FOCUS FLOORING
Bringing the outside in
Janet Lowe, Head of Marketing UK and Ireland at Forbo Flooring Systems, discusses the latest
fl ooring innovations and how they can help to reconnect building occupants with the great outdoors
The benefits of bringing nature into the
built environment are increasingly
well documented, with a growing
understanding of the role nature can play
in the wellbeing of building occupants.
The term ‘biophilia’ refers to the love
of life and living systems, and dates
back to the early 1980s when biologist
Edward Osborne Wilson suggested that
humans have an innate tendency to seek
connections with nature and other forms
of life.
With rising rates of urbanisation, we are
becoming increasingly disconnected from
the outside world, but by incorporating
natural elements and influences into the
places where we live and work, we can
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help to re-establish our connection to
the outdoors. Biophilic design has been a
growing force in the UK o ice sector over
the past few years, and this trend is set to
continue.
On average, it’s reported that we spend
around 90 per cent of our time indoors,
with eight hours typically spent at work.
Association with the outdoors is important
in a well-designed o ice space, as studies
have shown that connecting humans with
nature can have a significant impact on
wellbeing. Research suggests that biophilic
design in the workplace can relieve stress
and lower blood pressure and heart rates,
while boosting productivity and reducing
absenteeism. Blurring the line between
the outside and inside should, therefore,
contribute to creating healthier, happier and
more productive indoor environments.
For many this might take the form of
adding lots of plants and shrubbery.
However, biophilic design can be much
more creative and subtle. Integrating
indirect elements such as materials,
textures, patterns, shapes and colours
that mimic nature can also contribute to
bringing the outside in, whether in the form
of textiles, artwork, furniture or flooring.
The floor is one of the largest surface areas
inside an o ice building, and employees
will have constant contact with it. This
means the choice of floor coverings can
have a huge impact on how people feel in