Interior Landscapes
Fresh Air
RIOS Ideas | Vol. 1
Design is never without story Design is never without story. It connects people to each other and the world around us. Together we work beyond boundaries to reveal, explore, and invent designs that amplify experiences.
RIOS was founded in 1985 as a design collective working beyond boundaries to inventively combine disciplines and amplify the impact of design. This innate understanding led to an ethos of design as a continuum, a notion that defined transdisciplinary practice and a body of work that celebrates the connection between people and place. The practice operates at the intersection of architecture, landscape, urban planning, interior design, graphics and signage, exhibit, and product design to inform design at all types and scales — from plates to parks. We believe, fundamentally, that design is better when you think inclusively about ways to solve a problem and we practice this way within our studios and interdisciplinary teams. We are problem-solvers, innovators, and creative thinkers. This proclivity can be seen in the offshoots of RIOS, like notNeutral and Guillermo, but also in our unshakable nature as storytellers revealing the potential each project has to celebrate our diversity and humanity. Our work is irreversibly connected to the narrative of place and the complex order of human culture, creating solutions that are joyful, authentic, and unexpected. Each project is a genuine expression of the important stories that connect us and reveal location, ecology, culture, and ethnography.
RIOS has been recognized for skill and design excellence across the broad spectrum of design disciplines, including as a finalist for the Smithsonian’s Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for landscape architecture, and as Firm of the Year by the California Council of the American Institute of Architects. Our consistent body of unique design work and our redefinition of the boundaries of design practice has also led to numerous national and local AIA and ASLA awards, as well as recognition for graphics, interiors and furniture design. Our work has been featured in numerous publications, including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, Architecture, Architectural Record, Interior Design, Landscape Architecture and Metropolis. We treat the design intent and execution for every project as a solution unique to each client and to their programmatic requirements. Our clients often actively participate in the creative process. This client- focus has allowed us to produce a consistently high quality body of work which displays a stylistic range as broad as our client list.
Blurring the Bounda
e aries RIOS brings an ethos of experimentation into landscape designs for the home and workplace that blur the boundaries between outside and in. Our process for creating habitats in interior spaces fuses research with innovative design to create unexpected, beautiful, and thriving interior gardens.
Purposeful PlaceMaking Vibrant Vibrant Gathering Gathering Spaces Spaces
From the Houseplant to Indoor Nature The houseplant evolved from a luxurious rarity in 4th century China, to conservatory collections of 17th century Age of Exploration England, then the fern-filled parlors of Victorian England. Dry, dark, and stuffy environs were enlivened with tropical specimens, forced bulbs, orangeries, and portable flowers. As garden visits were popularized and democratized, so too was the desire to bring nature indoors for city dwellers. Benefits of Interior Landscape Beyond the aesthetic and olfactory delight bestowed by indoor plants, quantifiable health benefits abound. RIOS approaches interior plants not just as an aesthetic placement, but with an intent to create healthier interior spaces. Rating systems such as the WELL Building Standard encourage the installation of interior landscapes to increase oxygen levels, purify the air, and reduce airborne dust — resulting in increased productivity, focus, and workplace wellbeing.
