business and life.

The choice of design firm was made with confidence, but a firm is only as good as its people. This project – a 2.1 million square foot corporate campus – would need successful collaboration between experts in several different areas.

I spoke with Lauren Whitney, Vice President at Corgan, who was one of those key contributors. She acted as the project manager for the interiors, with duties including the liaison to Toyota and KDC (the developer on the project), overseeing financials, construction documents, leading the interiors project team, and overviewing the final design. After the grand opening, it appears she was integral in the successful execution of the plan. As part of a sustainability charrette and visioning sessions during the initial phases of the project, the Corgan team helped uncover major project goals, one of which was attaining LEED Platinum certification. Here’s how those goals were met from an interiors standpoint.

Chevron pattern was created using TerraMai’s reclaimed MC Walnut Engineered Paneling in one of the cafes.

Human & Environmental Impact

While Whitney did not manage the sustainability portion of the initial planning, she was tasked with making sure that all specified products would meet the goals set in the initial charrette. A meticulous spreadsheet was kept, documenting every single product and the levels of VOCs, toxins, and other guidelines to make sure they would achieve LEED Platinum. Beyond that, she wanted to make sure that the healthiest materials were being selected. As a WELL AP – which focuses on human health and wellness – there was a much more holistic approach used that went beyond LEED. The impact on employee health, productivity, and happiness was a central design factor. How the space made people feel was just as important as how it looked.

From Corgan: Toyota’s headquarters were designed to allow employees access to plenty of natural light and vegetation.

Recycled Materials

Toyota has a history of using recycled materials in their projects, and the same was applied here. Recycled and salvaged products are very low impact, eliminating the embodied energy from material extraction and production phases of the product lifecycle. Reclaimed wood walls and floors – created from discarded waste from veneer manufacturers – line the space. The use of FSC certified wood was an important part of meeting LEED requirements. The zero-VOC wood finish allowed for durable protection without harmful chemicals, and application of a low-VOC fire retardant meant wood could be used extensively while still meeting strict fire codes. In the dining area, countertops made from recycled glass – car windshields, bottles, old stoplights – were used to create a beautiful installation. The design team was able to find highly sustainable products while still meeting their design intent and budget. Typically, recycled material brings up thoughts of barn wood and antiques, but for those willing to look, there are numerous innovative resources out there diverting materials otherwise headed to the landfill.

TerraMai’s MC Walnut is sourced from industrial fall down and turned into beautiful reclaimed wood flooring and paneling.

Biophilic Design

Beyond VOC and recycled content – measurable quantities used to meet definite guidelines – the design team brought nature into the project through biophilia. The idea that human beings are instinctively drawn toward and connect with nature is a growing awareness – for aesthetic reasons as well as health and personal wellbeing. A key tenant in biophilic design is in using natural materials – wood, stone, terracotta – as well as a heavy use of plants. In the Toyota project, a large living green wall was used in the amenities area, bringing a sense of the outdoors to the space. Whitney calls it her “favorite design element from a sustainability standpoint.” The use of vegetation provides an aesthetic that can’t be matched in look and in its benefits to air quality. The interior finishes in general went beyond the numbers to provide the best possible space for the many workers who inhabit it. We spend 90% of our lives indoors, and Corgan made sure those countless hours would be as enjoyable as possible for Toyota employees.

From PlanoProfile: Living walls improve air quality and bolster productivity. Toyota’s dining area features two living walls.

Encouraging Collaboration and the 50/50 Breakdown

Outside of the sustainability and LEED goals, the design intent of One Toyota Vision to foster innovation, connectivity and collaboration was perhaps the most difficult goal to verify as having been achieved. How to design for a client’s vision without the aid of measurable guidelines? This is where Whitney’s team was allowed the freedom to shine. The intersection between following guidelines and bending them in a new way is what separates the pros from the rest of the field. The team came up with a space dividing equation and tagged it the 50/50 Breakdown – allotting the space evenly between private work areas (workstations and private offices) and shared amenity spaces, where people can break away from the office and get a fresh perspective or collaborate with team members. For a 2.1 million square foot campus, this was no small task, but the team bought-in from the get-go. Whitney reiterates how walking around the site doesn’t feel as massive as the square footage sounds on paper. “It’s the ‘spaces between the spaces’ that really connect and unify the project, which will in turn encourage connection between team members and departments – the goal of creating this headquarters in the first place.”

From Corgan: Toyota focused on creating open workspaces allowing the 19 departments plenty of opportunities to collaborate.

Coming up with this metric was a first for the design team, and close attention was paid to ensure the new guidelines were being met. It’s a key takeaway that can be used on future projects, which differs from the standard way of doing things. Rather than having a certain number of offices, a certain breakdown of different departments, the space was looked at as a balanced whole. While Toyota has sustainability metrics that can be met by clear and direct methods, Corgan came up with a measurable way to successfully meet goals that are a little more abstract – collaboration, communication, unification. In large part due to Corgan, Toyota’s vision was brought to reality, and the push for innovation – in business and in changing the world – continues to drive on.

 

Interested in learning more about this project? Read our interview with Lauren Whitney, IIDA, Vice President at Corgan as she shares the successes, challenges, and learnings from this 2.1 million square foot corporate campus.

 

 

 

As we learn more about the effects of biophilia; improved mood, reduced stress, and enhanced productivity, more and more businesses around the world are seeking both small and large ways to implement biophilia. If you’re looking to include an element that enhances the aesthetic of a space and turns heads, then you’ll want to take a look at these 12 living walls. Living walls are easily one of the most striking biophilic elements, and are a powerful method of improving quality in the built environment from hospitality to retail.

This living wall brings nature to an enclosed office space

From PRWeb: This impressive living wall features a variety of plant life creating patterns within the wall

While many offices boast panoramic views of nature and easy access to the outdoors, there are still many windowless workplaces that are completely enclosed. In many cases, installing a daylighting solution may be impractical. For employees who work in cubicles, warehouses, or other spaces with exposure only to artificial light, alternative methods of staying in touch with nature are required. Using a living wall is one of the best ways of enhancing occupant wellness in offices with few or no windows. An abundance of plant life will transform the space, complement any existing daylight, and provide a strong biophilic connection. The result is improved air quality and bolstered productivity.

From PRWeb: A living wall will amplify any existing daylight, but it can also create vibrancy in windowless offices

Finland startup Naava brings artificial intelligence to living walls

From Inhabitat: Naava’s living wall uses sensors to track indoor variables and modify the space accordingly

The founders of Naava, a Finnish living wall company, set out to solve the problems of unclean, unhealthy air that many businesses face. To that effect, they’ve made some astounding innovations in living wall technology. Naava’s walls use artificial intelligence to monitor and react to various indoor elements. Impressively, the sensors inside the walls utilize a remote system to gather information from weather satellites. The walls also use fans to circulate purified air into the surrounding environment. In actual use, Naava walls reduce up to 57% of air pollutants after a single filtration and also help remove volatile organic compounds already present in a space.

What Naava has done excellently is to take the living wall concept and augment it with artificial intelligence. The amalgamation of biophilia and smart technology is one designers will be exploring in the near future to unlock the most powerful ways to make biophilic design the most effective it can be.

