What is a biophilic office?

Amazon installed 40,000 plants in its Seattle headquarters in pursuit of biophilic design. Photo: AFP

Next to the pens and Post-it notes neatly arranged on the desk is a pot in which grows a Cissus rhombifolia plant, a grape ivy, and beside it are cuttings of green plants.

Plants can soothe, help combat stress and increase the creativity and productivity of employees. For some years now, nature has been invited into office buildings through a host of plant installations.