INTERIORSCAPING Incorporating Natural Elements- Introduction

Bringing natural elements into interior spaces enhances the

overall ambiance, creating a harmonious connection
between the built environment and nature.

This approach improves aesthetics, well-being, and

sustainability by integrating materials like wood, stone,
water, and plants.

Natural light, ventilation, and biophilic design principles play

a crucial role in fostering a healthier indoor environment.
INTERIOR WATERSCAPING

Water

Water features like fountains, ponds, and

cascading waterfalls create a calming and
refreshing ambiance while enhancing
aesthetics. Fish tanks with aquatic plants add
movement and improve air quality.

Reflective surfaces, wave patterns, and

water-themed art strengthen the connection
with nature. Large windows overlooking ponds or
lakes further blend indoor and outdoor spaces.

Integrating water elements makes interiors more

peaceful, visually engaging, and
nature-inspired.
Water elements refresh interiors through features,
murals, sounds, or ambient scents like rain or sea.
These sensory touches are ideal for transient spaces,
adding tranquility and interest.

Water features help lower indoor temperatures,

enhancing building performance without modifying the
structure. They can serve aesthetic or functional roles
such as cooling, sound buffering, irrigation, or
recreation
Types of Water Features

Active Water Elements – Flowing or falling water, such as fountains, waterfalls, and jets,
create movement and sound, adding a calming or energizing effect.

● Bubbling Streams & Cascades – Enhance sensory appeal, creating a refreshing,

dynamic atmosphere in the space.
● Reflecting Pools – Still water features that add elegance and visual depth, reflecting
surroundings.
● Water Walls – Vertical streams of water that create a stunning visual and calming
sound.
● Indoor Ponds – Water bodies with plants and fish, improving air quality and offering
tranquility.
Indoor ponds and waterfalls

Indoor ponds and waterfalls provide a calming

ambiance, especially with the soothing sound of
running water. When illuminated, they become a
striking visual feature, especially at night.

Larger indoor ponds

Larger indoor ponds are often built on top of the floor,

though they can be sunk into it, and can be made from
materials like fiberglass, brick, wood, or concrete,
based on the floor strength.
Larger Indoor Waterfalls

Indoor waterfalls should be visually striking and

audible, with design elements like soft linings, plants,
stones, or LED lights enhancing their impact,
especially at night.
Passive Water Features

Passive water elements are still or static water features that do not involve movement or
sound, providing visual tranquility and subtle sensory benefits.

● Still Pools – Calm water bodies that offer serene visuals and enhance the peaceful
ambiance.
● Reflective Surfaces – Water that reflects surroundings, adding elegance and depth to
the space without motion.
● Minimalist Water Features – Simple water elements that promote a calming, quiet
atmosphere.
● Subtle Air Purification – Passive water features help purify the air by absorbing dust
and maintaining humidity levels.
Common considerations

Electrical Safety

Indoor water features with pumps or lights must

prioritize electrical safety, considering the use of solar
or light-powered pumps and the location for safe
installation.
NATURAL LIGHT AND VENTILATION

Importance of Natural Light

Enhances Lighting Quality – Uniform lighting can

create a dull, monotonous environment and
contribute to issues like sick building syndrome.

Dappled Shade from Plants – Adds interest and

enhances lighting quality, creating a more dynamic
and engaging atmosphere.

Promotes Well-being – Natural light improves

mood, productivity, and overall health.
Atriums and High Glass Buildings

● Glass Roofs/ Walls – Buildings with glass

roofs or walls receive several hours of direct
sunlight, reducing the need for artificial
lighting, particularly in summer.
● Indirect Illumination – High indirect light is
common, filling most areas with diffused
sunlight, enhancing brightness without
glare.
● Energy Efficiency – The use of natural
light reduces energy consumption by
minimizing reliance on artificial lighting.
Maximizing Natural Light in Interiors

● Strategic Placement of Windows – Place

windows, skylights, and glass walls to maximize
daylight penetration and reduce reliance on
artificial lighting.
● Light-Reflecting Surfaces – Use light-colored
walls, ceilings, and reflective materials to
enhance the spread of natural light throughout
the space.
● Use of Translucent Materials – Incorporate
translucent panels, glass doors, and frosted
windows to diffuse light and maintain privacy.
Benefits of Natural Light in Interior Spaces

● Health and Wellbeing

● Aesthetic Appeal

● Energy Savings

● Connection to Nature
VENTILATION

Importance of Natural Ventilation

Ventilation ensures a healthy and comfortable indoor

environment by allowing fresh air to replace stale air.
Natural ventilation uses wind and temperature differences
to reduce energy consumption and maintain an optimal
indoor climate, promoting sustainability and reducing
reliance on mechanical systems.

