DESIGN & INTERIORS CALL OF NATURE Tomorrow’s FM caught up with Indoor Garden Design Director, David Grace, to talk about
the importance of incorporating the natural world into workspaces, trends in biophilic design and working on the Sky Central project.
Q
Tell us a little about Indoor Garden Design. Indoor Garden Design was established in 1975,
originally as a specialist interior landscaping company supplying and maintaining tropical plant displays to office scapes across London. Over the years we have diversified and expanded and now have a large exterior division, specialist event and hotel teams, a Christmas team, plus we have residential and specialist floristry divisions and experts able to offer consultation advice for schemes around the world.
We offer a full and expert service, comprising design, supply, installation and maintenance on a contract or one-off basis. Our design schemes, both interior and exterior can be designed on any scale, from single- stem orchids, to vast atrium displays.
Q
What underlines your success over the last 40 years?
Interior landscaping is now one of the fastest growing sectors within the design and construction industry but we were instrumental in raising awareness of the importance of plants in terms of their health benefits and the ability they have to transform any interior or exterior space.
Our success is due to our drive and commitment to providing a premium service with meticulous attention to detail – from the quality of our plants, right through to the importance of outstanding maintenance. Our creativity and attention to detail means that we retain prestigious clients – some we have had for over 30 years! We have also won a large collection of industry awards including Gold Medals at Chelsea Flower Show.
Q
We are beginning to hear a lot more about biophilia in FM. Can you explain
what this concept means and why it is important in terms of the workplace?
Biophilia is an innate love for the natural world. Many of us spend the majority of our working lives indoors and introducing plants helps to bring nature into our daily lives, which benefits everyone. Studies have repeatedly shown that having plants within the working environment is proven to be a huge benefit to our
Q Q
health, creativity and productivity and part of our job is to actively promote these benefits.
The bonus in all this is that plants look amazing and can alter both the feel and often the function of any interior or exterior space, so everyone benefits. Even a small planting installation has the power to transform the energy and space within an environment, so every detail such as plant and planter size, shape, form, colour and material matters.
“Even a small planting installation has the power to transform
the energy and space within an environment.”
How does biophilia impact how we experience a space?
Biophilia helps to calm the environment ensuring it is more enjoyable and comfortable. Plants improve air quality, reduce stress levels, increase productivity and creativity, aid concentration, absorb noise, they can even raise humidity to keep us more comfortable. All these benefits we instinctively feel are now proven scientific fact. Of course there is also the aesthetic benefit of planting too!
If a company were to introduce biophilia into their workplace, what would people
respond the most powerfully to? People love plants and being close to nature – there aren’t really any specific plants that are necessarily better than any other, though of course it’s important to choose the right plant for the right place if they are to thrive. The important thing is to have health-giving plants at the heart of a working space where they can be seen and appreciated.
It doesn’t have to be large
scale installations, all plants are beneficial, visually enrich any working environment and boost morale.
48 | TOMORROW’S FM
twitter.com/TomorrowsFM
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74
