Biophilia
Biophilic design
Biophilia is not about adding plants. It means designing forms, colours, light, textures and routes the body recognises as nature. A space that breathes, curves, shifts with the light and smells of wood.
timeline: depends on floor
Is this your case?
- We added plants to the office and the atmosphere has not changed.
- Our floor has flat fluorescent light, grey carpet and no green view.
- HR is asking for places to recover, and we worry about team burnout.
- We have ESG commitments to our parent company and want biophilia we can document.
How it works
Read the place
We start from the Audit: the real light on each floor, views, routes and the zones where people stay.
Choose the patterns
We apply at least 3 of the 14 patterns in every zone. Each zone also gets at least one organic form.
Take colour from a landscape
The palette comes from a real Ecuadorian landscape. Rule of use: 60% natural neutrals, 30% landscape tones and 10% accent.
Plant living things
An interior landscaping specialist validates species against the light on each floor. Zero artificial plants.
Care over time
Planting is maintained within the Workplace Evolution Membership, with seasonal plant refreshes.
The essentials
Three dimensions
We follow the Terrapin Bright Green framework. Nature in the space: plants, water, daylight, breeze, views and real sounds. Natural analogues: organic forms, natural materials, colours and patterns that evoke living things. Nature of the space: how the place feels, through prospect, refuge, mystery and discovery.
The 14 patterns, applied to interiors
The framework is Terrapin Bright Green’s 14 patterns. Leaf shadows and curtains that move with the breeze. Circadian light that changes through the day. Totora, wood, stone, clay, wool and linen left visible. Desks with a wide view ahead and a protected back. Routes that reveal themselves slowly and curves that draw you forward.
Living green walls
Green walls bring the Agora to life. We use nursery-grown native ferns and living moss. Zero artificial plants or moss: nature is alive or it is absent. Their maintenance is included in the Workplace Evolution Membership.
Indoor planting for Quito
We choose each species for the light it receives. Ficus lyrata, potted olive and Ficus benjamina for the Threshold and the Agora. Monstera, Philodendron and Strelitzia in the Agora and the Corridor. Zamioculcas, Sansevieria and Aspidistra in hallways and Refuges. Bromeliads and orchids from certified nurseries mark focal points.
Colour from Ecuadorian landscapes
Each palette comes from a real landscape: Páramo, Cloud forest, Andean lagoon, Earth and clay, Volcanic stone. The Threshold takes Earth and clay for a warm welcome. Deep Focus uses Páramo and Andean lagoon, calm tones that do not tire the eyes. Vital Refuges are wrapped in the deep greens of the Cloud forest.
What you receive
- A matrix of biophilic patterns by zone, with how each applies indoors.
- A colour palette drawn from an Ecuadorian landscape, assigned by zone.
- A living planting plan and its maintenance plan.
- Organic form details: rounded edges, arches, wave ceilings and screens.
- A project biophilic checklist, verified before the board presentation.
Frequently asked questions
What is biophilic design?
It is design rooted in our innate affinity for nature. Edward O. Wilson described it and Stephen Kellert brought it into architecture.
Is biophilia just adding plants?
No. A plant in a corner does not transform a space. Biophilia is a complete system of forms, light, textures, colour and routes.
Do you use artificial plants?
Never. Every plant is alive, and its maintenance is included in the Workplace Evolution Membership.
Which plants work in a Quito office?
It depends on the light. Ficus lyrata or a potted olive where light is high; Zamioculcas, Sansevieria or Aspidistra where it is low. A specialist validates the selection against the real light on the floor.
What changes in the body?
The brain relaxes in front of curves and natural patterns. We do not take it for granted in your team: we verify it against a baseline.
Your company's performance is decided in its space.
It all starts with a Workplace Performance Audit: we measure before we give an opinion.