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Why planting deserves a seat at the first design meeting
Great planting starts with early conversations
Written by Toby Campion, Exubia’s Managing Director, the following article explores why planting deserves a place in the earliest design conversations, and how specialist advice can help create spaces that thrive long after installation.
There is something exciting about the way workplace planting has evolved. We are seeing living walls, generous, planted beds and greenery woven into furniture and interiors. Alongside that ambition comes an opportunity: to make planting part of the conversation from the moment a space starts taking shape.
At Exubia, we provide specialist planting design consultancy as a standalone service, independent of supply and installation. Clients can appoint us solely for design advice, whether or not we deliver the scheme. Involving us early gives architects and designers more scope to achieve their vision, create the right growing conditions and make the most of the investment.
A changing role in the workplace
Historically, we would often visit an office after the fit-out was finished and look for places to put plants. With floor space at a premium, particularly in central London, the options could be limited to a spare corner or a gap between desks.
The conversation has moved on considerably. In my experience, the shift accelerated after the pandemic. Although many businesses reduced their office footprint, they became more interested in creating somewhere people would actively want to spend time, meet colleagues and collaborate. We saw planting become a bigger feature within those smaller spaces.
That growing interest in workplace experience and wellbeing has opened up new possibilities for bringing nature indoors. Freestanding pots remain an important part of a scheme, while integrated planting allows greenery to become part of the character and layout of the whole interior.
Planning for the ambition
Planting is usually installed towards the end of a project, once construction work is complete and the plants can be protected. Its design needs attention much earlier. We recommend involving a planting specialist from RIBA Stage 2 (Concept Design), and by Stage 3 (Spatial Coordination) at the latest. This allows planting requirements, including water supply, drainage, lighting and loadings, to be coordinated with the wider architectural and engineering design.
Take a living wall. It might look wonderful in a concept drawing, but making it work means considering water supply, drainage, lighting and the wall’s construction. Addressing those requirements alongside the wider fit-out gives the design a much better chance of being realised simply and efficiently.
The same applies to built-in planted beds. We need to understand weight loadings, construction and waterproofing, as well as how the components will reach their destination through doorways, lifts or staircases. These are manageable details when they are considered at the right time. Retrofitting them later can add complexity and cost.
Placement deserves equal thought. How will people move around the planting? What will they see from their desks? How will it complement the furniture and the wider interior? Early collaboration gives us the opportunity to make those decisions together.
Creating the conditions to thrive
Light is one of the most important considerations. A plant beside a sunny window experiences very different conditions from one in an occasionally used meeting room where occupancy sensors keep the lights off for much of the day.
Understanding those conditions helps us choose suitable plants and identify where additional lighting may be needed. Temperature and air movement matter too, from the position of air-conditioning outlets to what happens when a building closes over Christmas.
There is also scope to be creative with the planting itself. Where a design brings together species with different watering needs, separate growing compartments within a planter may allow each to receive appropriate care while achieving the overall look. Early specialist input helps turn an attractive idea into a workable scheme.
Thinking beyond handover
For me, success is about how planting looks six months, a year or three years after installation. Designing for ongoing care is central to that.
Even something as straightforward as access to a suitable tap makes a difference. An example may be where technicians must carry water between floors because there is no supply near the plants. Considering that access early can make maintenance more efficient and less disruptive to the people using the building.
It also helps clients understand the ongoing budget. A living wall has different maintenance requirements from a collection of freestanding plants. Discussing those commitments during design gives clients a clear picture of what their chosen scheme needs to keep looking its best.
Specialist advice as a standalone service
Our standalone consultancy helps clients and design teams make informed decisions before implementation is considered. Looking at existing planting can be a useful starting point: what works well, what could be improved and what has been learnt along the way. Those conversations help us build on the positives and address practical issues early in the design process.
Starting the conversation
If a project is already well advanced, there is still plenty we can do. A willingness to adjust plant choices, positioning or supporting conditions helps us find a scheme that works.
The greatest opportunity, though, comes when planting joins the discussion as the space is being designed. It gives clients, designers and planting specialists the freedom to explore ideas together and plan for their lasting success. That is how we help people get the most from their investment, and why planting deserves a seat at the first design meeting.
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