Nestled in the heart of Auckland’s North Shore Hospital, the Healing Garden at Tōtara Haumaru brings an extraordinary touch of New Zealand’s natural beauty indoors. Spanning over 110 square meters, this lush sanctuary is home to more than 500 plants representing 15 native species. Designed with the wellness of both patients and healthcare staff in mind, this garden creates a calming, restorative atmosphere that infuses the hospital with a sense of peace and renewal.
What is Biophilic Design?
Biophilic design brings elements of the natural world—such as plants, daylight, water features, and organic textures—into built environments, enhancing health, productivity, and overall well-being. By reintroducing natural elements indoors, biophilic design reconnects people with nature in places where they spend much of their time, especially in healthcare settings where patients, staff, and volunteers can benefit from these restorative spaces.
Image: Outside In Plantscaping
Biophilic Design in Healthcare: Enhancing Patient Recovery and Well-being
In healthcare, biophilic design can be profoundly transformative. Research shows that natural elements, such as sunlight and greenery, can accelerate patient recovery, reduce blood pressure, and lower stress levels. In spaces like the Healing Garden at Tōtara Haumaru, patients benefit from calming views of lush, green surroundings, even if they’re confined to their rooms. These natural views provide a sense of tranquility that helps reduce anxiety, improves mood, and can even reduce the need for pain medication, supporting faster healing and improved recovery outcomes.
Biophilic Design for Healthcare Staff: Boosting Productivity and Reducing Burnout
Biophilic elements are equally important for healthcare professionals who work in high-stress, high-demand environments. Incorporating nature into hospital workspaces, such as break rooms or relaxation zones, has been shown to enhance focus, creativity, and resilience. Studies reveal that employees in biophilic environments often experience less stress and greater job satisfaction, which can lead to higher productivity and reduced turnover. For healthcare workers, access to natural light, indoor greenery, and even soothing water features can create a more balanced environment, helping to reduce burnout and support overall well-being, which in turn contributes to better patient care.
Biophilic Design in Educational Spaces: Supporting Volunteers and Medical Students
Within hospitals, biophilic design can also enrich spaces designated for medical students, interns, and volunteers. Studies show that exposure to natural elements, such as plants and ample daylight, supports focus, reduces stress, and enhances cognitive function—crucial for students who are learning in high-stakes environments. Educational spaces designed with biophilic principles can foster curiosity, calmness, and better retention of information, creating an environment that supports both learning and engagement. For hospital volunteers, natural settings within the facility provide a peaceful, rejuvenating atmosphere, allowing them to bring their best selves to their roles in patient care and support.
The Healing Garden’s Concept and Design
Image: Outside In Plantscaping
Drawing from international research, the Healing Garden is strategically designed to make nature an accessible, comforting presence for patients, staff, and visitors. Its open design and placement within the hospital atrium allow many patient rooms to overlook the greenery, offering bedridden patients a refreshing view of nature. For those able to explore the space, pathways and seating areas create a peaceful setting where they can sit, stroll, or simply be surrounded by the beauty of New Zealand’s native flora.
The garden itself draws inspiration from the region’s vibrant forests. Outside In, the project’s design team, used their Forest Form product to recreate the layered, immersive experience of a natural forest canopy. The result is a soothing, nurturing escape from the clinical feel of the hospital, featuring walking paths and a dedicated space where healthcare staff can relax and recharge in nature’s embrace.
Lighting: The Role of Soltech Highland Grow Lights
Image: Outside In Plantscaping
Lighting plays a vital role in maintaining the health of indoor plants, and in the Healing Garden, nearly 50 Soltech Highland grow lights provide the plants with the full-spectrum light they need to thrive. These energy-efficient lights mimic natural sunlight in shaded areas, supporting photosynthesis and promoting lush, sustained plant growth. Designed to replicate the nuanced qualities of daylight, Highland lights enrich the biophilic environment, ensuring that the garden remains vibrant and healthy while also creating a naturally bright, uplifting space that enhances the healing ambiance for patients and staff alike.
Recognition and the Future of Biophilic Design in Healthcare
The Healing Garden has not only transformed the atmosphere of North Shore Hospital but has also earned the prestigious Diamond Award at the International Biophilic Design Awards—Outside In’s second win at this level. This accolade highlights the innovative nature of the garden and sets a new benchmark for biophilic design in healthcare.
With increasing recognition of the therapeutic potential of indoor natural environments, Outside In is now bringing its plantscaping expertise to the United States. The Healing Garden’s success demonstrates the far-reaching impact of biophilic design, showing how thoughtfully designed, nature-filled spaces can change the way we approach healing and wellness in modern healthcare settings.
Take a look at Outside In’s other projects by visiting @outsidein_plantscaping on Instagram.
