Interiorscapes
Interiorscape, also called plantscaping, is defined as an installation of plants decorating the inside of a building. These may be found in workplaces, residential facilities for seniors or other populations, healthcare settings or private homes. The rationale for using plants in indoor settings includes beautification and air quality improvement. Research validates additional health benefits - access to nature, improved mood and stress, and better attentional capacity, creativity, and worker productivity.
Additional resources on indoor gardens in a variety of settings can be found in landscapes for health category in subset Designed landscape elements
Additional resources on indoor gardens in a variety of settings can be found in landscapes for health category in subset Designed landscape elements
> Key Organizations
> Books, journals & E-publications on interiorscapes
> RESEARCH & ARTICLES ON interiorscapes
Recently published selected research & articles:
Abbass, O.A., Sailor, D.J., Gall, E.T. (2017). Effectiveness of indoor plants for passive removal of indoor ozone. Building Environ. 119:62–70.
Alker, J., Malanca, M., Pottage, C. & O’Brien, R. (2014). Health, wellbeing & productivity in offices. The next chapter for green building. Rep. World Green Building Council 87.
Brilli, F., Fares, S., Ghirardo, A., de Visser, P., Calatayud, A., Annesi-Maesano, I., Sebastinai, F., Alivernini, A., Varriale, V. & Menghini, F. (2018). Plants for sustainable improvement of indoor air quality. Trends in Plant Science 23(6):507-512.
Callaghan, A. & Mallory-Hill, S. (2016). Biophilia and nature-based features to support stress reduction in knowledge workers. Thesis. University of Manitoba.
Cummings, B.E. & Waring, M.S. (2020). Potted plants do not improve indoor air quality: A review and analysis of reported VOC removal efficiencies. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 30:253–261
Deng L. & Deng Q. (2018). The basic roles of indoor plants in human health and comfort. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 25(36):36087-36101.
Dijkstra, K., Pieterse, M.E. & Pruyn, A. (2008). Stress-reducing effects of indoor plants in the built healthcare environment: The mediating role of perceived attractiveness. Preventative Medicine 47 (3):279-83.
El-Tanbouly, R., Hassan Z. & El-Messeiry, S. (2021). The role of indoor plants in air purification and
human health in the context of COVID-19 pandemic: A proposal for a novel line of inquiry. Front Mol Biosci. 3(8):709395.
Fakhraldeen, S. (2012). Redefining (interior)scapes: Integrating the natural and build environment. Electronic Theses: Dissertations. Kansas State University.
Gilchrist, K.C., Brown, C. & Montarzino, A. (2015). Workplace setting and wellbeing: Greenspace use and views contribute to employee wellbeing at peri-urban business sites. Land.Urban Plan. 138:32-40.
Hall, C. & Knuth, M. (2019). An update of the literature supporting the well-being benefits of plants: A review of the emotional and mental health benefits of plants. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 37(1):30-38.
Ikei, H., Komatsu, M., Song, C., Himoro, E. & Miyazaki, Y. (2014). The physiological and psychological relaxing effects of viewing rose flowers in office workers. J. Physiol. Anthro. 33(1):6.
Jumeno, D. & Matsumoto, H. (2016). The effects of indoor foliage plants on perceived air quality, mood, attention, and productivity. J. C ivil Eng. Arch. Res. 3(4):1359-1370.
Korpela, K., De Bloom, J., Pasanen,T. & Kinnunen, U. (2017). Nature at home and at work: Naturally good? Links between window views, indoor plants, outdoor activities and employee well-being over one year. Land. Urban Plan. 160:38-47.
Park, SA., Jeong, JE. & Wu, YT. (2021). Real foliage plants as visual stimuli to improve and psychological stability in adults. Acta Horticulturae (in press).
Nieuwenhuis, M., Knight, C., Postmes, T. & Haslam, S.A. (2014). The relative benefits of green versus lean office space: Three field experiments. J. Experi. Psych. –Applied 20(3):199-214.
Raanaas, R.K., Evenson, K.H., Rich, D., Sjostrom, G. & Patil, G. (2011). Benefits of indoor plants on attention capacity in an office setting. Journal of Environmental Psychology 31(1):99-105.
Rosenthal, G. (2021). Plant protection unity spans a continent. USDA Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
Smith, A. & Pitt, M. (2011). Healthy workplace: Plantscaping for indoor environmental quality.
Facilities 29(3/4):169-187.
Angle, J.K. (2021). J. Scott Angle: Treating the blues with greens. FNGLA. h
Abbass, O.A., Sailor, D.J., Gall, E.T. (2017). Effectiveness of indoor plants for passive removal of indoor ozone. Building Environ. 119:62–70.
Alker, J., Malanca, M., Pottage, C. & O’Brien, R. (2014). Health, wellbeing & productivity in offices. The next chapter for green building. Rep. World Green Building Council 87.
Brilli, F., Fares, S., Ghirardo, A., de Visser, P., Calatayud, A., Annesi-Maesano, I., Sebastinai, F., Alivernini, A., Varriale, V. & Menghini, F. (2018). Plants for sustainable improvement of indoor air quality. Trends in Plant Science 23(6):507-512.
Callaghan, A. & Mallory-Hill, S. (2016). Biophilia and nature-based features to support stress reduction in knowledge workers. Thesis. University of Manitoba.
Cummings, B.E. & Waring, M.S. (2020). Potted plants do not improve indoor air quality: A review and analysis of reported VOC removal efficiencies. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 30:253–261
Deng L. & Deng Q. (2018). The basic roles of indoor plants in human health and comfort. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 25(36):36087-36101.
