Designer Insights: The Future of Offices
Vol.12 Creating Biophilic Spaces through Photography
Not decorative art
Over the years, as kivi has worked in incorporating nature photography into offices and other spaces, they have come to wonder whether the photographs themselves might have a biophilic effect.
“Photographs require no maintenance, and even though you are indoors, they can give you the sensation of looking into the distance, or make you feel a sense of depth even though you are looking at a wall. They have effects that are different from those of plants.”
The idea is not to bring nature itself indoors, but to use photography to evoke the sensations that arise within people when they see nature. kivi describes this as an office where you do not simply “have” nature, but “feel” it.
The pictures are taken by photographers who have made trekking in Japan and overseas a lifelong pursuit. They are intended for a wide range of spaces, including not only offices but also public spaces, restaurants, hospitality and healthcare facilities.
Moreover, the photographs are produced as silver halide prints, which offer excellent colour reproduction and smooth gradation, with careful consideration given to capturing the subtle nuances of nature.
But will any photograph of nature do? In the discussion with kivi, it became clear that the selection process is considerably more refined.
For example, they try to avoid photographs of animals whenever possible. Preferences can vary widely from person to person, and animals might cause a company or profession to be viewed as e.g. strong or cute depending on the type of animal shown. At the same time, the photos used are not quite the classic landscape shots of majestic mountains either.
“If what the photographer aims to show becomes too prominent, the photograph becomes something to be viewed and appreciated as art”, a team member says. The intricacies and criteria involved in selections are where the kivi team’s expertise comes into play.
Subtle changes in the trees, the flow of water, mist, the depth of a forest... The name “kivi” itself reflects the team’s views on kibi, meaning subtleties in Japanese, and the small changes that occur in nature.
An office is not an art museum. Precisely because it is a place where people spend long periods of time every day, the photographs are not intended to be pieces of art making strong statements. They are there as pieces that you might happen to look at, that then draw your vision deeper into nature. A sense of neutrality is important.
There have also been studies on the scientific effects that views of nature have. “HUMAN SPACES” (2015), a global study carried out by Robertson Cooper, found that when there are views of nature close to where someone works, productivity increases by 6%, creativity by 15%, and wellbeing by 15%.