NYC’s Hotel Hugo uses a living wall to comfort and wow restaurant-goers

From Luxury Listings NYC: Diners at Il Principe enjoy a well-lit view of the living wall, which works with reclaimed wood to serve as a biophilic focal point

Many businesses use lighting as a way of emphasizing focal points, but Il Principe in NYC’s Hotel Hugo takes this one step further. The L-shaped restaurant uses wood and light to direct attention to the back, where an enclosed private dining area awaits. This private area is adorned with a living wall that covers the entire central wall of the room. In addition, the space receives ample amounts of natural light from the skylight. By making this biophilic section the center of attention, patrons will remember it as a highlight of the experience, even if they didn’t dine in that particular area. Il Principe’s use of biophilia is especially memorable because the restaurant is located in the heavily commercial Hudson Square area. This apt use of greenery and lighting transforms Il Principe from a restaurant into an oasis.

From Luxury Listings NYC: The curved, wood-paneled soffit draws one’s attention to the living wall in an excellent example of biophilic design

Henry Ford Hospital provides patients with beneficial biophilia

From Planterra: A living wall affords a point of respite within this hospital

Hospitals are decidedly suitable choices for biophilic design. The benefits of biophilia in hospitals are not only physical and physiological but also mental and emotional. That’s because biophilic design humanizes clinical spaces, creating a caring, welcoming atmosphere. Henry Ford Hospital in Michigan did just this by installing a living wall in the building’s atrium, which hosts private functions in addition to serving as a community meeting space. A nice touch is the inclusion of poinsettias to add a seasonal color that complements the lively green of the wall itself.

Modular design meets the living wall in this China office

From New Atlas: This one-of-a-kind living wall combines industrial modular design with biophilia

Modular is one of the latest trends in office design, and it allows for unparalleled levels of flexibility so designers can use their imagination. One great example of modular creativity is the living wall in the TJY Office Building in Shenzhen, China. The wall uses a grid of piping that has a dual purpose. The piping sends water to the plants, and the grid itself has slots in which plants can be placed. The wall is able to be reconfigured, and workers can even “unplug” plants from the system to bring to their workstations. This living wall both implements current trends and biophilic design making it a great example to follow.

Under Armour’s branded living wall reimagines experiential design

From American Builders Quarterly: The logo embedded in the middle of this living wall makes an unforgettable brand statement

The corporate buildings that stand out the most are the ones that tell a story. Immersing employees and visitors in an experience is a surefire way of improving mood and morale. Under Armour creates this experience, thanks in part to a large living wall that boasts the company logo. The wall’s installation was the decision of Neil Jurgens, the vice president of global corporate real estate, after polling workers to figure out what they wanted in their workplace. Fittingly, the incorporation of the logo symbolically affirms that Under Armour is a company that cares about nature and the health of its workers.

Small living walls can make a big impact

From Good Earth Plants: A pair of small living walls complement the laid-back feel of this space perfectly

Living walls don’t have to fill up a room in order to make a space healthier and more beautiful. Smaller living walls are just as powerful and are able to suit a variety of spaces. In more petite spaces, a small living wall becomes the focal point, and in larger spaces, it elevates the existing design. Of course, you can use small living walls in conjunction with other biophilic design elements like reclaimed wood and water installations, resulting in a multisensorial, natural environment.

This living wall emphasizes the structure and unity of its building

From PHS Greenleaf: This living wall contours to the room’s structure, creating a seamless installation

There’s no doubt that living wall installations designed from scratch look great, but you can also implement a living wall anywhere in your building without completely overhauling the architecture. Existing walls can be adapted to host greenery using a hydroponics system. This approach has the advantage of highlighting the architecture of a space without having to spend lots of time and money remodeling it. If you’ve got a foyer, office, or dining area with an already eye-catching wall, you can make the most of it with a living wall.

This outdoor installation is a fresh take on the living wall

From the University of Texas at Austin: This outdoor living wall uses local plant life and a novel design

This living wall, installed along the façade of the University of Texas at Austin’s Goldsmith Hall, is unique in both its design and performance. The honeycomb design creates pockets in which a variety of plants, all native to the Austin area, sit, and like the modular living wall showcased above, it creates a robust impression upon students and visitors. The wall is equipped with noise, light, temperature, and moisture sensors as part of ongoing research to evaluate its other benefits of building cooling, city cooling, storm water mitigation, noise buffering, and serving as a natural air filter. (This local flora was specifically selected to attract nearby fauna.)

Diamond Schmitt Architects is designing breathtaking, monumental living walls

From ArchDaily: This massive living wall at the University of Guelph-Humber instantly awes with vivid greenery

When Birgit Siber, Principal at Diamond Schmitt Architects, was serving as project architect for the University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto, she approached the university’s research team to find a way to implement their work into the campus’s design. The team had recently completed a seven year project on biofiltration, so a living wall was an obvious choice to reflect their hard work. The resulting wall spans the height of the university’s central atrium, which is topped with a glass ceiling to illuminate both the wall and the atrium itself. In an interview, Siber reflected on the biophilic benefits the wall brings to the university: “I feel a light cool breeze coming off the living wall and the scent of plant life. It feels as though nature has been invited in on a grand scale…and I believe that affects us on many levels.”

A living wall adds an exotic flair to this airport

From Greenroofs.com: This airport bar and lounge uses a beautiful living wall and standing greenery

Ever wonder if an airport can successfully use biophilic design? The answer, of course, is yes, and this living wall from Auckland International Airport is proof of that. Located in the Square Restaurant & Bar inside of the airport’s Hotel Novotel, the wall features greenery found in New Zealand, such as pan-pacific creepers. The hotel even consulted the local Tainui people while developing the wall to ensure it accurately reflected New Zealand’s landscape.

This building wears a living wall on its second floor

From Fresh Montgomery: This store’s upper level is coated in an assortment of dense foliage

British retailer M&S Simply Food is an example of just how good biophilic design can look. Shoppers will find the exterior second story of one of the chain’s stores covered in a living wall. With pops of purple and tan, the wall is undeniably appealing and instantly memorable. The biophilic store was even shortlisted for the 2016 Surface Design Awards, proving that biophilic design looks every bit as good as it feels.

Conclusion

The living wall is a perfect biophilic design element, literally bringing life to a space while enhancing occupant well-being emotionally and physically with benefits like natural air filtration, reducing noise and helping to maintain humidity and temperature. These 12 examples show how striking living walls can be. Thanks to adaptable hydroponics, living walls are easier than ever to implement. When used alongside other biophilic elements like daylight, reclaimed wood, and water features, a living wall can drastically improve any building’s environment and health.

Each year, there are new sets of lists describing the design trends for the upcoming year. This year, I thought I’d view these trends through a biophilic lens. There’s no doubt that the yearly trends are important on their own as they can be indicative of larger, more general changes in Architecture & Design. Thus, it pays to follow them and even implement some. However, for architects and designers who focus on human wellness and environmental sustainability, a new question arises: How can you be inspired by these trends while combining them with biophilic and sustainable design?

It’s no secret that biophilic design and sustainable design improve productivity and performance in the workplace, and green building materials like reclaimed wood are renowned for their abilities to improve collaboration and boost employee morale and satisfaction. But how can these work hand-in-hand with the latest office design trends?

