The positive effects of green indoors have been studied for many years, but there are some places that lend themselves more than others to such research in the field: hospitals and healthcare facilities in general.For some time now, under the name of Ecotherapy, all good practices have been gathered together that involve facilitating the recovery of patients through the massive use of green indoors.
In 1986, the WHO (World Health Organisation) spoke for the first time of Sick Building Syndrome, the disease of unhealthy buildings; we are all therefore subjected on a daily basis, at work or at home, to an environment that can have negative effects on our health.
We must therefore imagine that for a person admitted to a hospital, in addition to the symptoms of his or her illness, there are also symptoms that can be linked to the fact of spending a long time in a closed environment, which is certainly more harmful than many other closed environments due to the presence of numerous polluting agents (Formaldehyde and Ammonia to name but two of the most common).
Fortunately, there are now many studies demonstrating the benefits of the presence of greenery in hospitals, and the conclusions reached are common:
Another interesting study from 2008 showed that patients with plants and flowers in their rooms were more positive and less anxious about their illnesses. More than 50 studies on the subject (for example Kansas State University) claim that even the mere sight of plants and flowers by patients undergoing surgery can stimulate faster recovery as well as report better parameters such as lower blood pressure, less need to take painkillers and rarer feelings of anxiety.
As you can easily imagine, there are some plants that are more suitable than others for achieving the results described above.
For example, NASA's Clean Air study has shown that plants such as the Benjamin Fig, English Ivy, Chrysanthemum, Sanseveria, Photos, Azalea, Phalanx, Spatiphyllum, Dracena and many others are perfect for building our indoor gardens.
Verde Profilo has patented a system to intelligently bring vertical greenery into indoor environments. It is called VP-MODULO System and since this year it has undergone LEED and WELL mapping, which has demonstrated how its use is strategic for constructing healthy buildings and environments. Thanks to the wide choice of essences to be placed inside the system, it is suitable for every design requirement.
A masterly example of this can be found in the KHOO TECK PUAT HOSPITAL in Singapore, winner of the Stephen R. Kellert Biophilic Design Award.
The will of the former CEO who initiated the work was summed up in this sentence: "The blood pressure of patients and operators will be lowered just by crossing the hospital entrance". A true biophilic design project integrating greenery, water and any element aimed at improving the relationship between man and the environment.
