Evaluating Biophilic Design Approach for Enhancing Work Space in the Corporate Offices of Indian Context

Abstract

A need to connect with nature, known as biophilia, is ingrained in the genetics of all humans and has countless beneficial impacts but, with the increasing urbanization, the human connection with nature has kept on decreasing at an alarming rate. A person spends most of their time either at home or at their workspaces, suggesting the need for increased use of biophilic elements in such spaces. This thesis will address the urgency of formulating suggestions to the factors of nature in the basic design of the working environment. To understand this various aspects and elements of biophilic design and its positive results in the workspaces have been studied. The main aim is to come up with a suggestion of how to blend the elements of biophilic design with that of the office design. Initially, the essence of biophilic design is understood by studying various hypotheses and concepts, and the evolution of office spaces. Then, it assimilates the need to combine the modern approach of office design with the historic nature-centric one. Lastly, comparing the various Indian context case studies, inferences are drawn concerning the elements and aspects of biophilic design that account for the increased well-being and productivity of the employees. Workspace encountering the natural elements acts as a boom to the overall atmosphere of the space as well as shoots up the work performance making it easier to achieve the set goals of the organization. The study will conclude by drawing design suggestions for office spaces that integrate the gathered knowledge about biophilic architecture and its elements. Moreover, it will specify the benefits of incorporating each of the individual elements of the list of the 14 elements of Biophilic design.