Project – Biophilic Design Elements and User Well-Being in Office Buildings: A Study of Selected Commercial Buildings in Victoria Island, Lagos

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background to the Study

The contemporary office building is no longer viewed merely as a physical container for administrative and commercial activities but increasingly as an environment capable of influencing the health, comfort, satisfaction and performance of its users. As urbanisation and economic activities continue to concentrate people in cities, many employees spend a substantial proportion of their daily lives within enclosed workplaces, often with limited direct contact with natural environments. This situation has generated growing interest in the relationship between the built environment and human well-being. The World Health Organization (WHO, 2022) recognises that work can either promote or negatively affect mental health depending on the conditions under which work is performed. Similarly, research on workplace environments indicates that indoor environmental characteristics such as naturalness, lighting, thermal conditions, spatial arrangement, privacy and environmental quality can influence occupants’ mental well-being, satisfaction and work performance (Li et al., 2023). Consequently, the design of office buildings has become an important consideration in creating healthier and more supportive working environments.

One design approach that has attracted considerable attention in response to these concerns is biophilic design. Biophilia describes the human tendency to seek connections with nature and other living systems, while biophilic design applies this relationship to the planning and design of buildings and spaces. Kellert, Heerwagen, and Mador (2008) explained that biophilic design seeks to integrate nature into the built environment in ways that respond to human biological needs and enhance the quality of places. Browning, Ryan, and Clancy (2014) subsequently organised biophilic design into identifiable patterns, including visual connections with nature, non-visual connections with nature, natural materials, natural light, water, vegetation, prospect, refuge and other spatial characteristics. These elements may be introduced through indoor plants, green walls, views of vegetation, natural materials, daylight, water features, natural ventilation, nature-inspired forms and access to outdoor spaces. The underlying argument is that buildings designed with meaningful connections to nature can provide psychological and physiological benefits beyond those obtained from conventional architectural solutions.

The relevance of biophilic design to workplace well-being has been supported by a growing body of empirical research. Sadick and Kamardeen (2020), in a systematic review of research on nature exposure in office workplaces, found evidence linking indoor nature exposure with workers’ health and motivation, while outdoor nature exposure was associated with restoration, stress reduction and stress coping. Similarly, Ríos-Rodríguez, Testa Moreno, and Moreno-Jiménez (2023) reviewed quantitative research on nature elements in offices and found evidence that workplace strategies involving outdoor environments and opportunities for nature exposure can contribute to reducing workers’ stress responses. Gonçalves, Sousa, and Fernandes (2023) also reported restorative effects associated with workplace exposure to nature, including effects relating to well-being, motivation, job satisfaction and work performance. These findings suggest that biophilic design may provide an important environmental strategy for addressing some of the psychological demands associated with contemporary office work.

The relationship between biophilic design and user well-being is particularly important because office users are affected by multiple environmental conditions simultaneously. Well-being in an office environment may include psychological comfort, reduced stress, satisfaction, perceived health, concentration, motivation and positive emotional experiences. Li et al. (2023), through a systematic review of office studies, found that naturalness, indoor climate, space, furniture and privacy were among the environmental characteristics associated with mental well-being, productivity and satisfaction. Similarly, Sadick and Kamardeen (2020) identified restoration, stress reduction, health, motivation and stress coping as important outcomes associated with nature exposure in workplaces. These findings indicate that the effectiveness of a workplace should not be judged exclusively by conventional measures such as floor area, technological facilities or energy efficiency; consideration should also be given to whether the environment supports the psychological and physical needs of its users.

The issue has particular relevance to Nigeria, where rapid economic growth, urbanisation and commercial development have resulted in the expansion of modern office buildings, especially in major commercial centres such as Lagos. Within Lagos, the demand for office accommodation has encouraged the development of high-rise commercial buildings and modern business facilities that incorporate increasingly sophisticated architectural and environmental features. Aduwo, Akinwole, and Okpanachi (2021) investigated biophilic design strategies in selected office buildings in Lagos State and identified features including interior plants, external vegetation, open views, natural materials, daylighting, natural ventilation, living walls, solar shading and passive cooling. Their study found evidence that biophilic design strategies could influence workers’ productivity, although many of the identified elements occurred as isolated interventions rather than as an integrated design strategy. The researchers consequently recommended that biophilic design should be incorporated systematically from the early stages of building design rather than introduced as an afterthought (Aduwo et al., 2021).

Victoria Island provides a particularly relevant setting for investigating these issues because of its concentration of commercial, financial, corporate, hospitality and professional activities. As one of Lagos’s established high-value business districts, Victoria Island contains numerous office buildings occupied by financial institutions, professional service firms, multinational organisations, technology companies and other commercial enterprises. The intensity of commercial activity means that office users may spend long periods within enclosed and highly managed environments, making the environmental characteristics of these buildings particularly relevant to their daily experience. Existing Lagos research has already demonstrated the presence and potential influence of biophilic design features in office buildings, including high-rise commercial buildings (Aduwo et al., 2021). However, the presence of individual features does not automatically establish that users experience improved well-being, since the quality, accessibility, visibility, integration and perceived usefulness of such features may differ considerably from one building to another.