Benefits include:

● Energy Efficiency
● Cost Savings
● Comfortable Indoor Climate
● Environmentally Friendly
Natural Ventilation Systems
● How It Works – Natural ventilation uses pressure
differences caused by wind or temperature
fluctuations to move air.
● Key Components – Properly placed openings
like windows, vents, and grilles allow air to flow
freely through the building.
● Fire & Smoke Safety – Natural ventilation
systems must meet fire and smoke control
regulations to ensure safety in emergencies.
● Climate Considerations – Best suited for
regions with mild climates where temperature and
wind conditions are favorable for airflow.
Types of Natural Ventilation Effects

● Wind-Induced Ventilation – Wind pressure on the windward side of a building

pushes air through openings, while the leeward side creates a low-pressure zone,
pulling air out.
● Stack Effect (Temperature-Induced Ventilation) – As warm air
rises, cooler air is drawn in through lower openings, creating
circulation within the building.
● Cross Ventilation – Air flows from
openings on opposite sides of a
building, creating a draft and promoting
constant airflow.

● Thermal Buoyancy – In buildings with

high ceilings or vertical ventilation,
warm air rises and escapes, while
cooler air enters through low-level
openings.
INTERIORSCAPING Why Interior landscape important? Introduction

1. Help to reduce sickness absence

For improving work

satisfaction, and reducing
sickness absence plant
materials are widely
incorporated into the office
environment.
INTERIORSCAPING Why Interior landscape important?

2. Improving Indoor Environment

SBS- Sick Building Syndrome SBS- Reasons

Poor air quality

Excessive background noise
Inadequate temperature
Inadequate lighting

Plants help to improve the indoor

environment by reducing SBS
INTERIORSCAPING Why Interior landscape important?
Reasons for reduction in SBS- Plants

● Reduced levels of CO2 ● Improving the Relative

humidity

Reducing the the co2 accumulated

through breathing, byproduct of heating Maintaining RH between 40%- 60%
and electrical systems. For ideal human comfort
INTERIORSCAPING Why Interior landscape important?
Reasons for reduction in SBS- Plants

● Reducing pollutant gases ● Reducing air borne dust.

Reducing gases such as formaldehyde,

benzene, nitrogen dioxide.
INTERIORSCAPING Why Interior landscape important?
Reasons for reduction in SBS- Plants

● Reducing air temperature

● Reducing Background
noise
INTERIORSCAPING Why Interior landscape important?

3. To Soften/Hide less attractive features

Service areas

Storage facilities

Harsh structural
elements
INTERIORSCAPING Why Interior landscape important?

4. Used to break large open spaces.

Vast expanses of open spaces
found in airports, stations,
shopping malls-

Open plan offices look soulless

and intimidating unless broken up
by familiar objects.

Plants help in breaking down

these areas.
Light
The minimum light availability should be about 1000 lux
for 12 hours per day to maintain plant quality in indoor
plants
INTERIORSCAPING Basic concepts of Interior Landscaping

● Unity
● Texture
● Simplicity
● Balance
● Natural Transition
● Scale and Proportion
Basic concepts of Interior Landscaping

Unity

Unity is created by
consistently repeating
elements like plants,
colors, and textures,
ensuring they fit together
harmoniously. Using
similar characteristics
and themes helps
establish a cohesive
design.
INTERIORSCAPING Basic concepts of Interior Landscaping

Texture

Texture refers to the details

of a plant’s leaves, shape,
spacing, and color up
close, and the overall mass
effect and light-shadow
qualities from a distance.
INTERIORSCAPING Basic concepts of Interior Landscaping

Simplicity

Simplicity focuses on keeping designs clean and

uncomplicated, using a limited color palette,
minimal decor, and consistent elements like
boulders to maintain a unified theme.
INTERIORSCAPING Basic concepts of Interior Landscaping

Balance

Balance in design ensures visual

equilibrium through element
arrangement.

