Description

The term “Office Landscape Architecture” is often used loosely to mean “putting plants in an office,” but professionally, it refers to a specific design philosophy and a technical discipline.

Office Landscape Architecture (historically known as Bürolandschaft) is the spatial organization of a workspace that rejects rigid, grid-like partitions in favor of an organic, open-plan layout. It treats the office floor not as a series of rooms, but as a continuous landscape where “zones” are defined by:

Softscaping

Softscaping comprises the living, horticultural elements within an office environment, acting as the organic counterpart to the “hardscape” of desks, partitions, and architecture. It encompasses a spectrum of greenery, from solitary desktop succulents and architectural floor plants like Strelitzia to complex, hydroponic green walls.

Beyond mere decoration, softscaping is a functional tool in Biophilic Design. It softens harsh building lines, improves indoor air quality by filtering pollutants, and serves as an effective acoustic buffer in open-plan layouts. In modern workspace strategy, softscaping is a critical investment in employee well-being, reducing stress by reintroducing nature into the built environment.

Acoustic Screens

Acoustic screens act as the flexible “hedges” of the modern office landscape. Unlike fixed drywall, these movable partitions—crafted from sound-absorbing materials like high-density PET felt, wool, or cork—allow for dynamic spatial reorganization.

They serve a dual function: providing visual privacy and dampening the “bloom” of background noise in open-plan settings. Often designed with organic curves rather than rigid angles, they reinforce the fluid nature of the Bürolandschaft (office landscape) concept. This allows facility managers to instantly reshape the workspace, creating temporary “focus pods” or collaborative zones as team needs evolve, all while maintaining a softer, warmer aesthetic than traditional cubicles.

Circulation Paths

Circulation paths are the “desire lines” of the interior landscape. Rejecting the rigid efficiency of straight, hospital-like corridors, these paths meander organically through the workspace, curving around collaborative islands and softscaping features.

This intentional irregularity mimics a nature trail, subtly shifting the user’s pace from a rushed march to a strolling rhythm. By disrupting the line of sight, winding paths reduce visual fatigue and creating a sense of discovery. Functionally, they are designed to engineer “chance collisions”—spontaneous interactions between colleagues from different departments—turning simple transit into a tool for cross-functional culture building.

The Goal

To break down hierarchy (democratizing the space), improve communication, and increase employee well-being through Biophilic Design (the innate human need to connect with nature).

2. The Two Scales Office Landscape Architecture

In the modern Nairobi context, this field operates on two distinct scales. You likely interface with both:

A. The Macro Scale (Exterior)

This is traditional Landscape Architecture applied to corporate campuses (e.g., Tatu City, UN Gigiri).

Scope: Courtyards, parking lot shading, rooftop gardens, and “breakout pods” (gazebos with Wi-Fi).

Function: Stormwater management (drainage), heat reduction, and providing “Third Spaces” for informal meetings.

B. The Micro Scale (Interior)

This is often called “Interior Plantscaping.”

• Scope: Atriums, reception living walls, and desk-side planters.
• Function: Air purification, noise reduction (plants absorb sound), and visual relief from screens.

4. A Brief History of Affice Landscape Architecture: The “Bürolandschaft” Movement

The Bürolandschaft (literally “Office Landscape”) movement was a radical departure from the rigid, factory-like rows of the early 20th-century office.

Founded in 1958 by the German brothers Eberhard and Wolfgang Schnelle (of the Quickborner Team), it emerged in post-war Germany as a rejection of “Taylorist” hierarchy. They believed the office layout should follow the “flow of communication,” not the grid of authority.

The Design Philosophy: Instead of fixed walls, the floor became an open, organic landscape. “Zones” were defined not by doors, but by loose clusters of desks, curved acoustic screens, and extensive potted plants.

Legacy: While it inadvertently paved the way for the modern cubicle (when companies adopted the “open” aspect but ignored the “human” aspect to save money), its core tenet—that a workspace should facilitate social interaction and flexibility—is the direct ancestor of today’s “Agile” and biophilic offices.

