Global Investment Firm
New York, New York
Merging Classic Elegance with Smart Biophilic Design
A global investment firm sought to transform its new office, housed in a historic 1920s banker’s club, by integrating nature into the space while enhancing efficiency. Inspired by the building’s legacy, the owners aimed to blend classic elegance with modern comfort. An avid advocate for plant diversity, the firm’s owner saw an opportunity to revive the space with a high-tech biophilic installation, showcasing rare species while maintaining precise control over plant care.
Design and Technology Integration
To achieve this vision, Biotic Instruments provided a fully automated biophilic system that enables plant care with minimal human intervention, addressing the firm’s sensitivity around frequent horticulturist visits. The showpiece installation, featuring hundreds of plants interwoven with architectural elements, serves as both a striking aesthetic feature and a functional privacy solution for trading teams.
Key Features
Individualized Plant Care: Each planter is individually calibrated, allowing for customized care settings tailored to the specific needs of rare and diverse plant species. This capability enables the design to feature an eclectic mix of plants that would otherwise be difficult to maintain in a commercial setting.
Hidden Water Reservoirs: Custom water tanks, concealed within the architectural cavity, provide a self-sustaining irrigation system that requires refills only every two months, minimizing disruption.
Historical Design Sensitivity: The installation respects the firm’s desire to maintain the timeless character of the original banker’s club, using premium materials and period-inspired architectural detailing while incorporating cutting-edge plant technology.
Impact and Outcomes
Significant Cost Reductions
Automating care for over 50 planters has led to substantial savings in maintenance expenses, reducing reliance on external horticultural services.
Showcasing Botanical Diversity
The ability to fine-tune care settings for each individual planter allows for an unprecedented level of botanical diversity, featuring rare species that typically require highly specific conditions to thrive.
Seamless Integration of Nature & Architecture
The project successfully merges historical charm with modern, sustainable technology, setting a new benchmark for biophilic office design in high-end financial spaces.
This project exemplifies the potential of biophilic design when aligned with both operational goals and historical architectural integrity. By leveraging Biotic Instruments’ technology, the investment firm has created an office that is as elegant as it is efficient—offering a sophisticated yet sustainable work environment that meets the needs of both the past and the future, while celebrating the beauty and complexity of plant diversity.