Placemaking Placemaking
Encourages Encourages Engagement Engagement
Mental Health Mental Health ++Wellness Wellness
Noise Noise Reducing Reducing
Community Community Building Building Heightens Heightens Productivity Productivity
Benefits of Benefits of Interior Interior Landscape Landscape Natural Natural Beauty Beauty
More More Comfortable Comfortable Spaces Spaces
Stress Stress Relieving Relieving
Calming Calming
Encourages Encourages Exploration Exploration
Sense of Sense of Play Play ++ Delight Delight
Replenishing Replenishing
Air Purification Purification
Interior Landscape Forest Warehouse Site conditions Installation SF Space height Built-in vs. Movable Public vs. Private Aspect /Solar Orient. / Footcandles Installation budget Maintenance Drainage available Light available Water available Electricity available Connection to place Designed ecosystem Imagined Ecosystem Biophillic design
100 Sq Ft. 25’ Built-in Private Indoor / Min Footcandles Medium High Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Plant Health Conditions Maintenance schedule Grow light Light spectrum/temp/footcandles Irrigation Types Drainage types Suppl. nutrients + frequency Enhanced airflow IPM Soil type Soil depth
Weekly None N/A Modular Modular Monthly macro, inline Yes Yes Lightweight 18"
Human Health Benefits Spatial Identity Air quality Circadian lighting Thermal comfort Humidity comfort Visual screening Olfactory filtering Leaf toxicity Particulate matter collection Aural screening Increased Productivity Increased movement Aesthetics Connection to nature
Yes Yes No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Checking our List Creating successful interior landscapes requires the careful calibration of an indoor ecosystem. We are not content with only the standard indoor plant offerings. We are compelled to find an indoor landscape aesthetic that reflects our commitment to our mission to find the unique story in every project. Indoor habitats can be fickle and require experimentation. A commitment to a living indoor habitat comes with some failure, some success, and a lot of learning. At RIOS, we navigated the various inputs for maximum plant health – including light, moisture, and temperature – for maximum human health and aesthetic benefits.
We Love to Experiment By infusing our design process with thorough research, innovative design, and ongoing evaluation, we create indoor ecosystems which continue to evolve for years to come.
Research
Discovery
Evaluate Environmental Parameters Assess Opportunities Define Goals
Conceptual Design Design Development Compose Plant Configurations
Design
Prototyping + Mock-ups Construction Docs
Construction Administration On-site Problem Solving Quality Control
Install
Review Each Plant Specimen
Study the Interior Landscape Health Evaluate Environmental Conditions + Maintenance Over Time Learn from Successes and Failures
Evaluate + Adapt
Innovate with us RIOS’ internal plant lab investigates the aesthetic, health, and wellness benefits of bio-immersion.
Who replaces a pollinator indoors?
How could bio-immersion transform the workplace?
Can a desert grow indoors?
Why would you grow cactus aeroponically?
S P
Never before have interior landscapes been so vital in connecting the urban dweller to the natural world. The following projects represent some of our favorite interior landscape designs.
Selected Projects
Forest Warehou
use A forest understory is transported into an urban warehouse Cognition Studios Location Los Angeles, CA Size 15,000 sq. ft.
Services Provided Interior Design and FFE Landscape Architecture Furniture Design Workplace Strategy
Each opportunity for an interior landscape presents a unique set of conditions. In this case, there was healthy airflow and a great deal of flexibility regarding soil weight. However, the planting zone had limited natural light so our design team installed an overhead grow light system. A fecund, temperate rain forest is transported from the Pacific Northwest to a warehouse space in Los Angeles. The star, a specimen Acer palmatum sourced from northern climes, cycles through growth and dormancy phases, as it would in its exterior environ – reminding visitors of seasonal cycles. The sculpted landform base rises from the office floor to become a bench for collaborative meeting space or resting.
Interior Landscape Cognition Studios Site conditions Installation SF Space height Built-in vs. Movable Public vs. Private Aspect /Solar Orient. / Footcandles Installation budget Maintenance Drainage available Light available Water available Electricity available Connection to place Designed ecosystem Imagined Ecosystem Biophillic design
100 Sq Ft. 25’ Built-in Private Indoor / Min Footcandles Medium High Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Plant Health Conditions Maintenance schedule Grow light Light spectrum/temp/footcandles Irrigation Types Drainage types Suppl. nutrients + frequency Enhanced airflow IPM Soil type Soil depth
Weekly None N/A Modular Modular Monthly macro, inline Yes Yes Lightweight 18"
Human Health Benefits Spatial Identity Air quality Circadian lighting Thermal comfort Humidity comfort Visual screening Olfactory filtering Leaf toxicity Particulate matter collection Aural screening Increased Productivity Increased movement Aesthetics Connection to nature
Yes Yes No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
THE HOUSE THAT SC
CIENCE BUILT
A visionary workplace where ecology is an essential part of design performance Vrbo Headquarters Location Austin, TX Size 318,000 sq. ft. 2,503 employees
Services Provided Interior Architecture Landscape Architecture Furniture Design Furniture Procurement Experiential Graphic Design Video Services Workplace Strategy
Interior landscapes function as connection points, or social nodes, to enhance collaboration. A hanging light array combines decorative pendants with dedicated grow lights, filling the double height space with a micro-coniferous forest. RIOS used a data-driven process for imagining and laying out the 315,000 sq. ft. workspace to both capture and communicate how Vrbo’s process of collaboration and daily work manifest in the programmed spaces and the experiential design. The workplace positions the Vrbo story by demonstrating the evidence of the science behind their experiences.
