By Aja Macheel
Commercial spaces have quite clearly evolved and advanced in the past decade, paying homage now more than ever to going green. New and current developments include architecture and design that have set themselves above the rest in environmental standards, including LEED design. Older buildings are renovating using upcycled products, LED lights and sustainably produced materials. There is much more planning on behalf of owners, tenants and industry professionals involving green ideas that have proven to benefit their stakeholders’ health and well-being.
Plants remove harmful pollutants from the air — indoor and out. This mitigates sick days and unhealthy air in the office, and also ensures fresh breathing within those stuffy office spaces. The aesthetic of adding plants to your workspace is beneficial as well. Working productivity increases, employees feel more passionate and invested in their space, and noise or echo can easily be absorbed by plant leaves.
Just like the ebb and flow of modern design, plants in all forms have always been considered and used in the office. Some plants become essential to the space, while other plants seem to disorganize and clutter the workplace. Integrate a plant design into your space intentionally and the overall design will benefit.
There is, of course, a stereotype of office plants that could merit some hesitation while considering them in your space: The 1970s Ficus that drops its leaves, the lucky bamboo that’s overgrown and leggy, those vines that creep around the cubicle or the plant that the CFO has had for 20 years.
However, as architects, designers and owners begin this intentional integration, a more modern approach can be taken that doesn’t have to be an afterthought. The truth is, if there isn’t enough green space in your workplace, your employees will bring in their own. A beautifully designed new office can quickly clutter as personal plants begin to arrive. There are, however, some great new trends that can take care of the aesthetic, the well-being of your employees, and the inclusion of green space in the workplace.
First and foremost, choose living foliage. For all of the reasons listed above, live plants should always be the primary option. Artificial foliage looks, well, artificial. So, make the investment in the right plant for the right space and it will pay off.
If there isn’t much floor space for the foliage you wish to have, consider going vertical. A vertical plant installation can create green space and also serve as an art piece. Plant wall systems have significantly evolved in the past decade to eliminate the need for electricity or drainage. This means that having a plant wall in your commercial space can be as easy as hanging a picture. When considering a plant wall, remember to consult with professionals to solidify a lasting and long-term palette of foliage.
Moss walls and air plants are also very modern and low-maintenance possibilities for a vertical art piece. The creative possibilities can be customized and are endless. Also, the sound absorption from a moss wall is significant — an added benefit. Many international airports, towers and high-profile buildings are using vertical green space as a way to make an impact and set themselves apart.
Long rectangular floor planters are a great way to divide space. These are often used with hedged or spiked foliage to create a nice clean look. Consider these in lobbies to divide desks or for privacy. Sometimes it is necessary to create a barrier in front of glass walls or doors so your guests don’t have any run-ins. A nice linear planter can create that division while still allowing the open space above.
Smaller items for desks and reception can be unique conversation pieces instead of grocery-store flowers. Air plants can cluster on the counters in ornate dishes without even needing a pot. Terrariums create interest while someone waits in the waiting room and serve as a great conversation piece. A bright office can have cacti and succulent gardens in an eclectic collection of containers that gives a “found” feeling to soften an industrial space. If the classic white Phalaenopsis orchid may seem underwhelming, consider a tropical bromeliad or anthurium that has wild colors that will give a clean space an architectural pop.
When high ceilings, lots of windows and open floor plans are big, go big. Choose a tall tree or architectural plant that that has character and will make a statement. Smaller plants in large spaces miniaturize the interiorscape. Opting to pair the size of the plant with the size of the space creates a cohesive and intentional effect.
So, while you are keeping up with the times and trends within your business, don’t forget to do the same with your interiorscape. When plants are considered in advance or implemented as a design standard before or after a commercial space is occupied, the landscape of a building can be transformed and the people within it will feel a profound benefit.
Aja Macheel is an interiorscape designer at Cactus & Tropicals in Salt Lake City. She has 20 years of experience in the horticultural industry in Hawaii and the Pacific Northwest.