If you’re designing a commercial office space and want it to be eco-friendly and healthy while incorporating some of the latest trends, look no further. Here’s how this year’s predicted trends of comfort spaces, minimalism, monochrome, materials with purpose and modular furniture are creating stylish, sustainable spaces that enhance human wellness.

This Google office seamlessly meshes comfort spaces with biophilic design

From Bored Panda: This highly biophilic workspace combines trees, reclaimed wood, and a panoramic view

Google has been repeatedly crowned as one of the best places to work, and it’s no surprise why; their offices are designed to maximize employee health and satisfaction. Google’s workspaces are filled with plants, reclaimed wood, views of nature, water installations, and even more exotic biophilic elements like rock walls.

Google also does an excellent job of pairing biophilic design with current design trends. Noticeably, many of their offices incorporate comfort spaces to provide workers with a sense of calm. This combination of biophilia and comfort spaces inspires employees with contemporary design while anchoring their senses in biophilia. As a result, these workspaces are conducive to both productivity and relaxation. It also reflects Google’s brand: purposefully up-to-date and always responsive.

From Bored Panda: A rock wall and greenery add life and biophilia to this industrial space

Like many other businesses, Google has realized the growing need for more comfort spaces in the workplace. Today’s workers need an office that prioritizes their physical and mental wellness. The ideal office should foster a positive, harmonious work culture that meets all sorts of employee needs from mental breaks to intensive coworking sessions.

Fosbury & Sons uses plant life to enhance productivity in minimalist workspaces

From ArchDaily: Fosbury & Sons’s Antwerp office uses plants throughout to bolster employee productivity and mood

Minimalism is one of the more widespread design trends that’s appeared in recent years. There’s a strong appeal to clean, uncluttered spaces, and many corporate offices have implemented minimalism to maintain tidy workplaces that feel good to work in. At the same time, biophilic design is particularly powerful at increasing productivity in the workplace, and this is one huge reason why biophilic elements are so common in top-performing offices.

For Fosbury & Sons, a coworking office space in Belgium, productivity is especially important, so they chose to take their industrial, minimalist space and liven it up with plenty of plant life. Their workspaces feature a variety of potted and planted flora strategically placed near desks and tables to ensure that there’s always a few plants nearby. This also creates an unforgettable first impression. From the moment a visitor enters the lobby, he or she knows that this is a unique office. Most importantly, the inclusion of biophilia prevents the space from becoming too minimal, ensuring that people feel and perform at their best.

From ArchDaily: Plants enrich the industrial space and create a welcoming atmosphere

OVH connects workers by using natural elements

From Dezeen: OVH’s office is resplendent with wood, vegetation, and lots of natural light

When cloud computing business OVH decided to remodel their Quebec City workspace, they took inspiration from both minimalism and biophilic design. The result is a brightly lit, open space enhanced with greenery, which is steadily gaining popularity. The office uses woods with lighter tones to complement the abundance of natural daylight, and the greenery sprinkled throughout the building adds a healthy dose of biophilia. Aside from being visually stunning, this office is excellent for solo work, group work, and employee interaction, as it prioritizes both working and socializing.

Meaningful and natural design materials reflect a company’s values and they deliver on biophilia

From Office Snapshots: Beams clad with reclaimed oak at Sam Edelman’s NYC HQ reflect the brand’s Americana vibe and mirror humble beginnings, hard work and reinventing oneself for success.

The materials chosen in design can establish a meaningful connection for occupants to the office space and the company. Design materials can be selected to reflect the local community and surrounding landscape, and can portray the values of the company’s brand. Choosing sustainably sourced materials and furnishings with non-toxic finishes helps you maintain healthy indoor air quality and supports social and environmental responsibility. And, when these materials are analogues of nature, like reclaimed wood, they can bring the benefits of nature indoors.

Trevor Hoiland’s new biophilic office furniture brings practical modular design to the workplace

From Contemporist: Trevor Hoiland’s new line of modular furniture is rooted in wood, perfect for any office space

In 2017, Burns & McDonnell Design Manager and former Helix Architecture Principal Trevor Hoiland debuted the Story Collection, a line of modular office furniture manufactured by Hightower. Modular design has already made waves in commercial architecture this year, and it has many benefits for the workplace.

Modular workspaces are gaining traction for their flexibility and adaptability; in the office, this means better and frictionless collaboration and productivity. This is why Hoiland’s furniture is so visionary. It can be used for work, meetings, socializing, or any combination of those. Given that the contemporary office needs to be able to suit a range of demands, the usage of modular furniture and layouts makes perfect sense. In addition, the furniture prominently features wood, which is a nice biophilic touch that makes this highly functional collection even better.

From Hightower: Modular seating sets can be configured to meet a variety of needs

Dropbox spices up a monochrome design palette with plants

From Office Lovin: This seating area at Dropbox’s San Francisco HQ uses potted trees to provide pattern and a pop of color to the monochrome scheme

These days, many minimalist spaces are opting for monochrome color palettes. The use of monochrome pairs well with minimalism, as the two work in tandem to create a calming, clean interior that layers shades of the same color. The natural light in Dropbox’s lounge area cast shadows that add additional gray tones, pattern and movement to complement the design. The inclusion of greenery provides pops of color and a natural element to soften the monochrome effect. A few well-placed plants or natural installations (like fireplaces or ponds) can add verve to a minimalist office without subtracting from the minimalist design itself. Expect to see more biophilic elements in minimalist or industrial spaces in 2018 and beyond.

Conclusion

From the lobby to the conference room, an office needs to cater to its workers. That can be a tall order, as employees should feel good and also enjoy their time in the workplace. Thankfully, you can easily balance the latest office design trends with the timeless benefits of biophilic design using these techniques. Designing office spaces to create environments that are inspiring and engaging while including biophilic elements will ensure that workers are feeling great. This is the future of the corporate office: a space that combines the cutting edge of office design with the staying power of biophilia. It’s truly a win-win.

The hospitality industry is more vibrant than ever, and with this boom has come an increased focus on customer experience. Hospitality designers have been looking to the field of experience design to provide more targeted, immersive experiences that leave smiles on customers’ faces. Ultimately, this means designing for the people you’ll be serving, and that requires a close consideration of customers’ wants and needs.

One of the best methods to unexpectedly delight and enhance customer experience, no matter what sector of hospitality, is to use biophilic design elements. Here are 12 of my favorite use cases.

1. Abundant natural materials create a strong connection to nature

From C+TC Design Studio: Westin Buffalo boasts several biophilic elements: plenty of reclaimed wood, a living wall, and plants

For an easy way to enhance the biophilia effect of any space, place several biophilic elements near each other. Even the simple placement of a plant next to a wooden wall can make a noticeable impact on people’s mood and behavior. Doing so creates a visual connection with nature as well as a connection with natural systems, which are two of the 14 patterns of biophilic design as stated by Terrapin Bright Green. The more natural elements you include, the happier and more relaxed your patrons will feel, culminating in a positive experience.

2. For indoor spaces, try biophilic focal points

From the Design Institute of San Diego: This living wall in New York’s Hotel Hugo is a striking biophilic focal point

Indoor spaces without abundant daylight or sightlines to the outdoors are most in need of biophilic elements. For these types of indoor areas, including a biophilic focal point will foster the natural connection needed for customers to feel their best. Go big so as to draw guests’ eyes, impress them, and satisfy their desires to be closer to nature. Living walls, gardens, waterfalls, fountains, ponds, and fireplaces are some examples of biophilic focal points that can be implemented in any indoor environment.

