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Celebrating 50 years: Our next journey starts here.

Image © Allegro, Warsaw

What is Biophilic Design?

Biophilia is a “love of life or living systems”. It’s our inherent human connection to the natural world. In an urban world of technology and industrial architecture, this fundamental connection can sometimes feel all but lost. Biophilic design is an innovative way to harness this affinity to create natural environments for us to live, work and learn. By consciously including nature in interior or architectural design, we are unconsciously reconnecting, bringing the great outdoors in to our constructed world.

As pioneers in sustainability, Interface advocates for biophilic design and knows it is critical to human health to include natural systems and processes in our buildings and constructed landscapes. Over 50 studies worldwide, including our Human Spaces Report with psychologist Professor Sir Cary Cooper, have proven the positive effects nature or environments that mimic nature have on overall health and well-being.

Image © Allegro, Warsaw

Image © LinkedIn, Paris

What are the Benefits?

An environment devoid of nature can have a negative effect on health, productivity and well-being. This is particularly important in the corporate office sector.

Ill health and lack of well-being can result in poor performance and productivity, lost work time and increased costs. In the UK, work-related stress accounts for 35% of ill health and 43% of absenteeism, costing organisations an estimated £29 billion a year. In the United States, absenteeism costs employers an average of US$ 2,074 per employee, per year.

There is a direct correlation between clever work-space design and improved employee well-being and performance. Even simple changes to incorporate nature in the workplace can have a huge impact on how employees feel when they come to work, and how happy, creative and productive they feel when they are working.

Our aim is to elevate a biophilic approach to the design of work environments higher on to the global corporate agenda.

Image © LinkedIn, Paris

Biophilic Design

Interface UR501 plank carpet tile

Products to Support Your Biophilic Spaces

All of our products can be used to support your biophilic space, depending on which biophilic principle you are designing with. Here are some of our carpet tiles where the pattern is based upon natural colours and textures.