There are many examples of how virtual nature views are good for us.
Direct nature connection is best of course, but if we can't cut a hole in the wall, or plants are not allowed in an environment, then we know that the next best thing are photographic and video views of nature.
We are collating all the evidence to support how we NEED views of nature in the workplace, schools and especially healthcare. Sign up for updates or contact us to find out more, or how we can help bring virtual nature into your workplace, home, school or healthcare facility.
Research has proven that real and photographic views of nature reduce stress levels and help patients recover faster in hospitals. Experiences of natural environments provide greater emotional restoration, lower instances of tension, anxiety, anger, fatigue, confusion and total mood disturbance than environments with limited characteristics of nature. We also know that there is a 23 percent improvement in productivity from good lighting and access to views and we enjoy up to 25 percent better functioning memory when there are outside views
“Stress at work has cost
the economy
£100billion a year”
Looking at a virtual view of nature, also referred to as “Indirect Experience of Nature”, has many benefits:
• Mental refreshment - Give your brain a break and refocus – your brain needs time to recover from periods of concentration, looking at views of nature provides that relief.
• Increase in happiness, wellbeing and positivity.
• Reduction in aggression, anxiety, depression and resultant time off from work. (Ulrich, “Visual Landscapes and Psychological Well-being” Landscape Research 4(1):17-23)
• There are many studies in the healthcare environment where recovery times are faster, less medication is needed, reduction in blood pressure. (Roger Ulrich (1984), Science, 224: 420-421.)
• Positive effects on us physiologically, reducing muscle tension and headaches.
• Supports those with SEN, ADHD, PTSD and other challenges.
Improving the environment that surrounds you is key to giving yourself a positive emotional, psychological and physical experience.
One of the best ways of relieving and improving the visual stress you find around you is to create virtual window “portals” or views. This is what we in Biophilic Design, call “Prospect”.
Prints of landscapes with views, especially those where you feel you could just step into them or encourage your eye to explore the view or specific details, are excellent ways to create space and mental relief and variously to encourage creative positive stimulus.
Our brain is engaged in two things, one is the task in hand, and the other is the peripheral scanning, where our peripheral vision is constantly scanning our environment. Primitively we were searching for danger or food, now all our cluttered and unnatural environmental stressors act negatively on our focus.
We help you create beautiful restorative interiors using nature photography and film
Selecting the right imagery is important for the space and what it’s going to be used for. There are some views which will work in most environments and provide the most open association for people. For instance, these can be images which have a more “generic” reference to nature (certain trees, certain pathways, some sea or stream water images) which will encourage connection for the widest number of people. There are other images which can act as triggers to stimulate imagination, deep thought, clarity, focus, ideas or creativity.
Contact us for a vision board with image ideas or view our Nature Image Library.
You can enhance the visual experience by expanding the improvements with sound (certain levels of bird song, bubbling brooks or gentle waves for instance), scents of nature, circadian lighting, etc. which we can also help specify for you with our networked consultancy.