Exploring Office Interiors via Biophilic Design

Approach while interrogating Interiority in Interiors

Shrivastava
BA(Hons): Interior Architecture and Design
2018
Exploring Office Interiors via Biophilic Design
Approach while interrogating Interiority in Interiors
SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani (25400407)

Submitted in fulfilment of a part of the requirements for the degree Master

of Arts in Interior Architecture and Design
Lincoln School of Design
UNIVERSITY OF LINCOLN

Supervisor: Dr. Raymund Konigk

Module: Preparatory Work
INT9002M-2 2122
April 2021

ii
I declare that this report is my own work and has not previously been
submitted for assessment.

Shravani Shrivastava
27 April 2021

iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Figures .............................................................. v

1. INTRODUCTION ....................................................... 1
1.1 Research Problem ......................................................................... 1
1.2 Research Aim................................................................................. 1
1.3 Research Objective ........................................................................ 1
1.4 Research Delimitation .................................................................... 1

2. STUDY OF LITERATURE ......................................... 2

2.1 Interiority ............................................................................................ 2
2.2 Nature and Human ............................................................................ 3
2.3 Biophilia ............................................................................................. 3
2.4 Biophilic design approach in Interiors and Architecture ..................... 3
2.5 Offices spaces ................................................................................... 5
2.6 Biophilia and Office interiors .............................................................. 5

3. CHOICE OF SITE ...................................................... 7

4. PRECEDENT STUDY ............................................... 8

5. PROJECT PLAN ...................................................... 10

6. CONCLUSION ......................................................... 11

7. REFERENCES ......................................................... 12

iv
List of Figures

Figure 2.1.1: Interiority (semantic scholar, interiority, 2020) 2

Figure 2.2.1: Human Nature relationship 3

Figure 2.4.1: Human separation from natural world 4

Figure 2.4.2: Biophilic elements and its attributes (Ayn Sayuti,2008) 5

Figure 3.1: Site plan indicating location of 314-315 Highstreet 7

Figure 3.2: Proposed site 7

Figure 4.1: List of the precedent studies 9

Figure 5.1: Network diagram of the project plan that will followed 10

v
1. INTRODUCTION
Interioriority is a concept that is argued, debated and has earned various
definitions, approaches and perspectives to investigate its practice in
interior spaces. It is not merely a line that separates inside and outside.
With the changing time and at your fingertip technology the use of interior
spaces has evolved and people prefer spending major chunk of their time
inside four walls. This lifestyle has started putting emphasis on how the
interior spaces are designed and their effects on the inhabitants.
Staying in has drawn a boundary between external environment and
human, demanding spaces that incorporate nature and its patterns, colour,
style, characteristics and effects it has on human psychology and well-
being. Office spaces are next in line after residential buildings where
people spend maximum hours. Thereby demanding a change in their
designs to suit and comfort the inhabitants maximising the output and
enhancing the work environment. Biophilic Design approach in Office
interiors can produce sizeable results benefitting both the employs and the
production.
In this research this argument will be discussed in detail and will be
evidence based, narrowing down to a final design result that will be based
on the discussion.

1.1 Research Problem

How to carry out inclusion of nature/exterior environment in interior spaces
whilst retaining its interiority and stressing on the effect it has on human
well-being and experience in an Office Interior?

1.2 Research Aim

The aim of the research/study is to investigate the role of nature in interior
spaces, focusing on the boundary between interior and exterior and how it
affects the inhabitants of that space especially in an Office Building. To
explore the approach of Biophilic Design in enhancing interior office spaces
meanwhile tracing the paths of interiority in interiors.

1.3 Research Objective

• To learn about meaning, different aspects and depths of interiority in
interior spaces.

• Establishing link between interior and external environment.

• To research about the effect’s nature has on human well-being and

psychology.

• Study different aspects of biophilic design and its relation with interior
spaces.

• Explore furthermore about Office interiors and their changing patterns,

needs and demands with modernization.

• To learn about implementation of Biophilic design approach in Office

buildings.

1.4 Research Delimitation

The proposal will not cater to all the Biophilic Design approaches and
practices that are known till date. The implementation of Biophilia will be
according to the needs and demand of the function of the space. It will be
an overlay of interiority and biophilic principles. The response of the Design
will be restricted to the given site boundary. The proposal in place for
speaker’s corner (XUEREB,2020) at the square beside the site, will only be
taken in consideration as an advantageous public space context to the site
and not altered through Design.

SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani, April 2021 1

2. STUDY OF LITERATURE
Interior Design discipline uncovers to be an extensive array of design
discourses, approaches, methodology and principles. The undermentioned
study aims to gain a better understanding of a certain portion of this
discipline. Commencing with design discourses it elucidates Interiority in
interior spaces and design that sought to interpret its definition and
application on various degrees and by various researches of the field.
Furthermore, disparate literatures have been referred to draw inferences
and discern Biophilia, human nature affiliation and its impact, its
approaches and elements. It continues ahead and conducts a discussion
on changing definition of contemporary offices spaces and the role of
biophilia in office interiors.

2.1 Interiority
The Oxford definition of Interiority is the quality of being interior or inward.
The utilization and interpretation of the given term is diverse across various
disciplines inclusive of psychology, literature, philosophy, interiors and
architecture. Following this the term ‘Interiority’ cannot be bound simply to
mere interior design components per say, such as colour, dimensions,
furniture, texture, lighting, materials (Perolini, P., 2013,1). In the discipline
of Interior design to elucidate interiority there exists a long general
perception of relating it to bounded spaces, limiting it within boundaries and
to correlation between public and private domain (Huppatz, D. J. et al,
2015, 1). Even the cultural norms and technological practices oppose the
aforementioned belief of an interior space as a contained enclosure with
clearly defined boundaries. On the contrary, the dubiety and the blurriness
between the inside and the outside, public and private domain, interior and
exterior, interiority and exteriority poses challenges in comprehending the
Interior Design discipline (Huppatz, D. J. et al, 2015, 1). The concept of
interiority or the quality of interiority, or the quality of interior spaces is
based on the notion of boundedness and openness in terms of both
physicality and culture. Gazing through physical aspect of interiority it is the
product of boundaries; whereas culturally it infers the exterior or existence
of the other to create the conditions that manifest it inside (Coleman,
C.,2001,94). Martin Heidegger writes, “A boundary is not that at which
something stops, but as the Greeks recognized, the boundary is that from
which something begins its presenting.” Numerous designers, architects
have been considering interiority or the inside as intrinsic to the exteriority
of the outside (Coleman, C.,2001,94). Interiority can be contemplated
rather as a condition or sense of being inside or experiencing a space than
an actual indoor place. Comprehending interiority as a cognitive condition,
implies that the built environment is a phenomenon of a range of human
experiences and day to day conditions (Teston, L., 2020, 1).
The linkage of interiority to interior spaces is simply not limited to private
intimate spaces and human thought processes rather it extends beyond
and captures the intricate variability of technological advances, ethnic
portability, performativity and material palette (Leonard, A., 2017,1). It can
be concluded that Interiority is an impalpable and presumably an abstract
concept however its quintessence builds the experience of the space to be
amicable, worthwhile and close to the individual (Perolini, P., 2013,1).

Figure 2.1.1: Interiority (semantic scholar, interiority, 2020)

SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani, April 2021 2

2.2 Nature and Human
According to the theories of evolution, mankind or human beings have lived
for nearly 2 million years on the savanna of East Africa during which it is
believed that certain landscape features or characters provided better
immunity for human survival (Kahn, P. H., 1999, 9). This elucidates the
association of human with nature is profoundly embedded from the
inception of time and has eventually become a major part of human
behaviour, psychology and survival with the evolution of time. The
aforementioned conclusion further backs the hypothesis of existence of a
fundamental, genetically based human entail of being associated with life
(Kahn, P. H., 1999, 9). If as per the theory of evolution particular
landscapes offered greater chances of survival and reproductive success,
then it may be concluded that those landscapes foster human physiology
and psychology while further stimulating a sense of emotional wee-being
and belonging (Kahn, P.H., 1999, 9).

Figure 2.2.1: Human Nature relationship

2.3 Biophilia
In 1984, Edward O. Wilson defined Biophilia as the “innate tendency to
focus on life and life-like processes”. Human affiliation and dependence on
nature stretches beyond the elementary concern of materiality and tangible
nourishment that aims to encircle human desire especially for aesthetics,
comprehension, intellect, psychology also including spiritual pathways and
contentment; which is manifested by the Biophilia hypothesis (Kellert, S. et
al, 2013, 20). Deriving out from the minimal evidence or proof referring to
its nature, Biophilia is not just a simple term with a single meaning
associated to its name, it is combination of complex directives that can be
segregated and inspected, explored discretely. The Biophilia hypothesis
also infers that when individuals detach themselves from the environment
or nature, the modern versions of equally well adapted artifacts cannot
reinstate the biophilic rules (Kellert, S. et al, 2013, 20). Thereby reaching a
conclusion that suggests the concept of biophilia firmly strengthens the
belief that most of the human chase for cogent and gratifying life and
existence is directly proportional and hingeing on the relationship shared
with natural environment.

