Biophilic Design for a Landmark Learning Environment
Background & Challenge
Edith Cowan University (ECU) partnered with Indoor Plant Solutions Western Australia to bring greenery throughout its new Joondalup campus while enhancing key learning and communal spaces. The project formed part of a major, active construction site delivered alongside Multiplexand represents a significant architectural landmark for Western Australia.
The building features bold colours, strong green tones and distinctive architectural detailing throughout carpets, joinery and interior finishes, creating a visually striking environment that required a considered and restrained planting approach.
The brief focused on enhancing the interior environment without overshadowing the architectural elements. Any plants introduced needed to work cohesively with the existing colour palette, soften the built environment and add warmth and visual interest while supporting functionality for students and staff.
One of the key considerations was coordinating site access. All our staff were required to be escorted through secure access points, making careful planning essential to keep the project moving. Being an ongoing construction site, full PPE was mandatory and all work had to be delivered safely within these constraints.
Despite these factors, the project ran smoothly due to detailed planning, clear communication and strong collaboration between Indoor Plant Solutions, Multiplex and ECU facility managers. The installation was completed over two days with no major challenges, reflecting the team’s experience working within live construction environments.
Our Solution
The Indoor Plant Solutions Western Australia team delivered a tailored plant solution that responded directly to the architectural intent of the space. A combination of joinery-integrated planters and freestanding elements, such as Tambour Units was used to elevate existing materials and colours while enhancing the atmosphere of learning and breakout areas.
Custom top plates were cut and installed across 32 joinery pieces to ensure a seamless, purpose-built finish that aligned with surrounding furniture and storage. Low-height planters were strategically positioned to define zones within open learning areas while maintaining clear sightlines and flexibility of movement. Larger feature planters anchored key spaces and added visual depth without overwhelming the design.
Plant selections balanced structured shapes with softer, more relaxed foliage, letting the greenery enhance the bold interior palette rather than compete with it. Hardwood chip topping was applied throughout to complement the building’s colours and finishes, ensuring cohesion between planting, joinery and desks. In total, approximately 600 plants were installed.
This project was delivered through close collaboration between the Indoor Plant Solutions teams across states. Our Western Australia team completed site walkthroughs and managed installation, while the New South Wales team supported design development. This cross-state coordination reinforces Indoor Plant Solutions’ strong operational processes and open communication across its national network.
Featured Products & Focus
This project showcases our ability to deliver tailored plant designs for complex educational environments, combining custom joinery solutions with feature planting. The installation included Tambour and Joinery units with custom top plates, Pizza Slice low-height storage planters for zoning, a large feature planter within an informal learning space and indoor/outdoor planters to support transitional areas.
Durable plant species that were also visually impactful and suitable for high-traffic educational settings. These included Zanzibar Gem, Pothos, Aglaonema, Kentia Palm, Ficus Lyrata, Pothos Totems and large external trees. All selections are non-toxic and installed using secure potting methods to ensure safety and long-term performance. We also provided careful, ongoing maintenance to keep the plants looking their best.
Benefits
Introducing indoor plants into educational environments provides both immediate and long-term benefits for students, staff and visitors. At Edith Cowan University, the greenery enhances the visual appeal of shared spaces while supporting a healthier and more engaging learning environment.
Indoor plants help improve air quality by filtering pollutants and increasing oxygen levels, contributing to overall wellbeing across campus. The presence of greenery supports concentration and cognitive performance, helping students remain focused during study and collaboration. They also help reduce stress and anxiety, creating calmer spaces that positively influence mood and comfort in high-use areas.
Additionally, by applying biophilic design principles, the installation strengthens the connection between nature and the built environment. Learning spaces enriched with natural elements have been shown to improve memory retention, reduce mental fatigue and support creativity and problem-solving. For ECU, the result is a more welcoming, professional campus environment that supports daily use by students and staff.
The client was extremely pleased with the outcome, and the ECU facility management team were highly accommodating throughout the process. Their collaboration was a key contributor to the project’s success.
If you’re looking to transform your workplace or learning space with thoughtfully integrated greenery, contact our team for a FREE consultation today.