Using the scientific method, RIOS explored employee behavioral data and feedback to align the design with VRBO culture. Before the new workplace, teams frequently travelled in the office to find space to come together and collaborate, and it became apparent that travel was a pain point. The design solution rethinks intra-office travel by decoupling it from remote elevators and stairwells and placing it out in the open. By interconnecting every floor throughout the nine-floor workplace, the circuit fosters happier travel between teams and their important support spaces.
Arid
Inspiration
Arid
Distilled Archetypes Forest
Inspiration
Forest
HomeAway Landscape Concepts | March 15, 2018
Arid
Columns of vines on a “lava-lamp” kinetic base pay homage to towering kelp beds
Landscape Concepts | March 15, 2018
Reductive Landscapes
Reductive Landscapes Forest V2
HomeAway Landscape Concepts | March 15, 2018
Inspiration
A grove of tree snags are platforms for forest HomeAway regrowth
Basalt formations edge the installation
Beach sand dissolves the installation’s boundaries
Hoodoo-inspired towers emerge from a carpet of barrel cactus illuminated in golden light
Reductive Landscapes Coastal
Inspiration
Coastal
HomeAway Landscape Concepts | March 15, 2018
Distilled Archetypes
Forest
Inspiration
Pole cactus combine with pink volcanic stone stacks
HomeAway Landscape Concepts | March 15, 2018
Inspiration
Arid
Vertical Landscape
Pumice boulders break out of platform
Coastal
Inspiration
Inspiration
Wind erosion shapes and gouges a grass dune HomeAway
Landscape Concepts | March 15, 2018
Coastal
3D printed ceramic vessels reference geologic and manmade desert forms
Interior Landscape Properties Vrbo Headquarters Site conditions Installation SF Space height Built-in vs. Movable Public vs. Private Aspect /Solar Orient. / Footcandles Installation budget Maintenance Drainage available Light available Water available Electricity available Connection to place Habitat ecosystem Imagined Ecosystem Biophillic design
Aggregate 300 Sq Ft. Varies Built-in Private Indoor / Minimum Footcandles High High No Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Plant Health Conditions Maintenance schedule Grow light Light spectrum/temp/footcandles Irrigation Types Drainage types Suppl. nutrients + frequency Enhanced airflow IPM Soil type Soil depth
Weekly Hanging 250 FC Modular Modular Monthly macro manual No No Lightweight 18"
Human Health Benefits Spatial Identity Air quality Circadian lighting Thermal comfort Humidity comfort Visual screening Olfactory filtering Leaf toxicity Particulate matter collection Aural screening Increased Productivity Increased movement Aesthetics Connection to nature
Yes Yes No No Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HOME FIELD ADVA
D ANTAGE RIOS’ Horticultural Specialists installed an in-house testing ground using massive Philodendron evansii 3101 W. Exposition Place Location Los Angeles, CA Size 32,000 sq. ft.
Services Provided Interior Architecture Workplace Strategy Experiential Graphic Design
Philodendrons like a lot of airflow, and large barn doors nearby capture outdoor breezes. The large leaves help clean the air by collecting dirt and particulate matter, which is then removed through regular maintenance.
The 10’ high Philodendron specimens were installed in custom, salvaged, on-caster planters to move throughout the former warehouse space. Planters are placed together to compose instant living wall meeting rooms, and are easily re-positioned throughout the day to capture optimal breezes and ambient lighting.
