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Biophilic garden design

February 11, 2020
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Biophilia, Home office, Landscape Design
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Posted by Parveen

Biophilia

What does Biophillia actually mean and how is it important to garden design?  It is a fancy term or does it carry more meaning?

The term “biophilia” means the “love of life or living systems.” It describes a psychological orientation of being attracted to all that is alive and vital.

It tries to explain why humans strive to connect with nature and the world around us.

For me, maybe that explains why I want to be outdoors all the time and why I take immense joy in seeing all the lush plantings and flower beds.  The joy of the butterflies and bees humming and the gnarled shapes of large tree trunks etc.

Have you considered what attracts you to nature?

The core areas of biophilia in garden design

Because of our technological advancements and more time spent inside buildings and cars, it is argued that the lack of biophilic activities and time spent in nature may be strengthening the disconnect of humans from nature.

This appears to be the underpinning concern being addressed in biophilic garden design.

It is a philosophy I’ve stumbled across and that has struck a chord with me.  Without realising it, I have been applying some of its principles from the get go.  Trying to marry my clients needs for nature and beautiful spaces to what they are attracted to, innately, and what would enhance their family’s and their own personal wellbeing.

Ie the design needs to come up with “something” that connects them with nature and with each other.

It is the patterns, forms, materials, places, spaces, sounds, smells, seasons, light and so on that can trigger positive feelings of wellbeing.

Doncaster East

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Burwood

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Vermont South A

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Glen Waverley

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Canva - Closeup Photography of Metal Frame

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Carprobrotus rossii - Vermont South

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The more I speak to people around me and those I meet and network with, I have found that they are slowly but surely realising the benefits of that connection, with nature and with each other, and are therefore more interested in doing up their homes to achieve that goal.

An example landscape design wise is an existent tree with a historical connection with the site.  We would find a way to retain the tree and design the house and garden around it, ensuring that every element looks like it should be there.  Have a look at our 2016 Glen Waverley project which retained a mature mandarin tree that existed on the property simply because my clients connected to it and wanted to retain it as it has “always” been there.  Love it!

Biophilic benefits

So is there some science behind all this?

Well, in fact there is.  Google this topic and you’ll have a heap of articles and anecdotes written on this topic and how connecting with nature would benefit you.

It has been found that biophilic experiences can reduce stress, improve cognitive function, and enhance mood and creativity. These and other outcomes can increase health and wellbeing, as well as productivity.

Now, have a think about your own circumstances.  Where do you like to go on holiday?  The mountains?  Beach?  What exactly do you want to connect with and that makes your heart sing?

For me, personally.  I love both of the abovementioned places as the blue in the water calls to me and I love the view of coconut trees (I grew up in Malaysia) and the soft white sand underfoot.  It calms me and reminds me of a carefree summer spent entirely at the beach.  Similarly, mountain air invigorates me and I feel an energy connection to how vast the world looks from the top and how beautiful the trees and forests are.  I come back from my trips and feel like I want to tackle another 50 design challenges as I’m refreshed and ready to GO GO GO!

What energises you?

Aeonium patch in Brighton landscape design

How can Biophilia help you, your office, and your employees

So you have a workplace to go to or run an office.  I’ve worked in many so I know what they are like.  Artificial lighting.  No plants, being holed indoors and not seeing the sun for most of it.

How would you apply biophillic principles to your space?

Here are some simple suggestions:

Try jazzing up your workspace a little with a little plant love and paid attention to how it makes you feel?

I’m sure you’ve noticed that:

  • It brightens what would have been a sterile work environment
  • It puts you in a mood with nature and broke your day up a little but not staring continuously at the Computer
  • Your day felt more productive and relaxed
  • You may not have noticed those long working hours?

Why do plants have such an impact though?  I think it’s a combination of both the visual impact and their intrinsic benefits (discussed further below).

Again, there’s valid science behind all of this.  It’s scientifically proven that plants in your workspace improves your mood and productivity.  Why you’d think?  Well maybe they…

  • Create a relaxing and breathing space;
  • Create a social hub to gather (especially for bigger workspaces); or
  • Show a sense of pride and joy of your workspace. Something beautiful to look at to get you to work.
  • Some employees like the idea of having plant “pets” at work
  • Create a calming effect (blues and greens have been proven to have that effect)
  • Create a pop of colour – for example, the use of striking plants like the zebra plant (Aphelandra Squarrosa) will certainly brighten up an otherwise sterile space!