2.4 Biophilic design approach in Interiors and Architecture

The current modern approach and outlook to design and architecture of the
urban built environment has stimulated an enormous change in the
construction of structures in turn affecting the natural environment and
leading to severance of human and nature (Keller, S. et al, 2008, 3).
This outcome is anyhow not just an inescapable result of contemporary
metropolitan lives we have started leading, but can be claimed as a
shortcoming of basic Design approach. By addressing the effects of the
modern built environment over the natural surroundings and how it
deteriorated the health and productivity of natural environment gave rise to

SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani, April 2021 3

generation of design from the perspective of considering the natural
environment along with the build, which in turn resulted in modern
sustainable design or green design movement which concentrates on low-
environment-impact objectives. Amidst this sustainable design or green
design movement, ‘Biophilia’ is seen as a majorly missing approach (Keller,
S. et al, 2008, 3). The Biophilic Design becoming a part of the sustainable
design movement is playing a role of “rediscovery” of the association of
human and the natural environs that surrounds them which happens to be
taking place over the millennium (McGee, B., 2019, 1).

Figure 2.4.1: Human separation from natural world

Regardless of the expansion of Biophilic interest and idea across

various design disciplines and fields, architects and interior designers still
confront difficulty in identification and implementation of its features and
attributes in the built environment. The current urban built environment has
resulted in creation of a barrier amongst the indoors and the outdoors
demanding necessity for research procedures which make utilization of
Biophilic characters and attributes in the interiors to proffer maximum
advantageous impact. Research has proved that if not active even the
passive contact with nature can be beneficial for human health and well-
being (McGee, B.et al, 2015, 116).

Starting with Biophilic Design dimension firstly comes the ‘organic or

naturalistic’ in which the innate tendency of human to be affiliated with
nature is figuratively represented using various forms and shapes in the
built environment. Following the aforementioned dimension is the ‘space
based or vernacular’ dimension, that can be explained as structures and
landscapes forming a bridge connecting the ecological environment and
the culture of a specific place or area. The two listed biophilic dimensions
can be then segregated further into six biophilic design elements:

• Environment features
• Natural shapes and forms
• Natural patterns and processes
• Light and space
• Place-based relationships
• Evolved human-nature relationship.

SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani, April 2021 4

The aforementioned Biophilic design elements further branch out into over
beyond seventy Biophilic design attributes (Keller, S. et al, 2008, 3).

Figure 2.4.2: Biophilic elements and its attributes (Ayn Sayuti,2008)

2.5 Offices spaces

What determines the proper functioning, communication and collaboration,
our desire to work and motivation levels together with company’s overall
performance is the structural and physical appearance of any workplace.
Though time and again there is a neglected interrelation between the
organizational culture and work environment which is vital (Turner, G. et al,
1998,1). Technological advances and its effects on office works
incorporating computerization and ergonomization are leading to
metamorphosis of the contemporary office spaces (Charytonowicz, J.,
2014, 147). The aforementioned progress has culminated in new methods
of performing tasks i.e. a rise in virtual working, which thereafter lead to the
blooming of a new extensive concept called ‘Flexible work’, this is
differentiated in three main forms (Becker et al, 1993):
• Flexible working schedule
• Flexible staffing
• Flexible workplace (Charytonowicz, J., 2014, 147).
This concept brings forth and encompasses around the creation of
spatial layouts that permit the development of informal interpersonal
contacts other than just professional formal zones. This neutralizes issues
faced by employees and owners regarding social bonding. The concept
even further tackles and caters to logistic stress, amidst other concerns by
crafting additional functions in the buildings which promote implementation
of daily private and stress busting activities (Charytonowicz, J., 2014, 147).
With this changing workplace culture there emerges a demand for
transformation in both designing as well as functioning of Office spaces.

2.6 Biophilia and Office interiors

For decennaries now it has been the case with the escalation of enormous
office structures designed and constructed with long, elongated, dark
passageways with bare minimum openings and confined, enclosed
workplaces and office compartments. A review of more than 50 empirical
studies cited in Interface’s study, “Human Spaces: The Global Impact of
Biophilic Design in the Workplace” concluded: “An environment devoid of
nature may create discord, meaning that such environments can have a
negative effect on health and well-being” (Interior Design Magazine). At the
time where the population of the world is increasing at a rapid pace
causing urbanization at a substantial scale, there is more the importance of

SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani, April 2021 5

application of Biophilic design as it can help reduce anxiety and strain,
betterment of intellectual functioning and increase in creative productivity,
improvement and boost in well-being accelerating general healing of
individuals (Terrapin Bright Green,2014). In various workplaces, anxiety
and stress are widespread epidemics, which in turn have a reverse effect
on performance of the employees impacting the success rate of
businesses. As with the passing day scientists are uncovering and
examining the impacts of everyday stressors, they are discovering that a
direct or passive exposure to the outside environment or natural elements
can benefit fuller psychological restoration and greater attention spans
amongst the workers using the particular office spaces (Interior Design
Magazine).
Interpersonal contact or physical access to natural environment
augment valuable health benefits for office workers. Though the central
business districts and clustered large cities pose a consequential
deficiency of availability and proximity to outdoor nature abbreviating
personal contact with the outside. Offices and organisations should
strategically design their office spaces in order to offer an alternative to the
prior mentioned scenario by making provisions like green rooftops, green
walls, nature inspired forms and patterns in the interior itself encourage
their utilization to increase the attentiveness of the employees and their
mental sanity and well-being in turn enhancing the performance levels
(Sadik, A. et al, 2020, 3). Hence incorporating Biophilic Design approaches
in office spaces can be of a larger benefit.

SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani, April 2021 6

3. CHOICE OF SITE

Figure 3.1: Site plan indicating location of 314-315 Highstreet

After a deliberate evaluation of the earlier assessments the choice of site

for alteration and Design proposal was narrowed down to 314-315 High
Street. The decision was made on the basis of building typology and
placement. It is a historic building and is located beside a public square.
Considering the function chosen for the proposal it is situated amongst
other business, stores and office buildings which expands the scope of the
function and increases its relevance. 314-315 High Street is a mid-19th
century building with late 20th century alterations. It is an office building
with shop on the ground floor and High Street front having shopfront with
continuous fascia (Historic England,2021).

Figure 3.2: Proposed site

SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani, April 2021 7

4. PRECEDENT STUDY
The following chapter consists of precedent studies ventured to gain a
extensive understanding of the research problem and proposal undertaken
in the particular course of study. The selected studies are on similar lines,
typologically and conceptually with the Research proposal. The main
objective is to convene various principles, design methods and approaches
utilised and followed in various projects mentioned subsequently.
The basis of selection of the studies were based on the building,
location, typology, function, materials used, color palette, biophilic design
approach and strategies, types of office spaces. The number of studies
carried out are four and are briefly mentioned at present which will be
further elaborated in detail. They will be analyzed on the basis of how
contemporary office spaces function, application of Biophilic design
strategies in multiple ways in different studies according to the function and
need of the space and its effects on the inhabitants, additional functions to
an office space for betterment of employees, attention to the detail in
planning and zoning of different functions in the space, how interiority is
maintained even after inclusion of exterior environment, play of patterns,
light and shadow.

SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani, April 2021 8

Figure 4.1: List of the precedent studies

SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani, April 2021 9

5. PROJECT PLAN

Figure 5.1: Network diagram of the project plan that will followed

SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani, April 2021 10

6. CONCLUSION
This paper aims to understand a faint structure of the interior design
treatise. It briefly discusses different research methods that are being
undertaken and their application to reach a final design solution. Starting
with brainstorming about the research problem followed by its aim and
objective to studying various research papers, books, articles, journals, etc.
to further diving into understanding the problem. Resulting in narrowing
down to a suitable site where the design process can be carried out.
Viewing precedent studies based on the same line of the problem and
approached in a similar fashion. In a nutshell the paper outlines all the
aforementioned processes concisely, which will be considered in detail in
eventually.

SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani, April 2021 11

7. REFERENCES
CITY OF LINCOLN COUNCIL (2018) Listed buildings in Lincoln. Lincoln:
UK. City of Lincoln Council.

Charytonowicz, J. (2014) Advances in Human Factors and Sustainable

Infrastructure, 5th edition. USA: AHFE Conference.

Cogley, B. (2018) Plant-filled spheres open at Amazon headquarters in

Seattle. Dezeen.
Available from:
https://www.dezeen.com/2018/01/30/plant-filled-seattle-spheres-open-
amazon-headquarters/ [ Last accessed 12 April 2021].

Coleman C. (2002) The culture of Design education, Mark, L., Keane, K.

The Interior Design Handbook of Professional Practice, McGraw Hill, 92-
125.

ETSY (2016) Designing our living, breathing headquarters. New York:

Etsy.
Available from:
https://www.etsy.com/living-building-challenge [ Last accessed 12 April
2021].