3. Hanging plants provide a unique biophilic aspect

From Mason: Hanging plants can be used to create a suspended garden that wows visitors

This biophilic technique is easy but a bit unexpected. A small assortment of hanging plants placed together can be used to simultaneously add biophilic elements and make a room feel fuller and more alive. You can use different types of hanging greenery to make a floating garden or place the plants more sparsely to create points of visual interest throughout a space.

4. Reclaimed wood adds natural elegance

From Metropolis: This bar’s reclaimed wood paneling is a classy design touch that also serves as a biophilic focal point

In terms of green design materials, reclaimed wood is certainly one of the most versatile and beautiful. Its authentic charm is perfect in any built environment. It can complement laid-back or upscale spaces, and it works in tandem with a room’s existing décor. It especially shines in hospitality environments. Whether it’s used for the floors of a lounge, the walls of a restaurant, or to clad a reception desk, reclaimed wood can make customers and guests feel better and more satisfied with their experience.

5. Lobbies present wonderful opportunities for biophilic design

From Ambius: This lobby’s breathtaking view is perfectly paired with a soothing pond that stretches between trees

Lobby design is of increasing importance in the world of hospitality. Since lobbies are getting more use today than ever before, it makes sense to optimize them for guests and visitors. Best of all, lobby spaces are ideal for biophilic design, and whether your lobby is small or large, you can transform it into a sanctuary for your guests. Any sort of biophilic focal point will work wonders in a lobby. You may choose to install a small pond or focus attention on a reclaimed wood fireplace. A noticeable biophilic element in a lobby will ensure that guests receive all of the benefits associated with biophilia, and it’s a great way to give an outstanding first impression.

6. Seating areas can benefit greatly from potted plants

From Kinorigo: Potted plants are an easy way to add biophilic elements

Potted plants are small but mighty. Research demonstrates that they can help to purify the air even if air filters are already in use. They also reduce stress and thus facilitate more positive moods. Even just a few indoor plants will provide all these benefits, and when plants are combined with other biophilic elements, the indoor environmental quality of a space improves dramatically. Potted plants work particularly well in lounges and other seating areas, especially ones that don’t have a clear view of nature. As shown above, a few pops of greenery in a seating area can be incredibly effective in enhancing the biophilia effect.

7. Create clear sightlines to the natural world outside

From Matador Network: Ladera Resort in Hawaii features breathtaking views of the lush trees, hills, and ocean surrounding the building

One of the most important patterns of biophilic design is visual connection with nature. A direct sightline of nature often provides the most benefits for guests, especially if your building is located near trees or bodies of water. This can be crucial for hotels; Terrapin Bright Green found that the cost of a hotel room with a view of nature is typically 18% higher than a room without a view. Of course, if a view of nature isn’t feasible, you can simulate the results with other biophilic elements. An appealing natural vista will not only improve guest satisfaction but also increase the chances of them returning.

8. Bring uncommon outdoor elements inside

From Traveller Made: This inspired Portugal hotel includes a unique tree-through-table installation

For an especially creative way to implement biophilic design, take an uncommon natural element that exists outdoors and bring it indoors. This is the basic idea behind biophilic focal points like living walls and waterfalls, but there are many interesting ways to bring this concept to life. For example, the hotel pictured above features an indoor tree, which is both biophilic and novel. Other hospitality spaces have brought stone walls, large gardens, and even beaches indoors. The sight of an outdoor element in the built environment will generate interest among guests and can even encourage social interaction.

From the Daily Mail: This German resort’s one-of-a-kind indoor beach is a biophilic design haven

9. Find innovative ways to implement greenery

From Plant the Future: This eye-catching plant map is a wonderful and interesting biophilic focal point

There’s something to be said for coming up with new and exciting ways of showcasing greenery. The more visually interesting an installation is, the more guests will talk about it and enjoy it. This can be as simple as creating a wall garden of potted plants or as complex as installing larger topiaries. This is another concept that’s ideal to execute when an environment doesn’t have a direct and open view of nature.

10. Turn a room into an indoor garden

From Retail Design Institute: Lots of plants on the walls and throughout the room make this industrial space much more biophilic

I’ve already discussed the merits of potted plants and gardens: improved air quality, better biophilic impact, and heightened moods, to name a few. An alternative idea is to take a room and transform it into an indoor garden. Since this involves creating patches of soil in which plants may grow, it’s a more intensive biophilic design technique, but it’s extremely effective. Seating areas, event spaces, meeting rooms, and eating areas are a few types of indoor environments that can benefit from large gardens.

11. Experiment with raw, unfinished biophilic elements

From Momentum: The rough reclaimed wood on the desk and the raw tree installation bolster biophilia

Connection with natural systems is one of the patterns of biophilic design I’ve discussed in this article, but it’s so important that it deserves its own section. A connection with natural systems reflects the ongoing changes and processes present in various ecosystems. Some examples include erosion, weathering, aging, and plant cycles. This is one of the reasons why reclaimed wood is such a boon to biophilic design; its natural variances are perfect for creating a connection with natural systems. Other unfinished natural materials like rough stone can strengthen the connection.

12. Ample wood fosters serenity in hotel rooms

From Mocha Casa: This hotel room’s reclaimed wood paneling contributes to the relaxed atmosphere

When your guests are looking to get a good night’s sleep, they’ll be expecting a calming hotel room in which to relax at the end of the day. Since wood works to reduce stress, it’s an ideal material for hotel rooms. It will work with existing elements in the room (like a perfectly made bed or a view of nature) to make your guests feel cozy and at home.

Conclusion

Biophilic design is largely becoming the norm for all kinds of hospitality spaces. Guests expect more than ever, and biophilic design is an effective answer to these ever growing demands and needs. By implementing a few of these concepts, your hospitality space can easily stand out and create an unforgettable experience that will keep people coming back for more.

The hotel sector is dynamic and booming. And, with it, guests’ expectations are ever rising. It wasn’t too long ago that Westin’s Heavenly Bed propelled the industry to provide guests with an exceptional night’s sleep. Now, guests are demanding fresh and more imaginative elements to provide an exceptional experience. To do this, every hotel space must be well designed with care given to choose materials that enhance and support the guest experience. Hotels are employing biophilic design more and more as feeling good in the various hotel spaces is as important as looking great. Reclaimed wood can be one of the materials to elicit good feelings.

Why Use Reclaimed Wood in Hotels?

Reclaimed wood is eye-catching in appearance but also has numerous wellness benefits. Since contemporary hotels aim to be havens for both the body and mind, the use of reclaimed wood is ideal. The presence of wood in the built environment provides many physical and mental benefits from stress reduction to increased social interaction. These benefits span the range of hospitality situations, so whether you’re designing a soothing lounge area or renovating an event center, using reclaimed wood can make a space even better.

