Aquarium Therapy

In 2019, ViDERE collaborated with Birmingham-based web design and digital marketing agency Lightbox Digital to introduce a planted aquarium into their newly expanded office headquarters in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.

The project formed part of a wider exploration into how biophilic design can be used to improve the workplace experience. Positioned as a focal point within the office environment, the aquarium was designed to introduce movement, colour, biodiversity, and a continual visual connection with nature into a fast-paced creative workspace.

Beyond its visual impact, the aquarium became the centrepiece of a workplace wellbeing study examining the effects of aquarium exposure on stress and anxiety levels amongst employees. During the pilot study, participants spent ten minutes observing the aquarium whilst measurements of heart rate and blood pressure were recorded before and after each session. The results demonstrated an average reduction in blood pressure of 15.6% and an average reduction in heart rate of 3%, whilst participants consistently reported feeling calmer and more relaxed following their interaction with the aquarium.

The findings generated significant media interest and contributed to wider discussions around biophilic design, environmental psychology, and the role natural systems can play in supporting human wellbeing. The project remains an important milestone in ViDERE’s ongoing research into the relationship between nature, design, and the human experience.

More than simply an office aquarium, the installation demonstrated how living ecosystems can become valuable tools for enhancing workplace culture, supporting employee wellbeing, and reconnecting people with nature in the environments where they spend most of their time.