DIP partner Aengevelt Immobilien is continuing its investigations, which began a year ago, into the positive effects of green office spaces. These analyses are now supported by current research findings from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development. The publications demonstrate that natural elements in the office significantly increase employee work productivity and stress resistance. This so-called biophilia effect is already being deliberately employed by tech companies such as Apple and Amazon in their headquarters.
The standard handbook “Universal Principles of Design” has recommended considering the biophilia effect in building design since 2003 to promote creativity, performance, and general well-being. An evaluation of 54 international studies by scientists from the Max Planck Institute for Human Development underlines the significant influences of experiencing nature on cognitive performance and work productivity. It shows that experiencing nature supports stress reduction and can strengthen resilience to stress-inducing factors.
Proven Effects and Mechanisms of Action
Specifically, experiencing nature improves attention, memory performance, the speed and quality of task completion, and well-being. The impact on productivity results from an interplay of physiological reactions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and cortisol and amylase levels; psychological capacities, such as self-regulation, cognitive resources, and competence to act; and social effects through shared activities. Even brief experiences of nature, lasting only a few minutes, can trigger measurable effects; in experiments, the average duration was 28 minutes. Virtual nature experiences, for example through photos, videos, VR headsets, or bird songs, can also have positive effects.
Integration Possibilities in Office Architecture
Office architecture offers diverse opportunities to integrate the experience of nature into daily work life. This includes embedding office buildings in a green environment, which allows for views as well as short stays and walks during breaks. Historical examples such as the headquarters of John Deere (1964) or Apple Park (2017) illustrate this. While the concept of business parks is established in North America, in Germany it is often applied to conventional commercial areas without specific greening strategies. Initiatives such as Singapore's “Green Plan” envisage comprehensive greening of entire business districts.
Another effective option is the greening of office buildings themselves through outdoor spaces, courtyards, roof gardens, or vertical façade greening. This not only creates spaces for experiencing nature but also improves ecological and climate balances. Within larger office buildings, green and water areas can be created, which positively influence the microclimate. The extensive interior greening of Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore, repeatedly recognised as the best airport in the world, is an example of the positive influence on user experience in a typically stressful environment. Office greening can be implemented space-efficiently with planters and plant walls, but can also reach the dimensions of a mini-jungle, such as at Amazon's headquarters “The Spheres” in Seattle.
Dr. Wulff Aengevelt, managing partner of Aengevelt Immobilien, emphasised that greenery in construction represents more than mere aesthetics. He elaborated that research has shown a measurable increase in productivity through natural elements in office environments. Leading high-tech companies, banks, and insurance firms had implemented these insights early on, positioning themselves as trendsetters. Given the numerous options for intelligently integrating the experience of nature into office architecture, there is significant potential to enhance office properties with green elements in a contextually appropriate and socially relevant manner.