RIOS' Interior Landscape Lab provides facilities necessary for the experimentation that is critical to expand the typical interior plant palette to bring habitats indoors. Our testing involves evaluation of site conditions and plant health, including light requirements, and irrigation/water harvest. We also experiment with soil nutrients and hand-pollination to expand our body of knowledge. The results from our research can be applied to developing interior landscapes for enhanced human well-being, providing the benefits of outdoor connection in our changing interior environments. Our loftiest goals let us imagine the next frontier and expanding these habitats in space and underwater. For now, though, you can find us in the Interior Landscape Lab perfecting our art of interior plant habitats.
Interior Landscape Properties 3101 W. Exposition Place Site conditions Installation SF Space height Built-in vs. Movable Public vs. Private Aspect/Solar Orient./footcandles Installation budget Maintenance Drainage available Light available Water available Electricity available Connection to place Designed ecosystem Imagined Ecosystem Biophillic design
Aggregate 500 Sq Ft. 23' Movable Private Indoor Low med no 100 fc ambient no no no no yes yes a///////aadfgfg
Plant Health Conditions Maintenance schedule Grow light Light spectrum/temp/footcandles Irrigation Types Drainage types Suppl. nutrients + frequency Enhanced airflow IPM Soil type Soil depth
bi-weekly no 100 FC modular modular Monthly macro manual yes yes Lightweight 6-30"
Human Health Benefits Spatial Identity Air quality Circadian lighting Thermal comfort Humidity comfort Visual screening Olfactory filtering Leaf toxicity Particulate matter collection Aural screening Increased Productivity Increased movement Aesthetics Connection to nature
Yes Yes No No No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
That LA S
Sparkle A workplace microcosm of LA’s musical culture, where the users are not only receptive, but are also communal and participatory Spotify Content Headquarters Location Los Angeles, CA Size 154,000 sq. ft. 625 Employees
Services Provided Interior Architecture Landscape Architecture Workplace Strateg Experiential Graphic Design Furniture Design
Our vision for the offices for a streaming music company was a multipurpose workplace inspired by Los Angeles’ music culture and the concept of a hackable work environment with a variety of collaboration areas. The project encompasses three buildings and 115,000 sq. ft. of versatile space, offering new opportunities to feature pop-up concerts and live music. The buildings provide opportunities to host established artists who may seek privacy from onlookers and paparazzi by offering a sense of refuge and relaxation through hospitality elements, such as private access to the production platform, a barista, and secluded green rooms.
Interior Landscape Spotify Content Headquarters Site conditions Installation SF Space height Built-in vs. Movable Public vs. Private Aspect / Solar Orient. / footcandles Installation budget Maintenance Drainage available Light available Water available Electricity available Connection to place Habitat ecosystem Imagined ecosystem Biophillic design
Aggregate 1000 Sq. Ft. Varies Varies Private Indoor / Some solar exposure High Low No Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Plant Health Conditions Maintenance schedule Grow light Light spectrum/temp/footcandles Irrigation Types Drainage types Suppl. nutrients + frequency Enhanced airflow IPM Soil type Soil depth
Weekly ground /wall / hanging N/A Modular Modular Monthly macro manual Yes Yes Lightweight Varies
Human Health Benefits Spatial identity Air quality Circadian lighting Thermal comfort Humidity comfort Visual screening Olfactory filtering Leaf toxicity Particulate matter collection Aural screening Increased Productivity Increased movement Aesthetics Connection to nature
Yes Yes No No No yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
The Work of We
ellness Helping a fast-growing company prioritize wellness as an expression of their brand GoodRx Headquarters Location Santa Monica, CA Size 78,000 sq. ft 520 Employees
Services Provided Interior Architecture Landscape Architecture Furniture Design Furniture Procurement Workplace Strategy Experiential Graphic Design
Recognized for providing equitable access to affordable prescriptions, GoodRx had the goal to transition their workplace from growing start-up to purpose-driven, while embodying their mission through community amenities and biophilic sensibilities.