Are there any downsides to greening up?

Whilst biophillic design is not limited to plants, this article puts an emphasis on it.

Plantswise, from a personal and business perspective the main “downside” I can really think off is cost.

But I think it’s just a short-term additional cost for installing any real plants into your home or office.  Surely the benefits from higher productivity, lower absenteeism (at work) etc are seen in the long term.  Hopefully, this will outweigh the initial and ongoing maintenance costs.

The only other downside that may be a possibility is the potential risk of allergies.

This can be mitigated though by contacting the specialists who ACTUALLY know and “breathe” plants.

Get in touch with reputable indoor plantscape specialists who have a botanist onboard, outdoor specialists with indoor plant knowledge such as myself OR interrior designers who are also equipped with plant knowledge.

All of them will enable you to make the right plant choices that suit you and your spaces!

What does it mean for your office and the future of office design?

Allow employees to bring their own plant.  Some employees like the idea of having plant “pets” at work. This allow customisation and expression of employee individuality – the office should not be a sterile space especially if you’re a creative organisation, for example.

(Of course I suppose the main guidelines is to keep it in line with the company’s branding strategies!)

Looking into the colours used in the workplace when designing – Blues and greens have a calming effect and have been proven to improve moods.  The use of striking plants certainly adds a pop of colour to an otherwise sterile space.

If employers are redecorating, seek employee opinion as they are the ones who are meant to benefit from this exercise and result in higher productivity for the employee.

Looking at other innovative ways of breaking up spaces and at the same time greening it up.  For example, employers can use room divider using systems like the Schiavello wall which houses lots of pots and therefore plants.  Alternately, why not a living vertical garden to divide the office space up rather than a plain boring wall?

Working from home

Why not create a space you want to be in all day?

Decorate it with your flair and connect to items that mean something to you.  If possible at all, bring the outdoors in or just bit the bullet and try to work outdoors?

Break free of any inhibitions and give it a go.  Try working on your deck space in your back garden or in your balcony area and assess how you feel when you do that.

If working outdoors in a bit step, then create some lushness around you?  All you need is to start with a single pot and watch it grow from there!  How wonderful would it be to have some lovely string of pearls of devils ivy cascade around you and envelope you with their wave of greenery!!

If that appeals to you in some manner, it is meant for you.

Hungry for more information on biophilic design?

Then check out the following articles:

Home Office – some plants to consider

Home Office – why include plants

Home sanctuary – biophilic architectural design

In the meantime, visit my past projects below which may give some inspiration!

Blackburn

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Blackburn

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Blackburn

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Maribyrnong

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Wantirna

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Kew

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Vermont South A

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Camberwell

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If you need further suggestions or design or plantscaping both indoors and outdoors, please contact us for an onsite 90 minute consultation. 

Refer to our packages for further detail on how we can help you in the consults and subsequently throughout your garden implementation process.

Do also check out our article on the latest planting trends.

