The Bureau for Botanical Benefits

This community-centred project was developed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on mental well-being and social reconnection through nature. In response, my partner and I designed The Bureau for Botanical Benefits — a public building that combined indoor nature with educational and communal functions. The design featured a glass atrium housing a multi-sensory botanical garden, paired with a flexible auditorium space arranged with 2-metre spaced seating to allow for safe gatherings.

Events, talks, and workshops would serve to reconnect isolated individuals with both the natural world and each other, offering a restorative environment during a time of widespread uncertainty and separation. The building's biophilic design principles were informed by research into the psychological benefits of nature exposure, particularly during periods of stress and isolation.