In addition, reclaimed wood contributes to the quality of a built environment as it relates to human wellness. Guests directly benefit from a hotel that has a high indoor environment quality (IEQ). Recently, hotels have been looking to biophilic design in order to improve IEQ and enhance guests’ well-being. Research shows that guests enjoy this connection to nature; Terrapin Bright Green found that 36% more hotel guests spend time in lobbies with biophilic elements. Their findings also suggested that biophilic designed rooms can support a higher room rate. Overall, when working to design an environment that bolsters wellness, the usage of green building materials like reclaimed wood is of utmost importance.

From Travelzoo: Using reclaimed wood in hotel rooms helps guests feel more positive

When hotels take initiative to be more environmentally friendly, using reclaimed wood will fit right into their branding. Many hotels work to be greener (and encourage their patrons to do so as well). Using sustainable products is a perfect complement to these efforts. They not only further encourage guests to be mindful but also reduce a hotel’s overall footprint since the sourcing of reclaimed wood is particularly energy efficient.

Last but not least, reclaimed wood can serve as a brand ambassador and communicate to the public how a hotel cares about its impact on the environment. Adding natural materials like reclaimed wood will augment steps taken to improve other indoor elements like air quality and exposure to natural light. Luckily, reclaimed wood is extremely versatile and can have a place in the rooms, cafés or outdoor lounges. Here are a few of my favorite use cases of reclaimed wood in hotels.

Using Reclaimed Wood in Hotel Rooms

When it comes to implementing reclaimed wood in hotel rooms, there are many possibilities. Guests indicate they want all the comforts of home but I would argue that guests want to feel as comfortable as they do when they are home so they can truly let down to focus on work or recoup from a day of travel. The presence of wood can allow for deeper rest or concentration depending on the circumstances. Reclaimed wood allows your brand aesthetic to really shine, but is also a tool to provide a more restful room conducive to sleep or to prep for the next day’s meetings. Reclaimed wood as flooring, paneling or tables can serve as an organic foundation that unifies a room.

From Condé Nast Traveler: Reclaimed wood ceilings at Brooklyn’s Wythe Hotel lend a rustic, authentic mood to its rooms

When paired with a view, reclaimed wood can be especially powerful. According to Terrapin Bright Green, hotel rooms with a view of nature are priced 11%–18% higher than rooms that lack a view. Reclaimed wood that’s partnered with a view creates a compounding effect and enhances the biophilia of the room, making guests even happier and more relaxed. Even small implementations of wood can noticeably amplify the extent to which guests enjoy their rooms. Combine a view of nature, reclaimed wood, and other biophilic elements like plants, and you’ve got a winning combination on your hands.

Using Reclaimed Wood in Lounge Installations

A lounge provides one of the most visually stunning ways to use reclaimed wood in hotels. It works well in those seating areas that flow from the inside to the outside or, when design needs to take it to the next level, try placing reclaimed wood adjacent to a striking living wall.

From Wave Avenue: This outdoor lounge boasts a living wall with neighboring lush greenery and reclaimed wood

When used in lounge areas, reclaimed wood is often a prominent part of the space, which ensures that guests will be enjoying all of the positive effects that wood brings. It’s also especially advantageous when partnered with other natural elements, like plants or a fire feature. These elements help guests to feel more at ease and contribute to a tranquil atmosphere.

From Jetsetter: The Olive Boutique Hotel features beautiful reclaimed wood and an array of plants to help guests unwind

Using Reclaimed Wood in Hotel Lobbies

The lobby is the first space your guests will encounter, so it’s critical that it reflects the hotel’s brand and values. Lobby design has many effects on customer perception and satisfaction. I mentioned earlier that reclaimed wood can act as a brand ambassador, and that’s especially true when it comes to lobbies. Green building materials working hand in hand with branded design will create a stellar first impression. In addition, many guests will use the lobby as a place to meet, socialize, or do work, so design that takes those needs into consideration will show your guests that the hotel is passionate about catering to them.

From Condé Nast Traveler: Reclaimed wood in this lobby works with the industrial design to make a memorable first impression

Using Reclaimed Wood in Hotel Office Spaces

Guests aren’t going to see a hotel’s offices and workspaces, but worker well-being and productivity will benefit if the entire building is seamlessly designed. Workers will feel and perform better, and the hotel’s brand will be even more cohesive. Reclaimed wood can play an important part in improving employee productivity. On a larger scale, reclaimed wood can be part of your employee-first design. Consideration for workers’ physical and mental wellness is ideal for any kind of workspace.

From TerraMai: Using reclaimed wood in office spaces can boost productivity and employee mood

Using Reclaimed Wood in Hotel Restaurants

You’ve undoubtedly noticed the unique ambiance that reclaimed wood can instill in a space. That’s precisely why it’s a favorite choice for hotel restaurants. It suits a wide range of restaurant types from casual cafés to high-end eateries. In more relaxed or upscale restaurants, wood leverages its biophilic power to give a sense of restfulness, and in a lively more hip establishment, reclaimed wood brings a real authenticity to the setting.

From TerraMai: Plenty of dark wood in the Breslin, located inside Ace Hotel New York, gives the restaurant a spectacular old-meets-new atmosphere

Reclaimed wood isn’t just excellent for dining areas; it’s also right at home in a bar setting. Bar tops, stools, and tables that feature reclaimed wood will instantly win patrons over, encourage social interaction, and cultivate a welcoming environment. Many bars utilize darker woods to add the kind of warmth typically associated with high-end bar establishments.

Conclusion

The importance of biophilic design in hotels cannot be understated. This concentration on designing for health has been a staple in hotel spas for a while, but it’s just as crucial to implement wellness-first design in every room of a hotel. In addition to using ample light and greenery, reclaimed wood is an easy and effective method of creating spaces that prioritize human well-being. It adds a sense of comfort, flair, and delivers the unique, memorable, and personalized experience your guests are seeking.

Today, reclaimed wood is a popular choice for building materials. Some may wonder, however, if it’s truly an environmentally beneficial choice or simply a design trend. From sourcing to installation, the data asserts the truth — reclaimed wood is an environmentally friendly design choice. That, in part, explains why it has become so popular and why it promises to have an enduring place in architecture and design.

One of the first considerations in analyzing the environmental impact of reclaimed wood is the issue of sourcing. The accepted narrative is that reclaimed wood mostly comes from old houses and barns. While it’s true that this does happen, it’s only a small piece of the puzzle. As it turns out, there’s a large supply of reclaimed wood around the world, and it comes from all different kinds of places.

How Reclaimed Wood is Sourced

Reclaimed wood is special in that every piece has its own unique character. There’s a wide variety of reclaimed woods available, each with their own story and appearance. This is due in large part to the range of sourcing methods available. Reclaimed wood can be sourced from everywhere from the forest floor to factories that generate large amounts of scrap wood. Here are some of the more common methods of sourcing reclaimed wood.

Post-consumer reclaimed wood. This wood is sourced from old structures that are no longer needed. It can be derived from buildings, bridges, fencing, dunnage, and bleacher seating, to name a few common sources. This is often what first comes to mind when one thinks of reclaimed wood. Much post-consumer reclaimed wood tends to give a rustic feel to a space. In many cases, this type of wood reflects its past life, making it a great choice for designers who want to create a specific type of atmosphere. For example, reclaimed wood with evidence of bolt and nail holes lends an authenticity to a space.