● Symmetrical Balance: Equal,

matching elements on both
sides, like shapes, colors, or
plant groupings.
● Asymmetrical Balance:
More varied, with
different but equally
appealing elements,
unified by consistent
textures or forms.
Natural Transition

Natural transition ensures

smooth changes by
arranging elements like
plant heights, colors,
textures, or shapes in
gradual ascending or
descending order.
Scale and Proportion
Scale and proportion involves the relative sizes of
elements, requiring thoughtful planning to maintain
harmony in the design.
Requirements for
good plant growth
Light

Functional Lighting: Lights to Keep Plants Alive

Indoor plants require a different understanding of

light, as artificial lighting may be necessary to
supplement the limited daylight inside buildings for
effective photosynthesis.

Light Spectrum

Chlorophyll, the green pigment in plants, absorbs

light most effectively in the red and violet-blue
spectrum and reflects green light, which is why
plants appear green.
Light Sources

Natural daylight is ideal but often reduced by glass, blinds,

and obstructions, making artificial lighting, such as
incandescent, fluorescent, and gas discharge lights,
necessary as a supplement.

Halogen Lighting

Halogen lights, a type of incandescent lamp, are

increasingly used for plant displays due to their small size
and bright output, though they may have some drawbacks,
such as heat production.
Fluorescent Lighting

Fluorescent lighting, commonly used in offices,

isn't ideal for plant growth due to missing light
bands, but specialized tubes with a fuller
spectrum and compact fluorescent lights offering
near-daylight quality are becoming popular and
economical alternatives.
High Pressure Discharge Lighting

High-pressure discharge lamps, such as

metal halide and sodium lamps, are efficient
for horticulture, providing the best spectrum
for photosynthesis, with metal halide lights
offering white light ideal for spaces
combining plant growth and aesthetics.
Plant Adaptation to Low
Light
Interior plants adapt to low light
by adjusting chloroplasts,
losing leaf variegation,
stretching toward light, or
dropping leaves, making it
crucial to understand light
levels when selecting the right
plant species.
Humidity

apart from shade, these plants also need high humidity in

atmosphere.

Air conditioned places are very dry and

prevent healthy growth of shade loving
plants.
Growing media

Growing media - the potting soil, or media in which a plant grows, must be of
good quality. It should be porous and having good drainage, but also
capable of water and nutrient retention.
Water

Water management – most indoor plants suffer from over watering rather
than under watering. Over-watering results in root rot and plant death.
Nutrient

Nutrient management – indoor plants grown in low light conditions of the

interior environment have reduced fertilizer requirements. Usually in the
spring and summer when sunlight intensities increase and the days are
warmer and longer, fertilizers are applied
INTERIORSCAPING- Plant Selection
Visual plant characteristics- Size, Form, colour, foliage type, plant texture.

1. Plant Size

Most visually striking feature.

Directly affecting scale of interior

space

Large trees- dominant visual

element, used as focal elements.

Trees and shrubs are most

commonly used in shopping malls
and large open spaces.
INTERIORSCAPING Types of plants for Interiorscaping- Plant design
Visual plant characteristics- Size, Form, colour, foliage type, plant texture.

2. Form

Not as visually strong as size.

Key factor in establishing a good plant

composition.

Influencing Unity and Variety

Coordinating with solid mass of other

elements.
INTERIORSCAPING Types of plants for Interiorscaping- Plant design
Visual plant characteristics- Size, Form, colour, foliage type, plant texture.

3. Colour

Plant color may vary from part

to part of a plant.

Colorful plants are used to

seek attention.

Induce interest and variety to

the composition
Plant selection- common criteria

Plants with healthy foliage should be selected. Plants which have yellow
or chlorotic leaves, brown leaf margins, wilted foliage, spots or blotches,
spindly growth, torn / damaged leaves are avoided.

Insects and
diseases free
plants.
Plant selection - common criteria

Plants which have new flowers and leaf buds along with young growth
are usually of superior quality.
Plant selection - common criteria

Select plants which require the same environmental conditions of the residential
area.
Plants suitable for indoors

Decorative foliage plants - dieffenbachia, aglaonema, alocassia,

dracaena, ferns, maranta, ficus varieties, oxalis, palms, anthurium, schefflera
Plants suitable for indoors

For hanging baskets – tradescantia, ferns, selaginella, chlorophytum, begonia,

money plants, peperomia, hoya, pilea, orchids
Plants suitable for indoors

Flowering plants - African violets, orchids, flowering begonia, impatiens,

calla lily, peace lily, kalanchoe, poinsettia
Plants suitable for indoors

Creepers - money plant, Passiflora tricolor, philodendron, syngonium, vanilla,

hoya
Project
Examples
Project
Examples
Project
Examples
Project
Examples