Despite the growing international evidence supporting nature-based workplace design, there remains a need for location-specific investigation of how biophilic design elements relate to the well-being of office users in Lagos, particularly in commercial districts such as Victoria Island. Existing Nigerian research has provided useful evidence concerning biophilic design and productivity in selected Lagos office buildings, but relatively limited attention has been given specifically to the relationship between identifiable biophilic design elements and broader dimensions of user well-being within selected commercial buildings in Victoria Island. This is important because biophilic design should ultimately be assessed not only by the presence of plants, daylight or natural materials but also by how users perceive and experience these elements in their everyday work environment. The systematic reviews of Sadick and Kamardeen (2020), Ríos-Rodríguez et al. (2023), and Gonçalves et al. (2023) demonstrate the growing evidence base internationally, while Aduwo et al. (2021) provides an important Nigerian foundation. Therefore, examining biophilic design elements and user well-being in selected commercial buildings in Victoria Island, Lagos, can provide context-specific evidence that may assist architects, developers, facility managers and organisations in creating healthier and more user-centred office environments.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

Modern commercial office buildings in Lagos are increasingly designed around functionality, technological infrastructure, corporate identity, security and efficient use of valuable urban land. However, the physical and psychological well-being of office users may not always receive equivalent attention during the design and management of these buildings. The World Health Organization (2022) notes that workplace conditions can either protect or harm mental health, while poor working environments may contribute to psychological stress and reduced functioning. In Victoria Island, where commercial buildings accommodate large numbers of workers for extended periods each day, inadequate opportunities for natural light, vegetation, outdoor views, natural ventilation and other restorative environmental experiences may reduce the quality of the workplace experience. The problem is therefore not necessarily the absence of modern office infrastructure, but the possibility that buildings may provide sophisticated commercial facilities without adequately addressing users’ biological and psychological connections with nature.

A related problem concerns the inconsistent incorporation of biophilic design elements into commercial office buildings. Although plants, natural materials, daylight, external views, green walls and other nature-related features can be found in some modern buildings, their presence may be fragmented, decorative or insufficient to produce a meaningful environmental experience. Aduwo et al. (2021) found that biophilic strategies in selected Lagos office buildings occurred largely as isolated occurrences rather than as a fully integrated design approach. Such isolated applications raise questions about whether the quantity, quality, location and accessibility of biophilic elements are sufficient to influence the well-being of office users. Similarly, Browning et al. (2014) emphasised that biophilic design involves a range of interconnected patterns rather than the simple addition of individual natural objects to a building. Consequently, there is a need to determine whether selected commercial buildings in Victoria Island provide meaningful and functional connections with nature rather than merely incorporating isolated decorative features.

Another problem is the limited empirical understanding of how users themselves perceive the effects of biophilic design on their well-being in the Nigerian commercial office context. International research has associated workplace exposure to nature with outcomes such as restoration, stress reduction, motivation, health and job satisfaction (Sadick & Kamardeen, 2020; Gonçalves et al., 2023). Ríos-Rodríguez et al. (2023) similarly found evidence that nature-related workplace interventions can reduce stress responses. However, environmental preferences and workplace experiences may vary according to climatic conditions, organisational culture, building characteristics and local patterns of use. Therefore, evidence generated in other geographical contexts cannot automatically be assumed to represent the experiences of office users in Lagos. Without direct assessment of users in Victoria Island, it remains difficult to determine which biophilic elements are most commonly available, how users perceive them and whether they are associated with improved psychological and workplace well-being.

Finally, there is a research gap concerning the specific relationship between biophilic design elements and user well-being in selected commercial buildings in Victoria Island, Lagos. Although Aduwo et al. (2021) examined biophilic design and workers’ productivity in selected office buildings in Lagos State, their study primarily addressed productivity and sustainability rather than focusing specifically on user well-being as a multidimensional outcome. Likewise, international systematic reviews have established an association between nature exposure and workplace well-being but have also identified limitations in the existing evidence and the need for further context-specific research (Gonçalves et al., 2023; Ríos-Rodríguez et al., 2023). This gap makes it necessary to investigate the extent to which biophilic design elements are incorporated into selected commercial buildings in Victoria Island and whether these elements are significantly associated with the well-being of their users. The study therefore seeks to provide empirical evidence that can support improved office-building design, management and workplace environmental policies in Lagos.

