BIOPHILIA | Large Scale Nature Murals

What is biophilia? Biophilia, as coined by Dr. Edward from Harvard, means a desire or tendency to commune with nature.

Biophilic design

Biophilic design utilizes natural materials, natural light, and natural patterns, to construct a built environment that maintains a connection to the natural world.

More than just design principles, biophilic design in commercial buildings has been found to have restorative qualities, boosting employee well-being and psychological health.

In a building, it can look like installing plants, windows for access to sunshine, or increased ventilation. It can also mean adding photos of nature in areas that aren’t adjacent to natural light.

I learned the word biophilia during a commission project for Vancity Credit Union Head Office.

The planning department approached me to purchase existing nature images and commission new ones that they could enlarge for their stairwells and walls in the head office building. They found me because I had worked there for three years, and quit because my photography business was taking off so much that I couldn’t continue at my job there. I really loved the people and missed the team, so when they approached me for this project, I was delighted to reconnect, and be hired for my dream job. Hiking to take nature photos?? Yes please.

“A hypothetical human tendency to interact or be closely associated with all forms of life in nature”

In the case of Vancity, they were applying to convert their existing building to be LEED certified. This included a variety of changes, one of which was adding nature, or greenery. Research suggests that biophilia, or biophilic design, can have a positive impact on well-being by affecting three of our mind-body systems: physiological through reducing anxiety, psychological by reducing anger and fear and cognitive functions by improving creativity and boosting mood.

I submitted a gallery of existing images that could be enlarged, and then set about capturing a variety of additional images, mostly within the Vancity service area, as per their request. I hiked several trails and explored farms, forests and waterfalls over a period of a month.

By working together, and seeing the spaces where the images would go, I was able to assess the amount of light and space each photo would be exposed to. I tried to add brighter more airy images to darker or more confined spaces. I put darker forests like the one below, in an open area with more light. I love this pathway because it looks like you could just walk out of the room and into the forest.

The end result is that 50 of my images are now coating the floors and walls of Vancity. Each stairwell has a different pathway, and each floor different floor to ceiling inspiring local nature images.

This gallery shows some examples of the before and afters.

If you are looking for your own version of this, here is the sales pitch for large format photography (to order)

• Custom photo installations. I have contacts to refer you to, but I can also just sell you the digital file at the necessary size and resolution.

• Photo installations

• Large scale wall art

• Large format prints

• Large Format Photographs

MY FAVORITE: LARGE FORMAT PHOTOGRAPHY
made to order- high resolution large scale wall art for your home or office building.
Looking for a low cost, non permanent options for your office building?
Looking to have a quality piece of art fill your custom wall size?
Positive Psychology...
Bringing the forest to the office with you.
Dont need waterfront when you have this view!
Transforming Spaces, Bringing the outside in, provide upscale photography services to your business and brand.
You're re-inventing yourself, now its time to share it.
*architectural photography.

Biophilia at Azulik SFIR in Tulum, Mexico. They literally built the building AROUND the forest.

It is my pleasure to provide high resolution images to offices or homes for the purpose of enhancing workplace wellness and boosting creativity and productivity!

Please reach out if you would like to discuss a biophilia project.

Last summer I was incredibly flattered to be asked by Vancity to capture a series of nature images from the lower mainland, for them to print and post on their stairwells to encourage people to take the stairs. Amazing idea, for them and for me! I loved it because I spent three years working at Vancity and left only to pursue my photography career full time.

The project expanded to include interior walls of various sizes they wanted covered to give employees a dose of nature. I really couldn’t have asked for a more fulfilling commissioned project. Nature photography for a purpose! I went hiking all summer in areas that Vancity has branches (mostly), and captured many gorgeous images that are now on the walls at the Vancity Head Office on Terminal. Two of the images are 30′ long!

When I walked around to see the finished product, it was breathtaking. Truly a gallery of my work. Everything is larger than life and so beautifully displayed. I feel like it adds such a personal touch to the project, knowing that people I know will be seeing these art prints and knowing that they were specifically taken by me for them. I love Vancity for not going with generic stock photography, but hiring an ex-employee to capture images specifically for them. The murals were beautifully printed and installed by Ampco Graphics.

I wanted to write a press release about all this but eventually realized I’m not a writer. I’m hugely grateful to Lesley Diana and The Promotion People for writing a fantastic article about the project and the trend of installing nature prints in businesses and public spaces, which I now know has the name biophilia.

I am now inspired to install my favourite forest print on my wall at home ❤️This is the one. It is the background screen on my computer, and is from one of my favourite forests on the Sunshine Coast. I also have this picture listed on Society6 where people can purchase things with it (okay, maybe I’m the main person interested in having a forest shower curtain…)

You will see several samples of images from the finished product in the corporate portfolio section of my website.

Some clips from the article.

Vancouver photographer Suzanne Rushton is bringing the breathtaking beauty of the outdoors, indoors, through her photography prints. As businesses move towards a cost-effective solution to “green their offices” by installing large format nature photographs on their walls, Suzanne’s work offers the perfect pieces to adorn said walls. The trend, called biophilia, suggests that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and other forms of life. Biophilia, also called BET, is the direction that Suzanne is encouraging clients in Canada and worldwide to venture towards.

Vancity Credit Union commissioned Suzanne for a pilot project to bring nature indoors at their Vancity Centre location in Vancouver. The project included adding nature photos on the risers of their stairwells to encourage employees to get exercise by taking the stairs rather than the elevator. From there, Suzanne was asked to create several local nature feature walls as well. The final installation was well received by staff.

As employers continue to become more aware of the scientific research, the mental and physical benefits to their workforce, and the growth of their bottom line due to sustainability and increased performance, the more important biophilia will become in today’s world. “I think they are amazing and bring calmness and beauty into our space,” says Vancity’s Wendy Worrall about the art.

A number of published articles are linking nature images to happier, more productive employees, helping to create workplace satisfaction. Biophilic design can reduce stress, enhance creativity and clarity of thought, improve our well-being and expedite healing; as the world’s population continues to urbanize, these qualities are ever more important.

It is her love of nature that has inspired Suzanne to take thousands of photographs and images on her hikes in British Columbia and around the world. Some of Suzanne’s recent travel photos have been selected by the Curacao Tourism Board for their new website. Suzanne provides designers, businesses and residential properties with nature wall print wraps. By both consulting with clients and subsequently delivering the photos, Suzanne plans to bring her photography to buildings, hospitals, offices, airports and homeowners who want a nature feature wall. “This new trend is a perfect combination of my experience with interior spaces, and my love of nature photography.”

Lesley Diana | Lesley@thepromotionpeople.ca| 604-726-5575