In 1992 Gordan Orians and Judith Heerwagen developed the “Savanna Hypothesis” which essentially states that our landscape preferences evolved as a result of our ancestral environment during the Pleistocene. Specifically, those preferences include:
- Open spaces with low grass
- Availability of water
- Vantage point
- Evidence of animal life
- Plenty of greenery (flowers, fruiting plants, etc.)
While the survival advantages of these preferences may be obvious to our Pleistocene ancestors, don’t snub the power of the plant today!
There is plenty of scientific support linking plants in the workplace to increased productivity. A report from Science Daily concluded recently that:
“…employees were 15% more productive when ‘lean’ workplaces are filled with just a few houseplants[]”
Eating your greens isn’t the only way to get a boost from plants. Do yourself (and your colleagues!) a favor and add a little greenery to your workplace. If nothing else, the air you breathe will be that much cleaner as a result.