From cwaltersdesign.com: Hi Tops in San Francisco uses reclaimed bleacher seating to complement its retro-meets-contemporary look

Post-industrial reclaimed. When wood products such as furniture are created, enormous amounts of scrap wood are produced. At TerraMai, we see these waste streams as valuable sources of useful wood. By rescuing this wood, we divert it from landfills. Since post-industrial reclaimed wood comes in many shapes and sizes, repurposing it can require some creativity but the end result is often startling.

From TerraMai: Post-industrial fall down was used to make Acacia Metro paneling used in 901 5th Ave’s elevator lobby.

Water reclaimed. This type of wood has a particularly fascinating history. Throughout the 20th century, ancient forests in Central America, South America, and Africa were flooded for water storage and power generation. Where these reservoirs exist today there rests an abundance of tropical wood below the surface. Bayano Lake in Panama is one picturesque example of such a reservoir.

Water reclaimed tropical wood is renowned for its appearance, strength, and durability. Water reclaimed wood is one of the most ecologically friendly methods of obtaining tropical woods as it does not require any living trees to be cut. As a bonus, water reclaimed wood eliminates a dangerous water hazard for locals who use the reservoirs and lakes.

From YouTube: Panama’s Bayano Lake is a rich source of water reclaimed tropical wood

Orchard salvage. After many decades of harvest, aging orchard trees that have declined in production are sunsetted. These trees are culled and replaced, but they often end up landfilled. That’s why we work to foster a strong market for old orchard wood so it can be repurposed as reclaimed wood. The wood yielded from culled orchard trees is of exceptional quality and beauty.

Forest floor salvage. During the timber cutting process, many smaller diameter trees are left behind due to their low yield. Typically, this rejected wood is chipped into mulch. However, there’s lots of potential in this wood, which is why we reclaim this discarded wood so that it can live up to its full potential instead of being relegated to the wood chipper.

How Reclaimed Wood Benefits the Environment

The main way in which reclaimed wood is environmentally beneficial is evident in the name––it salvages wood that would otherwise go to waste. However, this is just a big picture view, and there are many other environmental benefits to consider.

First, reclaimed wood directly benefits the environment from which it is sourced. Post-consumer, post-industrial, and orchard reclaimed wood helps to clean up buildings and natural spaces. If the wood isn’t reclaimed, it’s thrown into landfills. Reclaiming wood from these sources helps remove and reuse wood waste, benefitting both the wood source and the environment in general.

Second, many methods of sourcing reclaimed wood reduce the need to cut living trees to obtain wood. On a large scale, this contributes to the reduction of deforestation, preserving the health of existing forests and the habitats of many endangered species. This is a large reason why so many companies choose to use reclaimed wood. It prevents the unnecessary cutting of trees that, if left untouched, could contribute to the environment.

Third, milling reclaimed wood into flooring and paneling or making it into furniture requires fewer resources, and has less of an environmental impact than the manufacture of freshly cut trees into these products. Reclaimed wood has previously captured all of the steps required to grow, harvest and prepare new wood for milling into a finished product. For example, timber companies utilize large quantities of water to ‘irrigate’ or spray freshly cut logs so they stay wet prior to milling. That water and the subsequent waste water is not a factor with reclaimed wood. Furthermore, at TerraMai we work to ensure that the wood we reclaim is milled as close to the source as possible so that transportation energy is minimized.

The Benefits of Implementing Reclaimed Wood

Since reclaimed wood is particularly versatile, it can be used as a central unifying element or as an eye-catching focal point.

In small amounts, reclaimed wood is perfect for reception desks, furniture, and entryways. These are simple and straightforward ways to incorporate reclaimed wood into existing building design. It also doesn’t take much wood to see the benefits associated with the presence of wood. Even just a bit of reclaimed wood can have many positive effects on occupant well-being and happiness.

From TerraMai: Priceline’s Norwalk office features a reclaimed wood reception desk and wall

Larger amounts of reclaimed wood can be used for everything from flooring to innovative installations. Many businesses choose to create entire spaces centered around the inclusion of reclaimed wood. This benefits productivity and mood, which can contribute to increased brand visibility, brand engagement, and shaping overall brand identity, especially in a retail space like REI (below).

From TerraMai: REI SoHo boasts expansive reclaimed wood flooring that adds beauty, while also emphasizing the brand’s connection to the outdoors

Conclusion

The verdict is in: Reclaimed wood is one of the most environmentally friendly design choices you can make. Both the sourcing and transportation of reclaimed wood are energy efficient and prevent unneeded deforestation from occurring. Using reclaimed wood also ensures that unused wood doesn’t end up in the landfill. It’s truly remarkable to take wood that would otherwise be wasted and make something beautiful out of it.

Just like conference rooms and offices, lobbies play an important role in contributing to a positive work environment through design, and they also reflect your brand. I’m quite fascinated with how lobby design affects work performance and how concepts like experience design can be applied to lobbies. Here’s a closer look at lobby design and how it can contribute to not only productivity but also branding.

From Waiting Room to Common Area: The Evolution of the Lobby

First, it’s worth taking a look at the history of the lobby and how it’s changed over the years. Traditionally, lobbies only served as an entryway or waiting space. It wasn’t uncommon to see only a reception desk and sparse furniture. To that end, the lobby functioned similarly to a waiting room, providing a place for visitors to relax while waiting for an appointment or meeting. This type of lobby can still be found in some commercial buildings, but the old idea of the lobby is being phased out in favor of a new perspective: the lobby as a common area and statement.

From TerraMai: Amazon Seattle features a large and welcoming lobby with reclaimed teak and ample lighting

Many businesses have reimagined the lobby as a place for people to socialize, make plans, and prepare for the workday. As such, today’s lobbies are large and flexible. The same lobby can contain individual workspaces, group meeting areas, and even event spaces. As lobbies are seeing ever-increasing usage, it’s crucial to consider how they can influence work performance.

Lobbies and Work Performance

Lobbies are popular spots for doing work nowadays, sometimes even serving as impromptu offices. The Harvard Business Review spotlighted this phenomenon, citing that two-thirds of office work actually happens outside the office. Since today’s larger lobbies offer lots of seating options and other amenities, they’ve become ideal for employees to gather and work. This is typical of many successful corporations; as HBR noted, the first floor of Amazon Seattle (pictured above) is mostly coworking space. Some businesses, like the Ace Hotel in New York, openly advertise their lobbies as multi-purpose spaces. These installs suggest that it’s best to treat a lobby as a workspace and shared social space and design it accordingly.

From TerraMai: Like many lobbies today, AutoGravity’s lobby is a common coworking space

According to Perkins+WIll’s Tony Layne, collaborative, flexible workspaces are the future of office design. In a society where people are always connected (both to each other and the world) with technology, it makes complete sense to create similarly connected spaces with abundant access to technology. As Layne says, “the workplace needs to support our whole person—and not just be a place to ‘get work done,’ but a place that allows us to recharge, reflect, and renew.”

For a lobby to optimize employee wellness and productivity, it’s design needs to be humanistic, considering biological and mental needs. Biophilic design is one answer to this, as its thesis is that a connection to nature improves occupant wellness. Studies have shown that incorporating natural elements like daylight and ventilation creates a healthier workplace. In biophilic spaces, workers typically experience increased productivity, reduced stress, and better sleep. Even including a few biophilic elements such as plants and natural light exposure can dramatically boost work performance across the board.

