Re-thinking human-plant relations by theorising using concepts of biophilia and animism in workplaces

In this chapter I seek to explore a broader sense of what sustainability might mean in the workplace by considering human well-being, especially in relation to workplace design. Specifically, by incorporating qualitative data, I attempt to delve into how biophilic or nature-based design may enhance human interactions by investigating especially human-plant relationships. This way of considering sustainability is a radical departure from a mechanistic IEQ view that focuses on factors like air quality metrics or ergonomic workstations as the barometer of optimum design principle, to consider how human-nonhuman relationships might influence worker well-being and the experience of the workplace, contributing to sustainability in a broad sense.