Biophilic Design

Biophilic design uses the human connection to nature (“biophilia”) to connect people more closely to nature in buildings including homes, workplaces, businesses, public facilities, schools, hospitals, and more. Biophilic-designed buildings incorporate indoor plants, interior landscaping, natural lighting, fresh air ventilation, and other elements to create a healthier environment to support human health and wellbeing.

There are 24 individual qualities of biophilic design. They include:

  • Direct experience: contact with green elements such as plants, views of nature, water, and natural airflow.
  • Indirect experience: the use of natural materials such as wood or natural fabrics like cotton and wool; exposure to images of nature in artwork; and the use of natural shapes and forms.
  • Experience of space and place: How is your own cultural and ecological attachment to a particular indoor area affected?

Multiple studies show a positive relationship between the presence of nature in the workplace and employee wellness and productivity. The design think tank Human Spaces reports employees working in environments with natural elements like plants and sunlight have a 15 percent higher level of well-being. This translates into a six percent increase in productivity and a 15 percent increase in creativity.

Think about what a six percent efficiency increase would mean in your business. Imagine one creative idea that turns into the next Tesla, Bitcoin, or even Scrub Daddy (look it up). What would you be willing to invest in getting there?

There are several simple design changes easily made in workspaces. The easiest and most cost-efficient way is the addition of plants into your environment. This action also gets building owners and facilities managers thinking big picture about the amount of space people have to work in or the best way to make buildings safer and healthier. Safety, health, and worker productivity all go together.

Natural light, plants and vegetation, living walls, natural textures and materials, and views of nature will all provide the positive impact employers need to hire and keep their employees. And it can all be done for less than the cost of a cup of coffee per employee daily.

Stone As A Biophilic Design Element: Why You Need Stones

| May 9, 2023 | Categories: Architecture and Design, Biophilic Design, Plantscaping
Using stone as a biophilic design element
Everybody Must Get Stones Last post, we took a look at wood as a biophilic element. In case you missed it, it’s not too late to check out some interesting pictures & facts on wood as a biophilic element. This week, our focus has turned to stone. As humans, we are innately connected to the natural world around us. Our affinity for nature is even reflected in the built environment, as we seek to bring elements of the natural world into our homes and workplaces. This sentiment is at the heart of biophilic design – a design trend that emphasizes the importance of incorporating elements of nature into the man-made environment, with the goal of enhancing our wellbeing.… Read More

Thinking Outside the Wooden Box: Wood as a Biophilic Element

| April 21, 2023 | Categories: Architecture and Design, Biophilic Design
Is Wood Having a Moment (again)? Ready, name that decade: Wood paneling Parquet flooring Wagon wheel décor Wood siding If you guessed 1970s, 1530s, 1940s & 1980s, you’re correct. But since design is cyclical, there were many more years that those things surged in popularity. Take wood flooring. That saw a rebirth just a short time ago in the late 20th century and early 2000s. There was a little break as modern industrial morphed into farmhouse industrial and farmhouse, but the cement flooring and painted cabinets of the last few years are now trending back to natural wood. As interior plantscapers, we use wood as a biophilic design element – we use planters made from wood, attach plants to slabs of wood and put them on the wall and use driftwood in our designs.… Read More

Breathe Life Into Your Workspace with Plants

| April 10, 2023 | Categories: Biophilic Design, Office Design, Plantscaping
  Wouldn’t it be nice to escape the sea of bland grayscale cubicles and walk through a splash of color and nature-inspired elements? A positive work environment can be as much about the surroundings as the people. Fostering teamwork, the sharing of ideas, personal space and comfort are among the considerations of an office designer. If the office or workspace is already designed, some easy updates, like the soothing touch of nature, or a few vibrant colors placed here & there, can contribute to a positive workplace ambiance. Whether you’re a property manager, an office manager, or you just have an office you want to liven up, here are a few ideas to add color & nature to your office environment to get the workflow going.… Read More

The Plantscape Hall of Fame Inducts Jim Mumford

| March 9, 2023 | Categories: Awards & Achievements, Biophilic Design, Green Roofs
We may all endure a lifetime of work, but very few of us are recognized for a lifetime of achievement. The people that stand out prove that passion and persistence are the keys to success. When other people ask, “why?” they ask, “why not?” Jim Mumford is one of these people with passion and persistence – and a love of plants. In his own words, “If I hear “no” or “that can’t be done” it means I try harder. I don’t give up easily.”  In the span of 45 years, Jim has gone from plant & flower seller, to plant expert, to interior plantscaper to global biophilic design thought leader, mentor and educator.… Read More