From Merritt Properties: Maryland’s Aberdeen Corporate Park takes inspiration from biophilic design with warm wood paneling and plenty of plants

Elements like availability of food and beverage, Wi-Fi, and electrical outlets further improve a lobby and make it even more work-friendly. On top of all of this, the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) has to be taken into consideration. As more employees take to the lobby to integrate work more fully into their lives (and lifestyles), it’s important that IEQ be closely monitored to provide occupants with an experience that prioritizes health and wellness.

Lobbies as Brand Ambassadors

Lobby design is vital not only for employee health and productivity but also branding. The lobby is one of the first things a visitor or new hire will see upon walking into a building, which means it can have an enormous impact on how people feel. With some simple enhancements, a lobby can transform into a brand ambassador that gives a remarkable first impression and communicates the company’s mission through its design.

From TerraMai: The lobby at Red Lobster’s headquarters reflects the company’s sophisticated yet casual branding through its design

There are countless opportunities to establish a robust brand in lobbies. Brand imagery (e.g., photographs and signage) can instantly connect visitors to a brand, and the decor and color palette should match the brand aesthetic. Visitors may not even be consciously aware of these aspects, but for consistent, seamless branding, these elements can have a huge impact. The lobby should be a natural extension of the building as a whole, and this can easily be accomplished by persistent branding.

From Smith Design Co.: DTZ’s lobby represents its brand, incorporating signage and contemporary furnishings

Experience Design in Lobbies

I would be remiss if I didn’t bring up the concept of experience design. Biophilic elements and branding are undoubtedly essential to create a remarkable lobby, but many designers are going to the next level with experience design. The basic idea is that by maximizing interaction in the built environment, occupants will feel more connected to the space and want to return to it. Proponents of experience design argue that the way a person reacts to an environment is largely emotional. For example, people don’t go out to an expensive restaurant to eat but rather to have a unique experience.

In the context of lobby design, experience design means constructing a space in which people feel thoroughly comfortable working and interacting. In addition to being “a place that allows us to recharge, reflect, and renew,” according to Layne, the lobby must be a space that visitors genuinely enjoy, and they need to have a novel experience that they can’t have anywhere else. Here, experience design ensures that when people arrive in a lobby, whether for work or play, they interact with the environment in a way that creates and sustains positive emotions. Advertising agency Droga5’s lobby does this elegantly with a floating conference room, sleek wooden paneling, and a simple yet stylish lounge area.

From Office Snapshots: Droga5’s lobby offers a unique experience with an eye-catching floating conference room

Conclusion

Lobbies harness large amounts of potential that can be used to improve employee performance and even evangelize your brand. The lobby sets the tone for occupants’ experience, so it’s absolutely critical to put the same amount of design effort into your lobby as you would an office space. Whether you instill a sense of biophilia with reclaimed wood or provide comfort with a relaxing lounge, you can easily create an impactful, work-friendly lobby that your visitors won’t soon forget.

Collaboration is one of the most powerful forces in the workplace. The pooling of skill sets and strengths can lead to improved problem solving, increased productivity, and more creativity. While overall collaboration time has increased by 50% over the last couple of decades, studies suggest that a collaboration-minded approach to workplace design could make that time even more beneficial. There are a number of methods to balance and nurture a collaborative culture, but I’m most interested in the idea of workplace design facilitating collaboration.

Optimizing a company’s workplace for collaboration can significantly strengthen its work culture (and its bottom line). It begs the question: Does the perfect collaboration space exist? The answer will be different for every business, but there are some crucial elements to include in a great collaboration space.

Facilitating Collaboration in the Built Environment

The ideal culture for collaboration comes from balancing individual and group work. That means workplace design has to prioritize both, which requires a thorough knowledge of an organization’s culture, work patterns, and work processes to determine the appropriate design for achieving proper space utilization. A designer needs to make the space reflect the values of the culture, and the physical layout is the foundation of that plan.

Individual workspaces are particularly important, as they help employees retain a sense of privacy and enhance task concentration. Additionally, workers should be able to seamlessly flow between solo and coworking spaces as needed. While it isn’t necessary to implement an open office design, it is important to allow for easy transitions between different kinds of spaces. Providing a variety of workspaces that allow workers to adapt to their day’s changing levels of engagement results in greater job satisfaction and group cohesiveness.

From Lazor/Office: Mono II in Minneapolis encourages worker flow between individual and group workspaces

When it comes to collaboration, flexibility and variety of seating are essential. Large desks and tables, adjustable chairs, and standing/sitting options all promote collaboration. Access to whiteboards, office supplies, food and drink, and technology is also vital so that workers have as many resources as possible at their disposal. Certification programs like the WELL Building Standard spotlight this; one WELL feature focuses on Adaptable Spaces, which calls for areas designated as quiet zones as well as collaboration zones. Both of these area types can be enclosable or semi-enclosable rooms, but the seating is more specific. A quiet zone should have 3 seats or fewer, while a collaboration zone should have 3 seats or more plus a visual vertical surface (like a whiteboard) for sharing ideas or work.

Open shared or social spaces should also be designed with collaboration in mind. These types of spaces promote informal meetings and can often jumpstart impromptu collaboration. In these shared work areas, individuals may choose to work so as to make themselves accessible to others, which can lead to productive group sessions. When designed for this sort of on-the-spot collaboration, shared spaces like lobbies, lounges, and kitchens can result in just as much collaboration as a dedicated collaboration space.

From Steelcase: A variety of seating options and easy access to resources encourage productive collaboration

No matter the space, designing for unplanned interaction can help promote worker connectivity and foster a collaborative environment. Perhaps the most famous example of this is the clever design of the Pixar campus. Under Steve Jobs’s command, the only bathroom was located in the center of the facility. As a result, employees would bump into each other, strike up conversation, and birth new ideas. The bathroom served as an anchor space to bring people together and stimulate interactions. It’s a simple concept to implement into building design, yet its impact on relationship building is immense. Many top performing businesses use anchor spaces in their design, including Google––its NYC campus ensures that no part of the office is more than 150 feet from food so that workers can “casually collide.”

From ArchDaily: Creating spaces where people can casually interact is crucial for productive collaboration

This concept applies to multi-level office spaces as well. Perkins+Will Senior Interior Designer Sarah Stanford recommends placing stairs centrally and creating anchor spaces on different levels so that workers naturally end up moving throughout the building. When flow is maximized, collaboration is encouraged, and that’s true in any office setting, whether it’s three rooms or three floors.

Biophilic Design: A Collaborative Catalyst

In order to be great for collaboration, a built environment needs to include the right indoor elements. In general, indoor elements need to enhance occupant health; in an office, this ensures that employees are performing and feeling their best. The individual materials selected can have a noticeable effect on employee wellness and happiness, which can in turn affect collaboration. To provide the best indoor experience, many designers are taking a biophilic design approach. Both the WELL Building Standard and Living Building Challenge certification programs use biophilia to drive design. Each certification program requires that the team view the design from a biophilic perspective by considering how occupants can engage in the space in a manner that incorporates nature.

Incorporating sustainable design is also important; workspaces that are sustainably designed have been shown to improve productivity. In actual practice, implementing biophilic and sustainable design in the office involves using natural materials, balancing indoor elements, and creating organic, flexible spaces. Here’s what that looks like.