1. The “Big Three” Office Landscape Architecture Design Trends in Nairobi

For a professional in the aesthetics and design industry, the Office Landscape Architecture scene in Nairobi is currently one of the most exciting in East Africa. It has shifted rapidly from simple “beautification” (planting a few King Palms and trimming a hedge) to high-performance Biophilic Design that integrates water conservation, employee well-being, and brand identity.

Here is an overview of the current state of Office Landscape Architecture in Nairobi and its environs (including the emerging satellite business nodes).

Currently, high-end office projects in Nairobi are defined by three major movements:

Xeriscaping (Dry-Scaping):

With Nairobi’s fluctuating water supply, the era of thirsty English lawns is fading. Office Landscape architects are now prioritizing drought-tolerant, indigenous plants that require minimal irrigation. You will see more succulents, ornamental grasses (Pennisetum), and hardscaping (gravel/stone) replacing expansive grass patches.

The “Third Space” Courtyard:

Modern offices like Vienna Court on State House Crescent have revolutionized the central courtyard. It is no longer just a view; it is a functional workspace. Landscaping now includes outdoor power outlets, Wi-Fi enabled gazebos, and “breakout pods” surrounded by greenery to allow for outdoor meetings.

Vertical & Rooftop Greening:

With land prices in Upper Hill and Westlands at a premium, landscaping is going vertical. Green walls (using philodendrons and ferns) and accessible rooftop terraces are becoming standard for LEED-certified buildings to reduce the “Heat Island Effect” and provide staff recreation areas.

2. Notable Office Landscape Architecture Case Studies (Nairobi & Environs)

A. The Corporate Headquarters (Upper Hill & Westlands)

Coca-Cola Regional HQ (Upper Hill):

A benchmark project. The landscape architecture here was integral to the building’s concept. It features a Rooftop Garden (rare at the time of construction) that acts as insulation. The site utilizes extensive rainwater harvesting to maintain the lush, green “brand ribbon” effect without taxing the city water supply.

Britam Tower:

While famous for its height, its ground-level interaction is key. The design features a “prismatic” approach where the landscape softens the transition between the street and the massive glass atrium. It uses a mix of hardscaping and structured planting to handle high foot traffic.

B. The “Business Park” Node (The Environs)

Tatu City (Ruiru):

This represents the “New Nairobi” landscape. The landscaping here is master-planned on a massive scale. It moves away from the “compound” mentality to open, manicured streetscapes. The focus is on indigenous tree corridors that link office blocks with residential areas, creating a walkable “campus” feel similar to Silicon Valley.

Garden City Business Park (Thika Road):

The landscaping here successfully integrates retail and office. The use of water features (fountains and man-made streams) creates “white noise” to drown out the highway sound, creating a tranquil micro-climate for office workers.

C. The Future: Konza Technopolis

The “Parks and Open Space Design Guidelines” for Konza are setting a new standard. They specify 10 distinct landscape typologies, mandating the use of native savannah species that can survive without artificial irrigation, effectively embracing the local semi-arid ecology rather than fighting it.

3. The Office Landscape Architecture “Softscape” Palette (Plant Selection)

For your own knowledge, the following are the plants currently dominating the professional landscape scene in Nairobi.

This is a solid “starter list” that accurately reflects the current shift in Nairobi’s corporate landscape towards xeriscaping (low-water landscaping). However, to truly use this knowledge for your own projects, you need to understand the functional nuances—the “why” and the “watch out”—for each of these plants.

Here is a breakdown of that palette, adding the professional context (maintenance realities and design pairings) that Office landscape architects in Nairobi consider.

1. Office Landscape Architecture Structural Plants (The “Statement Pieces”)

These are your architectural anchors. They replace the need for statues or fountains.

Strelitzia nicolai (Wild Banana)

The “Why”: It screams “Tropical Modernism.” Its massive leaves create instant height and drama in double-volume atrium spaces (common in Upper Hill offices) or courtyard corners.

