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 create 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

The primary goal of Office Landscape Architecture is to reshape the workplace dynamic. By dissolving rigid walls and corner offices, it democratizes the environment, replacing “power hierarchies” with open, collaborative zones that facilitate organic communication.

Beyond function, it prioritizes the human psychological condition. Through Biophilic Design, it reintegrates the natural world—via greenery, natural light, and organic textures—into the sterile built environment. This connection addresses an innate biological need, directly reducing cortisol levels (stress) and boosting cognitive performance, ultimately creating a workspace that sustains rather than drains its occupants.

2. The Two Scales Office Landscape Architecture

In the modern Nairobi context, this field operates on two distinct scales:

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 Office 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’s corporate landscapes are rapidly abandoning the colonial legacy of English Kikuyu grass. Thirsty and labor-intensive, traditional lawns are being replaced by “Lawn Killers”—aggressive, drought-tolerant ground covers that offer texture without the maintenance.

The most popular replacement is Asystasia gangetica (Creeping Foxglove). This indigenous powerhouse spreads rapidly, choking out weeds and producing delicate white or purple flowers year-round with zero mowing.

For sun-drenched areas, Plectranthus neochilus (Lobster Bush) is the go-to. It is a succulent, aromatic herb that forms a dense, grey-green mat, requiring minimal water and repelling pests.

For color contrast, Alternanthera (Little Ruby) provides a deep purple carpet that breaks up the monotony of green. These species transform the ground plane from a resource-drain into a self-sustaining, colorful architectural feature.

3. Screening: The Living Partitions

“Green Walls” function as soft architecture, providing essential privacy and visual relief in corporate environments. Unlike harsh fencing, living screens utilize verticality to obscure unsightly views, such as sun-baked parking lots, while simultaneously mitigating noise and trapping dust.

For internal zoning, such as sequestering a “Manager’s Terrace,” dense planting creates a psychological boundary that feels organic rather than exclusionary. Fast-growing species like Clumping Bamboo, columnar Juniper, or trellised vines offer immediate height. These living partitions define spatial hierarchy, transforming necessary separation into a biophilic design element that softens hardscape lines and enhances the overall office atmosphere.

4. The Indestructibles: Xeric Solutions for the “Hell Strip”

The “Indestructible” Xerics are the ultimate solution for the harshest microclimate in corporate landscaping: the scorched strip between reflective office glass and baking blacktop. In this zone, where radiated heat creates an oven-like environment, standard greenery withers.

Landscape architects deploy structural powerhouses here—Agave, Yucca, and Sedum. These species possess thick, moisture-retaining skins and deep root systems, allowing them to thrive on neglect. Their sculptural, geometric forms provide a modern, clean aesthetic that contrasts sharply with the asphalt. By requiring zero irrigation, these xeric warriors turn a liability into a low-maintenance, sustainable architectural feature.

The Missing “Power Players”

To fully round out your knowledge, there are two plants missing from the 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.