Biophilic design is the latest frontier in creating indoor environments that help people feel, work, learn, and heal better. The design philosophy seeks to create indoors the patterns of nature that humans are naturally attuned to. This includes natural light and nature views, natural materials like wood and stone, and plants. While vertical walls of living plants seem to satisfy this human need for exposure to nature, the upkeep and maintenance of these assemblies has proven onerous. That accounts for the growing interest in striking installations of all-natural, preserved plants that require virtually no maintenance but that deliver a power immersive experience of nature. And why not? The plants are all-natural, albeit with their sap replaced with a non-toxic solution, and without the pruning, watering, leaking of systems, and burden of care that their live counterparts require. This course introduces the learner to the biophilic benefits of preserved plant gardens for indoor use and provides high-profile examples where these installations are already benefiting building occupants, building managers, and building owners.

Photo courtesy of Anton Grassi Photography