Interview Special - Workspace Design Show 2026 London

About this episode

The episode features a panel discussion on biophilic design at the Workspace Design Show in London, exploring its impact on modern architecture and interior spaces.

At The Workspace Design Show at the Business Design Centre in London this year, I had the privilege of chairing a dynamic panel featuring industry leaders Nicola Tomkins Head of Design for Major Projects at Overbury, Lidia Johansen Associate Environmental Consultant at chapmanbdsp and Paulo Ribeiro Head of Interior Design at Aecom. It was a lively and dynamic discussion to a full house at the show. We looked at how we could reframe Biophilia, moving from Aesthetic to a Performance System. We explored how through collaboration, sourcing and configuring the brief early we can accelerate biophilic design specification. After the panel I took my camera and mic and interviews other biophilic design experts visiting the show to ask them to share their insights on the show and biophilic design, emphasising its critical role in modern architecture and interior spaces. Biophilic Design reconnects us back to nature, to our roots, to what makes us truly human. If you've ever wondered why natural elements in our spaces feel so vital, or how design can heal and inspire us, here’s what you’ll discover: how biophilic design transforms spaces, the science proving its benefits, and the urgent…

People in this episode

Host: Vanessa Champion

Guests: Nicola Tomkins, Lidia Johansen, Paulo Ribeiro

Topics covered

• biophilic design
• workspace design
• mental health
• architecture
• interior design
• environmental design

Keywords

• biophilia
• workspace design
• natural elements
• mental health
• performance system
• collaboration
• interior spaces

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Overbury, chapmanbdsp, Aecom

Places: London

More episodes of Journal of Biophilic Design

• Is Colour the Missing Link in Nature-Centric Biophilic Spaces · April 24, 2026 · 57 min
• The Future of Material Innovation and Biophilic Design · April 14, 2026 · 40 min
• The Biophilic Imperative - From Sustainability to Regeneration · April 10, 2026 · 44 min
• The New Stone Age · March 26, 2026 · 41 min
• How to Fast-track a Regenerative Future · March 8, 2026 · 41 min
• We spend 90% of our time indoors. Here’s how Biophilic Design can make that healthier. · March 3, 2026 · 58 min