1.3 Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between biophilic design elements and user well-being in selected commercial office buildings in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Specifically, the study seeks to:

1. identify the biophilic design elements incorporated into selected commercial office buildings in Victoria Island, Lagos;
2. assess the extent to which these biophilic design elements are available and accessible to office users;
3. examine the level of well-being experienced by users of the selected commercial office buildings;
4. determine the influence of natural elements such as vegetation, daylight, natural views and natural materials on users’ well-being

1.4 Research Questions

The following research questions will guide the study:

1. What biophilic design elements are incorporated into selected commercial office buildings in Victoria Island, Lagos?
2. To what extent are the identified biophilic design elements available and accessible to office users?
3. What is the level of well-being experienced by users of the selected commercial office buildings?
4. To what extent do vegetation, daylight, natural views and natural materials influence users’ well-being?

1.5 Research Hypothesis

The following null hypothesis will be tested at the 0.05 level of significance:

H₀: There is no significant relationship between biophilic design elements and user well-being in selected commercial office buildings in Victoria Island, Lagos.

1.6 Significance of the Study

The study will be significant to architects and building designers because it will provide empirical information about the relationship between nature-related design features and the experiences of office users. The findings may assist architects in making more deliberate decisions concerning daylight, vegetation, natural views, natural materials, ventilation, water features and other biophilic strategies.

The study will also be beneficial to property developers and investors. Contemporary commercial buildings compete not only through location and physical facilities but also through the quality of the experience they provide to occupants. Evidence concerning user well-being may encourage developers to regard biophilic design as a component of long-term building value rather than merely as an aesthetic feature.

The study will be useful to facility managers and organisations occupying commercial buildings. Facility managers can use the findings to identify opportunities for improving existing office environments through landscaping, indoor plants, access to natural views, improved daylight management, outdoor relaxation areas and other relatively practical interventions.

The study will also be relevant to office workers and other building users because improved workplace environments may support psychological comfort, satisfaction, restoration and healthier working experiences. The WHO (2022) recognises the importance of workplaces that protect and promote mental health, making environmental quality an important consideration in workplace management.

The study will contribute to academic knowledge by extending Nigerian research on biophilic design from the broader issue of sustainability and productivity towards the specific question of user well-being. It will also provide a basis for future studies involving architecture, environmental psychology, facility management, workplace design, urban development and building performance.

Finally, the study may be useful to government agencies and professional bodies involved in building regulation, urban planning and environmental standards. Findings from the study may contribute to discussions about healthier commercial buildings and the incorporation of nature-based strategies into future building design and refurbishment.

1.7 Scope of the Study

The study will focus on biophilic design elements and user well-being in selected commercial office buildings in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The content scope will cover biophilic design elements including:

• indoor and outdoor vegetation;
• indoor plants and green walls;
• views of natural elements;
• access to daylight;
• natural ventilation;
• natural materials and textures;
• water features where available;
• outdoor spaces and terraces;
• nature-inspired forms and patterns; and
• other relevant connections between office users and natural systems.

The study will assess user well-being through dimensions such as psychological comfort, perceived stress, satisfaction, relaxation, concentration, environmental comfort and perceived health-related benefits.

The geographical scope will be restricted to selected commercial buildings within Victoria Island, Lagos State. The study will not attempt to cover all commercial buildings in Lagos State. Respondents will primarily comprise users or employees working within the selected commercial buildings, while physical observations may be used to assess the presence and characteristics of biophilic design elements.

1.8 Operational Definition of Terms

Biophilia: The human tendency or inclination to seek connection with nature and living systems.

Biophilic Design: An approach to architecture and environmental design that deliberately incorporates meaningful connections with nature into buildings and spaces to support human health, well-being and environmental quality.

Biophilic Design Elements: Physical or perceptual features that establish connections between building users and nature, including vegetation, natural light, natural views, water, natural materials, natural ventilation and nature-inspired forms.

User Well-Being: The physical, psychological and environmental state of comfort, satisfaction, positive functioning and perceived health experienced by individuals within a building.

Office Building: A building or part of a building primarily designed or used for administrative, professional, managerial, financial or other commercial work activities.

Commercial Building: A building used primarily for business, professional, retail, corporate or other income-generating activities.

Natural Light: Daylight entering an interior space through windows, skylights or other building openings.

Natural Ventilation: The movement and exchange of air through naturally occurring pressure differences and building openings without relying exclusively on mechanical ventilation.

Natural View: A visual connection between an indoor space and natural features such as trees, vegetation, gardens, sky, water or other living environmental features.

User: An employee, occupant, visitor or other individual who regularly uses or spends time within a selected commercial office building.

Environmental Comfort: The extent to which the physical characteristics of a workplace are perceived by users as comfortable, pleasant and supportive of their activities.

Victoria Island: A prominent commercial and business district within Lagos State, Nigeria, characterised by substantial concentrations of offices, financial institutions, corporate establishments, commercial developments and related urban activities.

Project – Biophilic Design Elements and User Well-Being in Office Buildings: A Study of Selected Commercial Buildings in Victoria Island, Lagos