Using Natural Materials to Foster Harmony

From TerraMai: Reclaimed wood and copious lighting encourage collaboration at Jet.com’s Hoboken office

In their report “14 Patterns of Biophilic Design,” Terrapin Bright Green identified the key tenets of biophilic design and how they belong in the built environment. Many of these patterns can be incorporated using natural elements and materials such as reclaimed wood, cork, and greenery. Wood is a particularly beneficial material when it comes to collaboration. A report by Planet Ark cited several studies in which wood was noted to increase social interaction. Your office doesn’t have to get a complete overhaul, though; even a little wood can go a long way. Strategic placement of rustic or reclaimed wood in a collaborative space (i.e., wood placed as a focal point) can positively impact how employees interact.

From Terramai: Simply placing a small, eye-catching wooden installation near a conference room can improve collaboration

The Indoor Elements You Need to Consider for Collaboration

Indoor environmental quality (IEQ) reflects the health of a space. Good IEQ comes from not only using the right building materials but also monitoring and optimizing various indoor elements. IEQ factors include air quality, levels of chemical and pollutant exposure, building dampness, and overall cleanliness. Biophilic design can target some of these factors, namely air quality and levels of chemical exposure.

Integrating plants and other greenery into the workplace is an easy and effective method of improving air quality and boosting workers’ moods. Employees perform better with plants around; productivity goes up by about 15 percent on average. This means plants also work wonders for collaboration, as they contribute to group productivity and interaction as well as solo work. Many businesses are going above and beyond to include plants in the workplace, with some opting for living walls that simultaneously create a striking visual focus and transform any space into a biophilic retreat. It’s also worthwhile to think about including other natural systems and elements in the workplace, such as water (e.g., fountains, small waterfalls) and fire (e.g., fireplaces). Such inclusions can create ideal collaborative spaces that benefit the physical and mental health of everyone who uses it.

From GSky: Featuring reclaimed wood and a living wall, Cannondale’s office is resplendent with biophilic design

Exposure to natural light is another vital aspect to consider, as collaboration happens best in well-lit biophilic spaces. Studies have repeatedly shown that employees who receive more daylight live, work, and sleep better. The specific amount and duration of light exposure is important here, as too much light can actually cause mood to decline. Matching both natural and artificial light with human circadian rhythms is widely accepted as the best and healthiest method of daylighting. This technique allows workers to follow their natural peaks of energy and get more out of those high points, making collaboration (and work in general) more effective. Windows and skylights are straightforward choices for daylighting, and it’s even better if a window looks out on a view of nature, as that appeals to biophilia even more. Careful attention to daylighting can dramatically improve collaboration.

From Snøhetta: Adding natural light, even in a crowded urban neighborhood like Slack’s NoHo office (NYC), is an enhancement to collaboration.

The Future of Collaboration

The amount of collaboration in the workplace is at an all-time high, and to get the most out of it, workers need spaces that are designed specifically for working together. Generating new ideas and innovating is much easier when in a biophilic, human-first environment. Current collaboration spaces can be reinvigorated by providing a variety of seating options or including more reclaimed wood. By using natural materials, controlling indoor elements, and considering collaboration in design, you can create the perfect collaboration space for your company.

Experience design is changing the way architects and designers conceive their role. At the same time, it is shaping the way people interact with the built environment.

While experience design isn’t an entirely new concept, it has emerged as a more prevalent practice over the past few years. Many architects have been following John Portman’s advice:

If a building is to meet the needs of all the people, the architect must look for some common ground of understanding and experience.

That is, the question of experience has become increasingly more important to designers seeking to innovate and create spaces that deliver a lasting emotional connection between human occupants and the built environment.

Taking cues from branding and marketing, this movement has already made waves in the building community. I’d like to examine why experience design is so different and what it means for the future of architecture.

The Growing Necessity of Experience in Design

Before I dive into a more specific analysis of experience, I want to examine the idea of experience itself. It’s easy to define experience, but how is it measured? While it’s not a dogmatic resource, the Gensler Experience Index gives a structured, holistic view of how experience can be qualified. Notably, Gensler outlines the goal of the Index “to inspire the creation of great places that engage people’s emotions and keep them coming back.” That ethos is crucial to experience design.

From Gensler: The five modes of experience help to decode the purpose of seeking out experiences

On a micro level, the Index considers various modes of experience and looks at how design affects those modes. The five modes––task, social, discovery, entertainment, and aspiration––are essentially the reasons people seek out experiences. Gensler also specifically analyzed the relationship between experience and design, concluding by emphasizing the importance of the two elements working in tandem: “The overall design look and feel of a space influences positive emotions, which in turn influences positive experience—and positive emotions and experience are at the heart of engaging users, whether connecting employees to organizational purpose or shoppers to a brand’s larger mission and story.”

From Continental Office: Installations in the gymnasium at Oberlin College connect visitors to a larger narrative of athletic victory and dedication

In short, design works as part of the overall experience of a place to engage occupants and visitors. With that purpose in mind, it’s easy to think of experience design as design that creates and facilitates a positive emotional connection between the occupants and the built environment. Furthermore, these emotional connections are what underpin an individual’s reason for visiting any sort of space. People are no longer going out to eat just for food but for an experience. This is especially true of millennials, who are seeking out design factors like authenticity and novelty that are crucial to experience design. Factors like sustainability and aesthetic appeal also come into play, but these factors should contribute to the overall experience.

From TerraMai: Authenticity to branding, like the unified look of REI SoHo, is a key element of experience design

Creating an Emotional Connection with Experience Design

The next step, of course, is to determine how to create and foster these emotional connections. Here, it helps to look at what some architects and designers are doing to push the envelope of conventional design and bring experience to the forefront.

From HOK: The H&R Block World Headquarters Heritage Hall anchors visitors and workers to the company’s history and tradition

Heritage Hall at the H&R Block World Headquarters in Kansas City is an excellent example of how experience design can be utilized to ground occupants in a brand story. Designed by HOK, the installation features company milestones, photographs of the founders, and even integrated iPads that provide interactive content opportunities. It evokes a sense of authenticity that allows passersby to attach themselves to the heritage of H&R Block.

From GenslerOn: This restaurant space stands out with novelty, clarity, and inspiration

When El Palacio del Hierro Polanco, a shopping mall in Mexico City, sought out design help, they tasked Gensler with making the gourmet department “an incredible, one-of-a-kind destination.” To that end, Gensler focused on making a space that was not only beautiful but also authentic to local history and tradition. As Gensler’s Kate Russell said, “What was really important about this particular Polanco location was that it responded to the city, and the character of not just being a luxury department store, but being a department store that has a Mexican heritage.” Eating and shopping at El Palacio del Hierro is an experience of tradition, and the design of the space is an integral catalyst for that experience.

Conclusion

While design concepts like sustainable design and biophilic design have certainly changed the world of architecture, experience design is a completely new animal. Architects and designers are understanding that the experience needs to be the impetus for an environment. For brands, this is especially important to acknowledge, as design then needs to be viewed as a business opportunity. Connecting occupants and employees to a larger narrative and purpose is not to be an afterthought; it should be built into a space from the outset.