7 Biophilic Design Trends for 2023

| February 22, 2023 | Categories: Biophilic Design
Nature Color Palette 4404
Biophilic Design is Going Mainstream For anyone who’s been following our work, you know that biophilic design isn’t just our business, it’s our passion. Literally. It means a love of nature, and in design it’s a way to bring natural elements indoors. That can mean living walls, moss walls,  and adding other natural elements to the built environment, like house plants / indoor plants, just for starters. Countless studies have shown that biophilic design isn’t just nice to look at, but also improves emotional wellness, reduces stress, boosts creativity and even helps filter air, reducing volatile organic compounds and adding oxygen.… Read More

Good Earth Plants’ Moss Wall Wins Platinum

| February 8, 2023 | Categories: Awards & Achievements, Biophilic Design, Case Studies, Moss Walls
Good Earth Plants Moss Wall
  At the 2023 Tropical Plant International Expo, Good Earth Plant Co walked away with two big awards. First, owner Jim Mumford was inducted into the I-Plants Magazine Plantscape Hall of Fame and second, Good Earth Plants’ installation of a large-scale moss wall was recognized with a Platinum Award. The moss wall was one of Good Earth Plants most challenging projects to date for the size, but also the requirements of the 8′ x 50′ moss wall art. The wall is the common area of an office suite in a lounge / resimercial area with leather sofas and chairs. The client is a tech giant known for design, and they want their office to reflect their brand.… Read More

Plant Trends from the 2023 TPIE

| January 25, 2023 | Categories: Biophilic Design, Nature and Wellbeing, Plantscaping
TPIE bring nature inside sign with Jim Mumford
Welcome to The Tropical Plant International Expo (TPIE) 2023! Jim Mumford, founder of Good Earth Plants, went trendspotting at this year’s event in Tampa, FL. At 89% humidity, with showers and temps in the 70s, it felt very tropical. The TPIE is the CES for plant people: interior plantscapers, designers, retailers, media, and really anyone whose job involves plants. And just like a new tech launch at CES, new varieties of plants are shown here first. Jim started Good Earth Plant Co. 45 years ago, and his years of dedication to biophilic design earned him a place in the Hall of Fame at this year’s TPIE.… Read More

Sustainable Design Ideas for San Diego Stormwater

| January 5, 2023 | Categories: Architecture and Design, Biophilic Design, Blog, Environment, Good Earth Plant Company Tips, Sustainable Living, Water and Water Conservation
Green Roof Salesforce Park in San Francisco. Photo: Greenroofs.com
  Amid the megadrought, the worst drought to hit California in 1200+ years, we are now experiencing a Pacific storm with the terrifying name of a bomb cyclone. And while the atmospheric river it’s bringing with it sounds poetic, it’s anything but. This brutal storm is bringing heavy rains, damaging winds and subsequent flooding to parts of California. In San Diego County, we’re experiencing rains and winds that may lead to major flood events in some areas. Over the last decade, flooding has caused millions of dollars in property damage, even in times of average seasonal rainstorms. (source: San Diego Co Public Works) San Diego is a coastal desert.… Read More

Viva Magenta is Pantone 2023 Color of the Year

| December 14, 2022 | Categories: Architecture and Design, Biophilic Design
Cordyline fruticosa, known as the Hawaiian Ti Plant, is a stunning example of the 2023 Pantone Color of the Year - Viva Magenta. Photo: Erin Lindley, Good Earth Plant Company
Good Earth Plant Company first started writing about the Pantone Color of the Year in 2017. Design trends matter to our clients, but it was mainly something fun to do. The big surprise: how much it matters to you, too! After a few years of peaceful, soothing colors to get us through the pandemic, Pantone is ready for a party. The 2023 choice is a bold deep pink, “Viva Magenta.” Magenta is equal parts cool and warm, a pink with a hint of purple. It’s a color Pantone’s executives say represents an optimistic future. Pantone Vice President Laurie Pressman is quoted saying Viva Magenta represents a prevailing desire for optimism, resilience, outside-the-box thinking and technological innovation to create a better world.… Read More

Let’s Talk About Biophilic Design

| December 7, 2022 | Categories: Biophilic Design, Media Coverage, Plantscaping
There is only one thing I enjoy more than enriching peoples’ lives with plants at Good Earth Plant Company. It’s talking to people about enriching their lives with plants – especially when I get to speak to a big audience.  This week, I made my third appearance on the daily talk show “It’s Your Life.” It is a podcast, livestream, and live YouTube show. Hosted by Dr. James Cooley and co-hosted and produced by his wife, Michelle Cooley. The Cooleys invite people from all walks of life with different professions and areas of expertise. Dr. Cooley is a motivational speaker and a retired Navy Officer with 23 years of service.… Read More