Plant-based.space is a strategic framework developed by Monomoy for use by our clients. It simplifies a set of forward-looking objectives to create effective outcomes.

Why plant-based.space?

Concepts like “organic,” “free from,” and – perhaps most intriguing of all – “plant-based” have been used by companies to create alternative products with large markets, loyal consumers, and big profits. It is perhaps little wonder, given their success elsewhere, that such terms are entering the lexicon of green buildings and the built environment more generally.

We like “plant-based” not just because it is well known (which it is) and highly valued (that, too), but also because it communicates a goodness you know without asking. At a time when net zero carbon and healthy buildings are atop occupier lists, buildings that can align with this concept have a mainstream winning strategy.

As we enter a period defined by “zero” (carbon, water, waste, plastics … you name it, the list is only going to grow), we think nature sets the example. After all, plants have been at this (by design and for free) since the beginning of time.

The five things that plants do — use 100% renewables, detoxify the environment, consume water carefully, nourish human health, and biodegrade without harm — are a masterclass on the future of the built environment.

And the five things that plants need — natural light, fresh air, clean water, organic materials, and open space — read like an A-list occupier wish list. That’s not just us talking, it’s also the Harvard Business Review.

Simple “Stickiness” 

The idea of a plant-based approach to buildings is not new. “Biophilic” (or more nature-driven) design has been around for decades. “Biomimicry” is another term —again decades old — that has been used to define how inanimate objects (like buildings) can more sustainably perform operations by copying natural principles, such as the circular economy.

Plant-based.space is an emerging concept but we think it has several advantages over biophilic or biomimicry – not least of which is in the name. Biophilia and biomimicry are derived from science and its more technical literature and are not immediately apparent to a wide audience. Plant-based on the other hand, is one of the world’s fastest-growing concepts. 

A construction and operation strategy based on plants is not as far-fetched as it may initially sound. Ideas that have been at the fringe, including net zero carbon and wellness, are now top selling points for buildings. We believe that a plant-based approach is the next idea in real estate to move from theoretical concept to mainstream acceptance.