The Pro Tip: Beware the roots. In a small planter box or too close to a building foundation, its fleshy roots can be destructive. It also shreds in high wind, so it looks scruffy on windy rooftops. It is best for sheltered courtyards.

Best Pair: Underplant with Philodendron (Delicious Monster) to hide the messy base of the Strelitzia stems.

Dragon Tree (Dracaena marginata or Dracaena draco)

The “Why”: It is sculptural and clean. Unlike the Strelitzia, it doesn’t drop leaves constantly. It has a stark, silhouette-like quality that looks great against the glass façade of a modern office block.

The Pro Tip: It is slow-growing and expensive to buy mature. If a client wants an instant “wow” factor, this will eat up a large chunk of the budget.

Best Pair: White pebbles or gravel at the base. The contrast between the grey trunk, green leaves, and white stone is a classic “clean corporate” look.

2. Ground Cover (The “Lawn Killers”)

Nairobi offices are moving away from English grass (kikuyu grass) because it requires too much water and mowing. These are the replacements.

Ophiopogon (Mondo Grass)

The “Why”: It creates a dark, lush, forest-floor look that never needs mowing. There are two main types used in Nairobi: the standard green and the “Black Mondo” (which is actually dark purple).

The Pro Tip: It is slow to spread. If you plant them too far apart to save money, the bare soil in between will grow weeds. You must plant them densely (high initial cost) for a low-maintenance future.

Best Pair: Plant it around light-colored stepping stones. The dark grass makes the stone “pop.”

Wedelia (Sphagneticola trilobata)

The “Why”: The “Contractor’s Savior.” It grows incredibly fast, covers ugly soil instantly, and has a cheerful yellow flower. It is cheap and bulletproof.

The Pro Tip: It is invasive. It will climb over other plants, smother them, and escape into neighboring plots. It requires aggressive “edging” (trimming) to keep it in its designated box. Never recommend this for a delicate garden; only for large, rough patches that need covering.

3. Screening (The “Green Walls”)

Used to hide the parking lot or separate the “Manager’s Terrace” from the general staff area.

Bamboo (Golden or Green)

The “Why”: The fastest way to get a 3-meter high visual barrier. It sounds great in the wind (acoustic benefit) and looks Zen.

The Pro Tip: The Mess. Bamboo sheds leaves constantly. If placed near a pristine office corridor or a tiled entrance, the cleaning staff will hate it. It is best for the perimeter of the property, not the front door.

Best Pair: Heliconia planted in front of it adds a splash of color to break up the monotony of the vertical bamboo poles.

Heliconia (Lobster Claw)

The “Why”: It provides a dense, leafy screen with bright red/orange/yellow flowers that last a long time. It feels very “lush” compared to bamboo.

The Pro Tip: It is thirsty. Unlike the Aloe or Sansevieria, if the irrigation system fails for a week in January (Nairobi’s hot season), the Heliconia will brown and droop immediately.

4. Xeric (The “Indestructibles”)

These are for the hottest, driest spots—usually the strip of land between the office wall and the tarmac parking lot where the heat radiates.

Sansevieria (Snake Plant/Mother-in-Law’s Tongue)

The “Why”: It is structural, vertical, and modern. It looks just as good in a pot as it does in the ground. It thrives on neglect.

The Pro Tip: Variegation matters. The yellow-edged variety (Laurentii) is more popular for offices because it looks brighter. The dark green variety can look a bit “bushy” and lost in the shade.

Best Pair: Aloe varieties. Mixing the vertical spikes of Sansevieria with the rosette shape of Aloes creates a nice geometric contrast.

The Missing “Power Players”

To fully round out your knowledge, there are two plants missing from your list that are absolutely dominant in Nairobi corporate landscapes right now:

1. Dietes bicolor (African Iris): You will see this everywhere. It has strappy leaves like grass but beautiful yellow/white flowers with dark spots. It is used as a “filler” because it is tidy, doesn’t spread aggressively like Wedelia, and flowers often.

2. Agapanthus (African Lily): The blue or white flowering balls are a staple. They are often planted in long rows along driveways to guide visitors to the entrance.