designing a fair booth the biophilic way
in biophilic how to
Biophilic design can be applied to all situations: homes, offices, restaurants and shops, gyms…and even fair booths!
In fact, biophilic fair booths often result in impressive designs that stand out from the crowd. They might sometimes be too much to be replicated as-is, but they definitely can give some good inspiration for biophilic design projects in general! So here are some of my favourites, spotted both during the latest design fairs I’ve joined and while wandering around on the Internet. Let’s go!
lush greenery
Using greenery in a biophilic design means a lot more than just adding a couple of potted plants (as you’ve heard me say multiple times if you’ve been following along for a while). Instead, it’s a delicate work of balance aimed at incorporating a variety of plants in a harmonious way.
One very effective way to do that is certainly vertical gardens. A garden wall design immediately creates a majestic atmosphere and, if done right, it allows including plenty of different plants without them feeling overwhelming. Ginger & Jagger‘s booth at Decorex 2019 is definitely rich in greenery and a similar design could feel overwhelming in a different situation, but it’s just right for the occasion if you ask me!
Porcelanosa has instead added plants on a partially tiled wall, which makes for an alternative and definitely effective tile display!
natural textures + materials
There’s no doubt about it, texture is a tried and tested way to add interest to a surface. Lately, the tactile quality of surfaces is gaining particular relevance and many fair booths have reflected this search for tactile richness.
Organic shapes and bent wood have been the ingredients of Tom Raffield booth at RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2019.
On the same note, Atelier Vierkant has displayed huge clay planters and tile samples on a smooth background, transforming the booth in a unique textural experience.
Porcelanosa instead has laid stone slabs on a bed of moss to showcase faucets at Cersaie 2019.
And Opiary has transformed a small booth at ICFF in a little biophilic heaven!
engaging spaces
Entering a fair booth can be quite an experience. And incorporating biophilic elements like mystery and prospect is a good strategy to make the experience unique and more compelling. This has definitely been the case in Ceramica Flaminia ’s stand at Cersaie 2019. Sinks, bathtubs and toilets have been displayed among natural elements creating jungle-like oasis that visitors walked around while moving on a pre-designed path.
Another feature that is common to all fairs is they are crowded (and quite exhausting at times). Therefore, incorporating a refuge area in a booth design is a way to provide visitors with a space to rest for a moment. But even just looking at it can be sufficient to get a sense of calm and relief!
water features
Water is probably one of the biophilic features people find more difficult to imagine in interiors. But in reality, there are plenty of ways of bringing a water feature in, depending on the occasion.
In the scope of the latest Salone de Mobile 2019, Antonio Lupi has created a real water show, showcasing water jets of varying intensity on a greenery background.
Smaller but by no means less effective is the proposal of Opiary at ICCFF. A huge vessel becomes a little pond with fishes and floating vases. This would actually be a gorgeous biophilic feature for a patio as well, as it creates a mini-landscape where the mind can get lost (in a good sense of course).