Dijkstra, K., Pieterse, M.E. & Pruyn, A. (2008). Stress-reducing effects of indoor plants in the built healthcare environment: The mediating role of perceived attractiveness. Preventative Medicine 47 (3):279-83.
El-Tanbouly, R., Hassan Z. & El-Messeiry, S. (2021). The role of indoor plants in air purification and
human health in the context of COVID-19 pandemic: A proposal for a novel line of inquiry. Front Mol Biosci. 3(8):709395.
Fakhraldeen, S. (2012). Redefining (interior)scapes: Integrating the natural and build environment. Electronic Theses: Dissertations. Kansas State University.
Gilchrist, K.C., Brown, C. & Montarzino, A. (2015). Workplace setting and wellbeing: Greenspace use and views contribute to employee wellbeing at peri-urban business sites. Land.Urban Plan. 138:32-40.
Hall, C. & Knuth, M. (2019). An update of the literature supporting the well-being benefits of plants: A review of the emotional and mental health benefits of plants. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 37(1):30-38.
Ikei, H., Komatsu, M., Song, C., Himoro, E. & Miyazaki, Y. (2014). The physiological and psychological relaxing effects of viewing rose flowers in office workers. J. Physiol. Anthro. 33(1):6.
Jumeno, D. & Matsumoto, H. (2016). The effects of indoor foliage plants on perceived air quality, mood, attention, and productivity. J. C ivil Eng. Arch. Res. 3(4):1359-1370.
Korpela, K., De Bloom, J., Pasanen,T. & Kinnunen, U. (2017). Nature at home and at work: Naturally good? Links between window views, indoor plants, outdoor activities and employee well-being over one year. Land. Urban Plan. 160:38-47.
Park, SA., Jeong, JE. & Wu, YT. (2021). Real foliage plants as visual stimuli to improve and psychological stability in adults. Acta Horticulturae (in press).
Nieuwenhuis, M., Knight, C., Postmes, T. & Haslam, S.A. (2014). The relative benefits of green versus lean office space: Three field experiments. J. Experi. Psych. –Applied 20(3):199-214.
Raanaas, R.K., Evenson, K.H., Rich, D., Sjostrom, G. & Patil, G. (2011). Benefits of indoor plants on attention capacity in an office setting. Journal of Environmental Psychology 31(1):99-105.
Rosenthal, G. (2021). Plant protection unity spans a continent. USDA Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service.
Smith, A. & Pitt, M. (2011). Healthy workplace: Plantscaping for indoor environmental quality.
Facilities 29(3/4):169-187.
Angle, J.K. (2021). J. Scott Angle: Treating the blues with greens. FNGLA. h
> Examples of interiorscapes
Alice and Herbert Sachs Therapeutic Conservatory at MossRehab, Einstein Healthcare Network, in Elkins Park, Pennsylvania features a 1500-square-foot conservatory with a living plant wall, space for horticultural therapy, and respite for patients, visitors, and staff. See also, Greenroofs.com.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston Mass. has 2 story indoor sanctuary including second level Morse Conservatory, with strict infection control standards offering a view of the garden in a plant-free environment designed specifically for immunocompromised patients.
Eden Project biomes and outdoor gardens in Cornwall, England, includes interior plantscaped biomes designed for climate change education and environmental advocacy, elaborate art installations using recycled materials, artistically designed outdoor vegetable and flower garden spaces, and more. Built within an old clay mining pit. See also Eden Project: an overview.
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory at the NY Botanical Garden
Gardens by the Bay in Singapore
The Spheres at Amazon headquarters in Seattle feature indoor treehouses and plantscaping to boost employee mental wellbeing, mood, creativity, and productivity.
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston Mass. has 2 story indoor sanctuary including second level Morse Conservatory, with strict infection control standards offering a view of the garden in a plant-free environment designed specifically for immunocompromised patients.
Eden Project biomes and outdoor gardens in Cornwall, England, includes interior plantscaped biomes designed for climate change education and environmental advocacy, elaborate art installations using recycled materials, artistically designed outdoor vegetable and flower garden spaces, and more. Built within an old clay mining pit. See also Eden Project: an overview.
Enid A. Haupt Conservatory at the NY Botanical Garden
Gardens by the Bay in Singapore
The Spheres at Amazon headquarters in Seattle feature indoor treehouses and plantscaping to boost employee mental wellbeing, mood, creativity, and productivity.
> Videos, webinars & websites on interiorscapes
Introduction to houseplants/houseplant 101/Royal Horticultural Society video discusses different types of houseplants
Healing gardens – Therapeutic Landscapes at Henry Ford Hospital has a large interiorscape
Mental health benefits of indoor plants (video) from Texas A&M researchers
Modern indoor garden design and small space plant ideas shares multiple examples of indoor plantscaping for homs & workplaces
MossRehab uses LiveWall as TherapyTool
MossRehab horticultural therapy program in the Alice and Herbert Sachs Therapeutic Conservatory
10 Best tropical indoor gardens in the world video; examples from Cornwall, Singapore, Spain, New York, Tokyo
Healing gardens – Therapeutic Landscapes at Henry Ford Hospital has a large interiorscape
Mental health benefits of indoor plants (video) from Texas A&M researchers
Modern indoor garden design and small space plant ideas shares multiple examples of indoor plantscaping for homs & workplaces
MossRehab uses LiveWall as TherapyTool
MossRehab horticultural therapy program in the Alice and Herbert Sachs Therapeutic Conservatory
10 Best tropical indoor gardens in the world video; examples from Cornwall, Singapore, Spain, New York, Tokyo
Written & compiled by Lesley Fleming, Susan Morgan Nov 2021