Redefining Work Life Balance with Biophilic Design

Redefining the Modern Workplace

The modern professional landscape has evolved, shifting the focus toward employee well-being and satisfaction. The hot topic of work life balance took center stage as people tried to figure out this new normal—and realized they liked it. Since the great return to the office, dress codes have relaxed, hybrid work is more common and, most importantly, people are redefining their work life balance while in the office.

However, work life balance is not just about how much time you spend working versus not. It is about your priorities, activities, and finding joy in the work you do—something office design can impact. Business owners and architectural designers are now looking toward biophilic design to bridge the gap between productivity and personal well-being.

Why Grey Walls Are Out and Nature Is In

Working remotely led many to realize that cubicles and grey walls weren’t conducive to their work or enjoyment. It is just not pleasant. This dissatisfaction has driven the adoption of biophilic design, which brings nature and natural elements into the office, becoming a major player in how offices are changing.

These design concepts are all about reducing burnout in employees. By integrating biophilic design, workspaces can offer natural relief for anxiety, creating an environment that feels less like a sterile enclosure and more like a vibrant, living ecosystem.

The Cycle of Balance and Design

An article by Harvard Business Review discusses how work life balance is a 5-step cycle: pause and denormalize, pay attention to your emotions, reprioritize, consider your alternatives, and implement changes.

Biophilic design provides a way to escape “the office” and give your employees an opportunity to work through these steps or just get away for a moment to recharge. By creating spaces that foster all natural anxiety relief, you allow employees the mental space required to manage their emotions and reprioritize effectively.

Implementing Biophilic Strategies

If you have the space, provide your employees with different areas for different kinds of work. Activity-based-working is a design concept that prioritizes a variety of workspaces for different tasks. For example, introduce a quiet zone for more focused work or a collaborative zone for team projects.

A key component of biophilic design is the living wall. Add a green wall to your office space. Green walls, also known as living walls, provide benefits such as cleaner air, increased productivity, boost in mood and happiness, reduced stress, better memory retention and increased creativity. Green walls are a great way to provide the benefits of nature in any office space, no matter the size.

Attracting Talent with Well-Being

Creating jobs with good work life balance is a competitive advantage. These simple concepts will go a long way to helping your employees find the balance they deserve and, ultimately, be happier to work with you.

Encourage your employees to go outside. If you can, cultivate an outdoor space specifically for your employees to escape to. A great example is the Amazon Seattle Spheres, which feature 4,000 feet of living walls with over 25,000 plants. While the Spheres are technically indoors, the plant walls still provide a biophilic escape like the outdoors would.

Bring Balance to Your Building

The world has changed, but in a few good ways. If you’re looking for ways to implement biophilic design, let us help. Whether through structural changes or the addition of living walls, the goal is to create a sanctuary for productivity and peace.