Bringing the Outdoors In: A Differentiator for Health and Value

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Jul 1

2025 Best in Building Health Winner | Well-designed, well life - Horizon Design Office, Taipei City, Taiwan | Horizon Design; Green Matrix Consulting Co. | Photo courtesy of Horizon Design

Insights from the Center for Active Design Experts

As many parts of the world are headed into warmer months, time outdoors in green and blue spaces is top of mind. While this is undoubtedly a good thing, as this promotes social connection, physical activity, and feelings of well-being – hitting all three social, physical, and mental aspects of health – at times this emphasis on getting outdoors for health overlooks the incredible impact of interior biophilia. Interior biophilia, or the incorporation of natural elements or nature-inspired design into indoor spaces, can sometimes be overlooked compared to its outdoor counterpart, such as trees, parks, lakes, etc. Yet bringing the outdoors inside can have tremendous benefits for health, from circadian rhythm regulation and stress reduction to healing, as well as financial value, through energy costs and rental rates. For owners of existing buildings or apartments, and even tenants, proximity to parks or the concentration of street trees on your block may be factors beyond your control or influence. In light of this, it’s vital not to overlook the impact that can come from bringing the greenery into our interior spaces. Below we explore a few basic strategies for increasing indoor biophilia that can have a big impact:

Daylighting: providing access all daylight, including sunlight, has immense impacts on health for occupants and financial value for both owners and tenants. Circadian rhythm regulation, the internal system that supports the maintenance of our body’s sleep/wake cycles, hormonal regulation, and metabolism, is largely dictated by external cues like the sun’s light/dark cycle. This makes exposure to daylight essential not only for avoiding daytime sleepiness and fatigue but also for being able to fall asleep easily at night, as well as for the maintenance of immune system surveillance and responsiveness. As we spend nearly 90% of our time indoors, exposure to daylight indoors is essential to optimizing health. Daylight exposure can also impact financial value for both owners and tenants. In office spaces, owners and developers who increase daylighting access yield a 5-6% value premium over those with low daylight, and one study on residential assets in New York City found apartments with more direct sunlight exposure command a 5-10% price premium. In addition to these gains, daylighting can reduce energy costs in both residential and commercial spaces, depending on the climate. Tenants, whether they own the space or not, also benefit financially, as daylighting impacts productivity, both at home and at work, and can reduce absenteeism.
Views of Nature: In addition to daylight exposure, windows or glazing that provide views of nature can have significant impacts on health, recovery, and financial returns. Separately from daylighting, direct views of blue (ponds, lakes, oceans, or fountains) or green (parks, plants, trees, or even gardens) spaces can have a restorative effect on both physical and mental health. One seminal study on this impact, conducted in 1984, found that for patients in recovery from gall bladder surgery, patients with a view of nature as opposed to those with no view had shorter postoperative hospital stays, required less pain medication, and fewer postsurgical complications. Since this study, research has continued to validate these findings, further emphasizing the impact, even from more minor conditions from the flu to fatigue and headaches, views of nature can have. The mental health impact is similarly strong, indicating that viewing elements of nature can be useful for psychological preventative medicine. Similar to daylighting, views of nature can generate positive economic impact including increased asset value, productivity, and reduced absenteeism.
Indoor Plants: While not as impactful as views of nature or daylighting, indoor plants can also make an impact on both psychological and physical health. Psychologically, indoor plants can lower stress and anxiety levels, reduce feelings of depression and anxiety, and increase cognitive performance. Many indoor plants, even small ones, can also have a tremendous impact on indoor air quality. This impact can translate to improved immune system functioning, a reduction of headaches and fatigue, as well as improved sleep quality and healing. For multi-tenant assets, research shows that incorporating interior greenery, from indoor trees and plants to green walls or living walls, can positively impact tenant satisfaction and willingness to pay as well as increase rental rates and sale prices.
Artificial Greenery: While the data around the impact of artificial greenery is less conclusive, for asset owners or occupants who cannot afford to incorporate living greenery, or are unable to increase daylighting access and views of nature, there is still some impact that can come from utilizing fake plants. It is worth noting that in terms of the breadth and depth of impact, living greenery will always be more impactful than fake greenery. However, artificial plants can be much more cost-effective than real greenery, as they require much less maintenance and never require re-potting or replacement due to growth. Psychologically, similar to real greenery, fake greenery has been shown to have a meaningful impact on reduced stress and anxiety. Data also indicates artificial plants or greenery, similar to views of nature, can have a meaningful impact on reducing pain and distress for patients in a healthcare setting.

There are a number of practical and cost-effective ways building owners and tenants can bring greenery indoors to ensure the benefits of nature are experienced regardless of how much time is spent outside. June is National Outdoors month, and although few things rival the health benefits of direct sunlight and active, social time in parks and blue spaces, bringing natural elements indoors can extend those benefits into our everyday environments. Beyond the well-documented health benefits, biophilia is also one of the most financially impactful pathways to health, with daylighting, views of nature, and the installation of indoor greenery can all contribute to positive financial returns for asset owners and tenants. That’s why biophilia is one of the six pillars of Fitwel’s FSP product, an abbreviated certification pathway for projects looking to prioritize strategies with the greatest impact on health and the bottom line. Across the globe, whether you are experiencing hotter or cooler months, June is a great time to reflect on the health and financial value we can unlock by bringing nature to our bedrooms, offices, and living spaces.

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Janelle Decarreau

Bringing the Outdoors In: A Differentiator for Health and Value

Insights from the Center for Active Design Experts

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