Gonzalez, D. (2018) Etsy Headquarters. International Living Future

Institute.
Available from:
https://living-future.org/biophilic/case-studies/etsy-headquarters/ [Last
accessed 12 April 2021].

Gonzalez, D. (2018) Expressing Culture Glumac Shanghai.International

Living Future Institute.
Available from:
https://living-future.org/biophilic/case-studies/glumac-shanghai-office/ [ Last
accessed 12 April 2021].

Hill J. (2018) Amazon Opens The Spheres. World-Architects.com.

Available from:
https://www.world-architects.com/en/architecture-news/headlines/amazon-
opens-the-spheres [ Last accessed 12 April 2021].

HISTORIC ENGLAND (2017) Understanding Place: Historic

Area Assessments. England: UK. Historic England.

Huppatz, D. J, Daou, D., Phuong, Dinh Q. (2015) Unbounded : On the

Interior and Interiority, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.

Kahn, P.H. (1999) The Human Relationship with Nature: Development and
Culture, Cambridege, Massachusetts, London, England: The MIT Press.

Kellert, R., Heerwagen, J., Mador, M. (2008) Biophilic design the theory,
science, and practice of bringing buildings to life, Hoboken: N.J.: Wiley.

Lajer-Burcharth, E., Söntgen, B. (2016) Interiors and Interiority. Berlin: De

Gruyter.

Leonard, A. (2017) CAA. reviews. Berlin: De Gruyter.

Available from:

SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani, April 2021 12

http://www.caareviews.org/reviews/3047#.YHHePuhKjIU. [Last accessed
12 April 2021].

Merrick, M.S., Price, E.A. (2008) The Distinction between Humans and
Nature: Human Perceptions of Connectedness to Nature and
Elements of the Natural and Unnatural: Human Ecology Review, 15(1), 1-
11.

McGee, B., Marshall-Baker, A. (2015) Loving Nature From the Inside Out:
A Biophilia Matrix Identification Strategy for Designers: Health
Environments Research & Design Journal, 8(4), 115-130.

McGee, B., Park, N., Portillo, M., Bosch, S., Swisher, M. (2019) Diy
Biophilia: Development of the Biophilic Interior Design Matrix as a Design
Tool: Journalof Interior Design, 44(4), 201-222.

Ott, C. (2021) Carazo Architecture Office / Carazo Arquitectura. ArchDaily.

Available from:
https://www.archdaily.com/957902/carazo-architecture-office-carazo-
arquitectura [ Last accessed 12 April 2021].

Perolini, P. (2013) Interior Environments:The Space of Interiority:

Zoontechnica Journal redirective design futures QCA Griffith University, 1-
5.

Pintos P. (2019) Amazon Spheres / NBBJ. ArchDaily.

Available from:
https://www.archdaily.com/920029/amazon-spheres-nbbj [ Last accessed
12 April 2021].

Pioppi, B., Piselli, C., Crisanti, C., Pisello, A.L. (2020) Human-centric green
building design: the energy saving potential of occupants’ behaviour
enhancement in the office environment: Journal of Building performance
simulation, 13(6), 621-644.

Sadick, A.M., Kamardeen, I. (2020) Enhancing employees’ performance

and well - being with nature exposure embedded office workplace design:
Journal of Building Engineering, 32(101789), 1-11.

Terrapin Bright Green. (2014) 14 patterns of biophilic design Improving

Health & Well-Being in the Built Environment, New York: Terrapin Bright
Green LLC.

Terrapin Bright Green (2016) Glumac-Shanghai-Office-Fall-2016.pdf.

Terrapin Bright Green, LLC.
Available from:
https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Glumac-
Shanghai-Office-Fall-2016.pdf [ Last accessed 12 April 2021].

Terrapin Bright Green (2016) Kickstarter-Spring-16F.pdf. Terrapin Bright

Green, LLC.
Available from:
https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/wp-
content/uploads/2015/11/Kickstarter-Spring-16F.pdf [ Last accessed 24
April 2021].

Teston, L. (2020) On the Nature of Public Interiority: Interiority, 3(5), 61-82.

SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani, April 2021 13

Turner, G., Myerson, J. (1998) New Workspace, New Culture
Office Design as a Catalyst for Change, 1st edition. Aldershot, Hampshire,
England, Brookfield, Vt., USA : Gower.

World Architecture Community (2020) Carazo Architecture Offices. 2006 -

2020 World Architecture Community.
Available from:
https://worldarchitecture.org/architecture-projects/hfcnc/carazo-
architecture-offices-project-pages.html [ Last accessed 12 April 2021].

SHRIVASTAVA, Shravani, April 2021 14