“Plants should be an essential part of any design project, whether it is large or small.” Explains Palfreyman.

“There are so many benefits to using plants in design. Any new designs which do not include plants from the outset should be deemed passé by today’s designers and architects.”

Including plants will enhance your design...

The inclusion of plants in your design can be seamless and enhancing. Adding plants to your design needn’t be a chore, but a ubiquitous part of your work.

Planting can be incorporated into new designs in a number of ways. Small-scale designs can utilise planting within living signage units or living partitions and walls in public places, and office environments could utilise everyday office equipment, such as the paper or plastic recycling units, to add a touch of healthy greenery, thus avoiding taking up valuable additional square footage.

Noise and Temperature Control

As well as looking good and providing a whole range of health benefits to the environment in which they sit, plants can add important acoustic qualities, giving a natural solution to reducing excessive background noise reverberation.

Plants can also help reduce and stabilise temperatures within buildings by creating natural shade and increase humidity, again offering a energy efficient alternative to excessive heat problems within modern glazed buildings.

The Health Benefits of Plants

Cleaner, fresher air

Everyday home and office equipment and materials, including printers, computers, carpets and even deodorants, emit harmful toxins called VOCs into the air. Plants remove these toxins by absorbing them and turning them into food for themselves.

Improved working environment

Plants create a more aesthetically pleasing and calming environment for employees, customers and visitors to any building. They can also work to guide people through a space if placed correctly, achieving an attractive and organic pathway.

Reduction of minor illness symptoms

Research has proven that plants can reduce absenteeism by as much 60% by lessening the effects of minor illnesses such as the common cold and Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). Plants make the atmosphere more comfortable by putting more moisture in the air, reducing symptoms such as dry throats and itchy eyes.

Less stress, more productivity

Plants create an environment which not only reduces stress and fatigue, but also improves concentration and therefore increases productivity and creativity.

Considerations for any project incorporating plants:

• • The client brief and budget
• • Health and safety
• • Light levels and a right plant, right place philosophy
• • Weight loadings of floors for large trees
• • Access for installation and ongoing maintenance

The use of plants in buildings is becoming ever more important, with many companies choosing to utilise plants as a visual representation of their green credentials. Find out more about the benefits of plants and how they can be utilised in design at www.efig.eu.com.