Have you ever walked into a beautiful hotel lobby or restaurant and immediately felt calm, inspired, or simply happy without knowing exactly why?
It may not be the furniture or the lighting. More often than people realize, it’s the presence of nature.
This concept is known as biophilic design, the practice of incorporating natural elements into the built environment to strengthen our connection to nature. Whether through trees, botanical installations, organic textures, flowing forms, natural colors, or daylight, biophilic design has become one of the fastest-growing movements in architecture, hospitality, healthcare, and workplace design.
Research continues to show that environments inspired by nature can reduce stress, improve mood, encourage people to linger longer, and even increase productivity. Studies have also found that biophilic design can help lower blood pressure, improve concentration, and encourage people to spend more time in a space—making it just as valuable for businesses as it is for the people who enjoy them. Whether the botanicals are living or professionally crafted replicas, our brains respond to the colors, patterns, and organic forms found in nature. It’s one of the reasons thoughtfully designed spaces leave such a lasting impression.
One of the most exciting examples of this philosophy can now be found inside the new Universal Helios Grand Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort.
What many people may not realize is that one of the hotel’s signature botanical installations was created by my company, The Silk Thumb, a design studio based in Highwood, Illinois. As owner and lead designer, I had the privilege of leading the project from concept through installation, working alongside architects, engineers, designers, and construction teams to bring the vision to life on-site in Orlando.
Together, we created a spectacular 60-foot bougainvillea ceiling that winds throughout the restaurant, along with three custom olive trees, each standing an impressive 14 feet tall with 14-foot canopies. Every branch was individually placed and shaped to recreate the beauty and character of mature Mediterranean olive trees, creating an immersive environment that feels both authentic and timeless.
The goal wasn’t simply to decorate a space.
It was to create an experience.
Great biophilic design tells a story. It transports people, evokes emotion, and strengthens the connection between architecture and nature. At the Helios Grand Hotel, every botanical element was thoughtfully designed to complement the Mediterranean-inspired architecture, creating an atmosphere that feels warm, welcoming, and unforgettable.
Creating installations of this scale requires much more than selecting beautiful plants.
Every botanical element must integrate seamlessly into the architecture while meeting strict commercial standards for fire safety, durability, and long-term performance in high-traffic environments. At The Silk Thumb, we collaborated closely with architects, engineers, designers, and project teams to ensure each botanical element became part of the built environment—not an afterthought. Every decision balanced creativity with technical performance. Each tree, branch, and botanical element was selected and positioned for realism, while materials and finishes were chosen to maintain consistency across large spaces and appear natural whether viewed from across the room or just inches away.
This is why more hotels, restaurants, healthcare facilities, office buildings, and commercial spaces are embracing biophilic design. Professionally designed botanical installations provide year-round beauty without irrigation systems, seasonal replacement, or ongoing maintenance, while still delivering the emotional benefits people associate with nature.
For me, the most rewarding part of projects like these isn’t simply creating something beautiful.
It’s knowing that thoughtfully designed botanical environments influence how people experience a space. Families gather beneath those olive trees. Guests celebrate milestones under the bougainvillea canopy. Travelers create lasting memories in spaces intentionally designed to inspire comfort, relaxation, and wonder.
Biophilic design reminds us that our connection to nature doesn’t disappear simply because we’re indoors. When natural forms, colors, textures, and botanical elements are thoughtfully incorporated into architecture, they transform buildings into experiences.
Whether it’s a towering olive tree in a luxury hotel, a welcoming corporate lobby, a healthcare facility, or your own home, incorporating nature-inspired design isn’t simply about making a space more beautiful, it’s about creating places where people feel happier, healthier, and more connected to the world around them.
Pictured here is one of my favorite memories from this project. Last month, I had the privilege of taking my daughter, Savannah, on a summer vacation to Epic Universe to show her the Universal Helios Grand Hotel and the installation my team and I created. Dining beneath the bougainvillea and olive trees we designed is a memory we’ll cherish forever, and it’s incredibly rewarding to know they’ll be enjoyed by guests for many years to come.
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