We spend most of our time indoors. Unfortunately, we’ve also made the indoors as opposed to nature as possible. But as humans, we have an elemental need to be out in open spaces. We feel better and think more clearly when surrounded by nature, with no false ceiling above our heads. This instinctive affinity of human beings with nature is known as biophilia. The need to be in nature is innate in us as human beings. 

Biophilic design – designing our interior spaces with greenery - is gaining popularity worldwide. Architects are bringing the great outdoors indoors, and it’s a good thing for everyone. This trend of designing offices and workspaces with the element of greenery is a very welcome one. The pace has been set by corporate giants such as Amazon and Microsoft. The former has dedicated a 4000 sqft area to be a “green office” where employees can “think and work differently surrounded by plants.” With over 40,000 plants, waterfalls and floating staircases, it encourages creative thinking.  Jumping on the bandwagon, Microsoft has put up treehouse conference rooms and Facebook has invested in a rooftop park.

The fact is, a green office is a productive office. Research shows a significant increase in productivity and a reduction in absences in green workplaces. The benefits of working around plants can be summed up into:

• They reduce stress levels: According to a study by the University of Technology, Sydney, the introduction of plants to the work area resulted in a whopping 58% drop in depression, 44% drop in hostility, 37% reduction in anxiety and tension, and 38?ll in fatigue levels. Even a single plant per workspace can have a significant effect, and lift spirits. 
  
  
• They increase productivity: A research led by the University of Exeter concluded that employees worked better when there was a plant in their sight. Placing plants at strategic intervals led to a 15% increase in staff productivity.
  
  
• They reduce sickness and hence absence rates: An independent study by the Agricultural University of Norway found that introducing plants to an office led to 25?crease in ill health symptoms, notably fatigue, dry skin, concentration problems and irritation of the eyes and nose.
  
  
• The 2015 Human Spaces report, which studied offices across 16 countries, found that those with greenery had a 15% higher wellbeing score than those without.
  
  
• They clean the air: Many indoor plants remove toxic chemicals such as formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene from the air, leaving it cleaner for humans to breathe. 
  
  
• They boost creativity: Several studies have shown that being around plants encourage creativity. Employees tend to feel more relaxed and are able to concentrate better when in a green office. 

The potential payout from the initial investment of designing a green workspace is huge. It’s no wonder business owners around the world are taking notice. The future offices, schools, and hospitals will be a welcome change of scene from today’s stark walls and bright lights.