| With the rapid development of social economy and the further refinement of social division of labor, different types of work environments are created to meet the needs of a growing number of brain workers. Adding green elements plays a new role in the work environment development trend. Integrating ornamental plants into work environments can drastically reduce levels of stress and ill health and boost performance levels at work. As a new field of work environments study, there are few studies about arrangement of ornamental plants in work environments. Thus this study is aimed to achieve further development in the theory of ornamental plants arrangement in work environments through field practices. The main findings were as follows:1.Selection of ornamental plants Different types of work environments require different kinds of ornamental plants. Ornamental plants perform other functions besides the aesthetic and improvement of indoor air quality. These include dividing the space into separate areas or annexation, the reduction of reflection from bright lights and screening to block unwanted views or to create intimacy. Meanwhile, work environments have to satisfy the major requirements for plant growth in different stages like warmth and light, etc.2.Keys elements in arrangement of ornamental plants Key elements include the position in office landscape, quantity, size, color, shape, smell and configuration mode, etc. (1) The placement of ornamental plants should not have bad influence and side effects to working. (2) The quantity and size of plants should be incorporated to different sizes and functions of office area. (3) A pretty display in work environment can be achieved through integrated use of ornamental plants in two or three colors. (4) Pleasant-smelling plants can be used to clean the air, soften and infuse decor with nature and reduce the amount of stress in work environment.3.Application and configuration of ornamental plants in work environment Ornamental plant layouts can be divided into fixed, swing, climbing, hydroponics, wall mounting,etc. (1) Ornamental plants can be placed individually, on a line or grouped in a small area. Background color and light are need to be considered when plants are placed individually. Most ornamental plants do well in bright, indirect light. Plants that do well in low light should be chose when the office is dimly lit. If several plants are placed together, select those with contrasting foliage and textures, such as broad and waxy leaves next to fine and feathery foliage to create more interesting compositions. Place larger plants in the background of smaller plant groupings. (2) Hanging potted plants are a beautiful way to add life and color to any work environment. The space chosen to hang the potted plant will largely determine what type of plant to be hang. The amount of light in the specific area will dictate the plant species that can survive there. (3) Climbing plants are often sold in hanging baskets so the vine arms dangle down from the pot. Light conditions vary according to the variety of plant chosen. (4) Use round wall planters and place them at different heights on the wall, ornamental plants can also be integrated into the wall-s structure and turned into built-in features. (5) Hydroponics is one of the most preferred techniques used for growing office plants. One of the biggest advantages of growing office plant is that they can be grown all year round in climate regulated conditions inside office. (6) A bottle garden is a container similar to a terrarium in which plants are grown inside the bottle with little or no exposure to the outside environment, and can be contained indefinitely inside the bottle if properly illuminated. Being easy to create and maintain, bottle gardens are commonly used as a form of decoration, or as a substitute garden in areas with little space.4.Current situation, problem and suggestion of ornamental plant arrangements in Tencent’s work environment (1) The main office area includes reception hall, administrative area, meeting room, lounge, canteen, corridor, etc. And different kinds of ornamental plants with specific characteristics are placed accordingly. Plants in reception hall are arranged in line with basic scientific principle. Ornamental pineapple plants are placed along corridor to add various elements to the entryway area. Rather than using plain horizontal shelves, plants are placed in a series of asymmetrical small shelves on a angled line at staircase. Several plants are placed together to create more interesting compositions in the waiting room. Scindapsus Aureus and Anthurium are commonly placed in administrative area as they do well in low light and the office is dimly lit. Only few plants in metal containers are placed on several lines in canteen as a way of dividing the spaces. (2)Current problems:Only few kinds of ornamental plants are used. Plant arrangements vary a little. Plants are not chose according to space and specific needs of work environment. And there is too much emphasis on the functional over appearance. (3Suggestions:developing more ways to include ornamental plants into work environment, using more combination of plant arrangements, considering ornamental plants as a health promotion tool for employees, emphasizing on both functional and appearance, hiring professional for plant arrangements, etc. |
