Through the
years, we have been told to breathe deeply to center ourselves, calm down and
relieve stress. But now, in 2020, we have come to question the very air we
breathe. Does it contain coronavirus aerosols? Will we be infected? As horticultural technicians, we have
continued to move through our clients’ spaces to take care of their plants,
always with our face masks on, sanitizing hands and keeping our distances from
people, always with communal and our own safety in mind.
Plexiglass has sprung up everywhere and aren’t we glad we can feel somewhat protected and can protect others as we interact in close quarters? But there are other ways to help us be safe which are beautiful and energizing! Plants have been cleaning our air, lowering our blood pressure, boosting our immune systems, humifying our atmosphere and lifting our spirits in our homes and offices all along,(1)(2). Plants can be used now, more than ever to direct foot traffic, partition open areas and add privacy to workstations as they simultaneously bring down our stress levels. We won’t be yearning to get rid of these plants once this pandemic is over as may be the case with the plexiglass. Plants will have been natural beautiful additions to our surroundings and can continue to be worth the investment indefinitely.
The many
ways that plants can be used to foster social distancing or soften necessary rearrangements
are:
Areas can be partitioned into smaller meeting
areas or private individual workspaces with:
Troughs with rows of plants
Cabinets with open shelves for plants
Freestanding living walls
Mobile green walls with plants or moss
Window box like rectangles of plants can go between or on the sides of work stations.
Moss covered partitions can insulate cubicles
Hand sanitizer stations can be softened with a table plant or the station can even be a planter!
Foot traffic directional signs can go onto troughs of plants.
As we make
so many conscious decisions to change our old ways of being together, we can arrange
things with plants to naturally steer us to be safer as we work together. At
the same time, the plants will be quietly having their nurturing effect on us.
Our innate connection to nature, described as biophilia, is nurtured by living
foliage and we consciously and unconsciously feel reassured,(3).
Architects and designers have come to appreciate the measurable positive
impacts of biophilic design on people’s emotional well-being, creativity,
healing, and cognition,(4)(5).
The WELL
Building Standard picks up where the LEEDS certification program left off.
Whereas LEEDS is focused on building materials and energy use, the WELL program
is human-centered, considering a healthy work environment must include what
supports our minds, comfort, fitness and nourishment,(6).
Plants are
an integral part of such an environment and can be functional as well,
enclosing spaces and redirecting traffic in these unique time. Today’s challenges of providing
a workplace that feels safe and revitalizing is more critical than ever. Let us
help with ideas, quotes and safe installations! www.plantsalacarte.com
1.
www.ncbe.nim.nih.gov/pmc/articlesPMC441
9447/
2.
www.science
daily.com/releases/2015/09/150916162120.htm/
3.
Ulrich, R.S. (1983). Aesthetic and Affective
Response to Natural Environment. In I. Altman, & J. F. Wohlwill (Eds.),
Behavior and the Natural Environment (85-125). New York: Plenum Press. Ulrich,
R.S. (
4.
http://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/14-Patterns-of-Biophilic-Design-Terrapin-2014p.pdf
5.
Kellert, S.F., J.H. Heerwagen, & M.L. Mador
Eds. (2008). Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science & Practice of Bringing
Buildings to Life. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons.
6.
https://standard.wellcertified.com/well
