Abstract
Abstract
Biophilia is known as the innate connection people have with nature and how green spaces can positively affect basic cognition, mood and health. Mostly applied in urban areas where outdoor green spaces are scarce, designed facilities that incorporate this concept have been observed to be more beneficial to users. Interestingly, one indoor space visited by urban dwellers that have yet to be studied in terms of biophilic design application is fitness gyms. To determine gym members’ preference of planting materials if these were placed in gyms, surveys were distributed online over two weeks. 239 participants composed of actual and potential gym members selected appropriate plants as detailed in the surveys. Site planting considerations or constraints were also identified if these were used indoors. Additionally, their familiarity with biophilia and its advantages were investigated. After the responses were analysed, participants selected Dracaena fragrans, Spathiphyllum wallisii and Epipremnum aureum as top choices of plants for a gym with major considerations on plants’ aesthetic qualities, ecological and psychological benefits, and maintenance. Moreover, more than 50 percent respondents were at least slightly familiar with biophilia. They believed that having plants can improve indoor air quality, make the interiors more aesthetically pleasing and can enhance mood. As per results, it can be said that the respondents supported the idea of designing indoor fitness gyms as biophilic environments although its level of familiarity needs to be increased. This is where professionals come in, by designing facilities such as fitness gyms with plants to optimize biophilia’s benefits.