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A Farm helped a property stand out in a competitive market
A property development and investment company wanted to differentiate its buildings, create a better experience for existing occupiers and introduce a sustainability initiative with a visible, practical impact.
Square Mile Farms installed Farmstands within the buildings, creating productive green spaces where leafy greens are grown onsite and regular harvests give occupiers an opportunity to come together.
The project has since expanded across multiple locations.
The challenge:
Creating a distinctive and sustainable building amenity
The client wanted to create something distinctive that would appeal to both existing and prospective occupiers. They also wanted the initiative to make a contribution to their sustainability ambitions.
The challenge was therefore to find an amenity that could combine building differentiation, occupier experience and sustainability.
The solution:
Growing fresh food
inside the building
Square Mile Farms installed two Farmstands in the first property. Later, a third was added and the concept was expanded to further locations.
The Farmstands are a productive form of biophilia. Fresh crops grow inside the building and provide a focal point for harvest events, allowing occupiers to interact with the Farm, learn about the food and connect with others.
Opportunities for occupier engagement
The Farmstands provide a natural focal point for community activities within the buildings.
Regular harvests give occupiers a shared activity outside their usual working routines, creating opportunities for people to gather around the Farm and connect with one another.
This turns the installation from a physical amenity into an ongoing experience that changes as crops are grown and harvested.
Combining sustainability with occupier experience
The project demonstrates how sustainability initiatives within commercial property don't have to sit separately from the occupier experience. Indoor Farms can bring food production into the building, making sustainability visible while introducing biophilia and creating opportunities for participation.
For property owners and asset managers, that means one installation can contribute to several objectives at once: sustainability, occupier engagement, community and building differentiation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can an indoor Farm benefit a commercial property?
An indoor Farm can combine productive biophilia with occupier engagement and visible sustainability. It can also provide a distinctive amenity that helps a building create a sense of identity.
Can an indoor Farm help with occupier engagement?
Yes. In this project, regular harvests created a shared activity for building occupants.
Can indoor Farms be rolled out across several buildings?
Yes. This project expanded beyond its original location and ultimately included nine Farmstands across four sites.
Are indoor Farms just decorative planting?
No. Unlike decorative planting, Square Mile Farms' installations grow edible crops. The Farms can therefore combine biophilic design with food production and activities such as communal harvests.
Could a bespoke office Farm work in your project?
This type of installation could be relevant if you're:
An asset manager looking for a distinctive amenity that combines sustainability, occupier experience and community.
A workplace design team looking to integrate edible biophilia into communal or shared spaces.
A facilities team looking for ways to encourage participation and connection between people within a building.
A corporate occupier looking to introduce a visible sustainability initiative that employees can actively engage with.
A food services team exploring opportunities to connect people more closely with food production and locally grown ingredients.
Square Mile Farms can introduce productive growing spaces into individual buildings or develop a model that can be replicated across multiple locations.
From the Farm installation itself to ongoing crop care and harvest events, the aim is to create an amenity that continues to give people a reason to engage with it long after installation.
Talk to Square Mile Farms about introducing indoor Farms across your buildings.