Our passion your garden! xx

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A snippet from a favourite design from 2020! ⁠⠀
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Completed last Sept and about to arrange for some professional shots of it soon!⁠⠀
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Probably the best part of the design for me was to see my client's fervour around building the nautilus feature and actually making that happen!  You'll have to see it in real life to believe it as it not only looks amazing but gives her a sense of pride whenever she drives home!⁠⠀
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No more a boring front garden with a square grassed area but something unique to come home to, surrounded by plants that make her happy and a garden she loved designing for herself! 💚
This is one thing that continues to fascinate me!⁠⠀
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I LOVE it when ferns unfurl.  It's almost magical and done with such grace of movement!⁠⠀
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From the alternating leaf pattern, the prominent lateral veins to the spores that finally appear underneath their leaves, it's so well planned and amazing!⁠⠀
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Isn't nature simply beautiful!!? 💚⁠⠀
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What's your favourite fern?
Feature pots for smaller spaces or courtyards. ⁠ Feature pots for smaller spaces or courtyards. ⁠⠀
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The decision is a little trickier than you would initially think but here are some tips that can help!⁠⠀
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🌿Colours - lighter to make the area larger⁠⠀
🌿Size & number - would also depend on what you intend to plant and the aesthetic you'd want to create but if space is really limited I'd perhaps chose a single reasonably sized pot (to facilitate good root growth) that would allow for some layering of plants⁠⠀
🌿Opening - what  I mean by this is the "mouth" of the pot.  This has practical implication for on-going repotting and maintenance.  The wider the opening the easier to repot down the track!⁠⠀
🌿Texture - i love the earthy ones as they feel natural and similarly anything with laid stone or are handcrafted just adds that something extra but these tend to be expensive!⁠⠀
🌿Type - chose the look that compliments the overall style and aesthetic for your space.  For example, you'd not want to chose an ultra modern geometric pot for a farmhouse style cottagey space!  The pot here was chosen to compliment the earthy paving colour and was in line with the shapes of other structures in the courtyard!⁠⠀
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What are your key styling tips!  Do share! 💚⁠⠀
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⁠Slow and steady gets there eventually!⁠⠀
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Finally my dwarf senecio has got to a reasonable size and is looking very adorable at the moment!⁠⠀
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What especially I love about it is that it has a rounded growth and almost 'shines' at night against the moonlight which is why I've planted it next to the path!⁠⠀
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What's your favourite succulent? 💚⁠⠀
Need I say more? Well I'm pretty much plant and g Need I say more?  Well I'm pretty much plant and garden obsessed anyway LOL!⁠⠀
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Hope that you’re making your garden your priority in 2021. It's good for the mind, body and soul! 💚
One of my favourite colour combinations in the gar One of my favourite colour combinations in the garden - something purplish blue against a deeper green!⁠⠀
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This geranium sleeps in winter and pops it's head up at start of spring, misleading anyone to think that it's just a boring flat area of green!  My youngest initially thought it was a weed and I luckily stopped her in time before she plucked the geranium out! 😅⁠⠀
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What's your favourite perennial or deciduous plant that you like popping up again in the cheer of warmer weather? 💚
Finally another one of my baby vireya rhododendron Finally another one of my baby vireya rhododendron's has flowered!!⁠⠀
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Not sure of the name of this one but it's got such a lovely vibe to it.  I just love how the petals soften into a baby pink and curl at the ends. ⁠⠀
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Been meaning to contact the grower I met back in MIFGS back in 2016 when I bought it to ask about its name. Why? Because I've misplaced its tag which was rather silly of me to be honest!  Well it's on my to do list now for sure!⁠⠀
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If anyone does know it's name in the meantime do please PM me as I would be really grateful! 💚
What's better than this?⁠💦⁠⠀ ⁠⠀ Havin What's better than this?⁠💦⁠⠀
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Having an elegant pool area with some mood lighting to create the ambience you'd love to share with your loved ones.⁠⠀
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Great for entertainment and an after New Year party chill out! ⁠⠀
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So a VERY happy new year from me!!!⁠⠀
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I would like to sincerely thank everyone for the support in a very challenging 2020 and let us all look forward to a greater year in 2021.⁠⠀
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Thank you all for the opportunities, connections and friendships that were built along the way.⁠⠀
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Thanks especially to my family who continue to endure me going off on a plant chase, picture taking mania or talking incessantly about landscaping.⁠⠀
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Thank you to all my new and long-term “anchor” clients some of whom have been with me from the inception - you know who you are!! 💚- who continue to put up with the changes in my business structure, my obsession with making your dream garden and for allowing me, very graciously, to be part of your garden journeys!⁠⠀
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Here’s wishing everyone peace, health, happiness and prosperity in the new year. ⁠⠀
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Let the gentle spirit of love flood our hearts and homes. ⁠⠀
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Let us create some wonderful memories to cherish in the years that follow!⁠⠀
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Warmest regards and best wishes for a wonderful start to the year!⁠⠀
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Parveen Dhaliwal⁠⠀
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With 2020 coming to and end is the promise of exci With 2020 coming to and end is the promise of exciting builds to designs completed this year that I'll get be involved in 2021!⁠⠀
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Most excited about this one given the research and effort that went into it!⁠⠀
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Sunken garden oasis for a young family to enjoy - can't wait!!! 

Wishing you all a very happy, healthy and safe new year!!!💚
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