Spanish companies incorporate biophilic design in their environments to increase their workers' welfare and productivity

We are increasingly aware of the trend of biophilic design, which is supposed to improve employees’ well-being, performance, inspiration and productivity in the workplace.

Furniture with natural woods and recycled materials, natural lighting, vertical gardens, garden terraces, orchards, plants, fountains, views to the outside and outdoor spaces where taking a break are some of the new resources of the offices of the future. These elements, together with equipment solutions that are concerned with the ergonomics and well-being of the worker and the creation of environments that boost collaboration between people, concentration, informal meetings or creativity, are increasingly implemented in the Business.

“The contact with nature reduces stress, favors rest, performance, feeds concentration, improves the potential for innovation, imagination and improves well-being in general. Hence, the presence of natural elements and green areas in the work spaces result in productivity and employee satisfaction, and help them feel more identified with the values of the companies”, says Alejandro Pociña, president of Steelcase, world leader in the equipping of workspaces.

This is also confirmed by Interface's global Report on Human Spaces, which states that welfare and productivity levels increase by 13% in those environments that incorporate nature. Those that overlook natural elements, such as trees, water or the countryside, have higher levels of well-being than those that overlook more urban environments, such as buildings, roads and construction sites. However, still a high number of workers still can not enjoy access to nature during their journey. According to the study, 42% of office workers do not have access to daylight, 55% do not have access to vegetation and 7% do not have a window in their environment. Due to the optimization of the efficiency and the size of the workspaces, these have become boring, exhausting and isolating places.

Repsol Campus

Business corporations are betting on reinventing their work spaces to adapt them to the new challenges of the future, where the welfare of employees is safeguarded. They opt for designs with exterior views, since the possibility of being close to a window and enjoying sunlight and relaxing and pleasant views is related to greater performance. At the same time, the risk of tired eyesight and the monotony of closed spaces is minimized. This new concept of offices, focused on improving the experience of the worker in the workplace, as well as motivating, inspiring employees and reducing the stress of work obligations, is also committed to sustainability and energy savings, thanks to which they take full advantage of sunlight.

“Having wide views and high ceilings and being able to move from different physical perspectives, encourages the brain to establish new connections and see things differently“, adds Pociña. In particular, exposure to nature and sunlight releases endorphins in the brain that improve mood and relax people's attention, fostering their ability to influence many different ideas and imagine alternative approaches, while also being an healthier option to help synthesize vitamin D provided by the sun.

Sede BBVA - Madrid

In Spain, many large companies have already joined this new trend, as in the case of the new BBVA headquarters in Madrid, which has landscaped roofs; the corporate headquarters of Sanitas, which incorporates a multitude of organic elements throughout the building, the forested garden of Repsol or the Telefónica District C, headquarters of the company, a skyscraper in horizontal form, enabled with green areas outdoors, photovoltaic panels , natural light detectors, etc.

District C - Telefónica

In a world where technology and artificiality abound, the return to nature will be a common denominator in the offices of the future.

Source: Steelcase
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