Stitching together a singular walking loop, the project utilizes a main street path to navigate the space, uniting various programs into an experience that is filled with everchanging social spaces.
Interior Landscape GoodRx Headquarters Site conditions Installation SF Space height Built-in vs. Movable Public vs. Private Aspect/Solar Orient./footcandles Installation budget Maintenance Drainage available Light available Water available Electricity available Connection to place Habitat ecosystem Imagined Ecosystem Biophillic design
Aggregate 300 Sq. Ft. Varies Varies Private Low Footcandles Medium Low No Yes No Yes Yes No Yes Yes
Plant Health Conditions Maintenance schedule Grow light Light spectrum/temp/footcandles Irrigation Types Drainage types Suppl. nutrients + frequency Enhanced airflow IPM Soil type Soil depth
Weekly Ground / Wall / Hanging 500 Footcandles Modular Modular Monthly macro manual Yes Yes Lightweight Varies
Human Health Benefits Spatial Identity Air quality Circadian lighting Thermal comfort Humidity comfort Visual screening Olfactory filtering Leaf toxicity Particulate matter collection Aural screening Increased Productivity Increased movement Aesthetics Connection to nature
Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
COMMUN HEALI
NAL ING Interior healing gardens imbue a cancer research center with nature’s optimism The Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC Location Santa Monica, CA Size 160,000 sq. ft.
Services Provided Interior Architecture Landscape Architecture Experiential Graphic Design
Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC is a world-class cancer institute with a mission that encourages healthcare professionals to collaborate and interact in a nature-centric environment. The Institute’s founding director believes in fundamentally changing the soil of research to advance cancer treatment. The design employes the space and its overlap of treatment and research to generate a new strategy in the war against cancer. The design of the 84,000 sq. ft. interior was conceived around an environment where transparency and optimal collaboration inspire innovation of cancer research and transform patient wellness. By incorporating elements like biophilia, light, sound, and other sensorial strategies, the building connects to the healing components of nature to harness inspiration and create well-being. The design incorporates principles of nature. As a result, the natural environment informs the materials and open spatial experience. Wood, plants, and a rich palette of earth-toned fabrics throughout the interior evoke nature in an abstract way. The views to the outside and planted terraces revolutionize the indoor-outdoor experience, providing a compelling connection to nature and encouraging wellness.
By incorporating elements like biophilia, light, sound, and other sensory strategies, the building connects to the healing components of nature to harness inspiration.
Interior Landscape The Lawrence J. Ellison Institute for Transformative Medicine of USC Site conditions Installation SF Space height Built-in vs. Movable Public vs. Private Aspect/Solar Orient./footcandles Installation budget Maintenance Drainage available Light available Water available Electricity available Connection to place Habitat Ecosystem Imagined Ecosystem Biophillic design
Aggregate 1,500 Sq. Ft. Varies Built-in Private Some solar aspect High Medium Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Yes
Plant Health Conditions Maintenance schedule Grow light Light spectrum/temp/footcandles Irrigation Types Drainage types Suppl. nutrients + frequency Enhanced airflow IPM Soil type Soil depth
Weekly None N/A Modular Modular Monthly macro manual Yes Yes Lightweight Varies
Human Health Benefits Spatial Identity Air quality Circadian lighting Thermal comfort Humidity comfort Visual screening Olfactory filtering Leaf toxicity Particulate matter collection Aural screening Increased Productivity Increased movement Aesthetics Connection to nature
Yes Yes No No No Yes No Yes No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Los Angeles 3101 West Exposition Place Los Angeles, CA 90018 Austin 1711 E. Cesar Chavez St, Suite B Austin, TX 78702 Portland 2505 SE 11th Avenue, Suite 310 Portland, OR 97202 Boulder 1980 8th Street Boulder, CO 80302 London 68-80 Hanbury Street London E1 5JL, UK Singapore 1 Keong Saik Road The Working Capitol Singapore 089109 323. 785. 1800 RIOS.com