Landscape and architecture in the office

An office building in Paris

Friday,  September 30, 2005

Series: Architectural Review and Design Ideas for the Cayman Islands and the Carribbean By: Carib. Architect Pedro F. Theye (T.J.T. Architecture Ltd. Cayman) 

Landscaping and architecture are seemingly two separate pieces of the construction puzzle and are not necessarily an odd couple. The adjacent photo of an office building in Paris shows an interesting example of how landscape and architecture could be combined to have a symbiotic relationship. The variety of plants, flowers and vines are attached to the building’s exterior walls by a metal mesh which holds the plants in place with a bit of soil and peat moss. The result is dramatic. This plant building has an impressive appearance, one which replaces a typically painted or rendered façade with one that displays a variety of flowers and colours throughout the year.  How fantastic would it be to go to work in the plant building? 

Unfortunately, most developers construct buildings with the intention of using the remaining budget to do the landscape.  Typically the excuse is,” because landscaping is not as important.” This type of thinking is quickly shifting with more people wanting landscape to take an important role in their developments.

The renewed interest may be as a result of all the latest news on global warming or the better understanding we now have of the environment due to the storm. Then again it could possibly be the direct result of the rising electric bills.  Regardless, the end result is positive and this renewed interest in landscaping is causing architects and builders to rethink the influence of landscape in their building designs.

The building shown in the photo may also have a positive emotional effect on its occupants.  It has been documented that the colourful blooming flowers can ignite feelings of happiness and calm. The occupants of this plant building are possibly given a daily boost every time they drag themselves to work where they are greeted by a different set of blooms every few weeks.  After all, typical offices have sterile and monotonous interiors.  This coupled with a repetitive work load can make the most loyal worker disillusioned with his or her job.  Landscape in the work place may not be the solutions to job satisfaction but it could be a subliminal anti-depressant.

In most new hospitals designers have been required to wrap the layouts of hospital wings around courtyard gardens.  Many of these new hospital suites actually allow direct access to the gardens. They are designed to allow the occupant to inhabit the garden as a tool for healing.

Other positive uses of landscape in close proximity to buildings have shown the added benefit of shading the walls and acting as a natural insulator.  Well placed trees and shrubs can also reduce the sun’s damaging glare on interior walls and furniture which would eventually show colour fade.

The combination of landscape and architectural design is also redesigned in the teachings of Fen Shui.  A Japanese design method, Fen Shui mixes universal design logic with spiritual beliefs in the layout of buildings and landscapes.  In Japan many building designs are first given to a Fen Shui specialist to select everything from the location of the main entrance to type of water features in the office core.  In some cases these specialists use the sound of running water and fragrant flowers to relax otherwise stressful working environments.

My latest art installation at the newly reopened Martini Bar at Sapphire, in Seven Mile Shops, is now displaying a series of painted scenes of modern office spaces which mix a recipe of flowering landscapes and modern architecture with an aphrodisiac result. This series is titled Office Mating Season, and will be on display for a month.  The scenes are indigenous in their settings with the office spaces nestled directly on the iron shore.  Concurrently, I have a display of Paintings and Post-It Art at the Full of Beans Café, which displays different scenes of architecture and landscapes with water as the most important landscape feature.  These art exhibitions display many ideas of how to mix landscaping into architecture.  This weekend take time to visit your favorite nursery and select a plant to bring to work on Monday and start positively affecting your office environment. 

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