Across LZF’s many projects and endeavours, you will find a tangible link with nature. LZF’s organic lighting collections are, in many ways, a direct reflection of nature’s bounty. Every handmade wood veneer lamp works well with natural patterns and materials. In fact from its inception, LZF was inspired by the work of Karl Blossfeldt, a German photographer known for his intimate portraits of plants and living things.

Turning the accepted wisdom of the urban jungle as a densely packed, concrete metropolis on its head, the 21st century urban jungle places a firm emphasis on greenery in the home and workplace. Perhaps more than ever, nature is a prominent factor in modern-day living and the urban jungle is a trend that shows no signs of abatement (for instance, think of the exponential increase in the use of plant walls by architects and designers, across private and commercial ventures).

While enjoying plants at home is hardly a new phenomenon, a vastly increased emphasis on city-living has arguably reinvigorated our interest in bringing nature indoors. With more than fifty percent of the world’s population living in urban areas (Un.org, 2017), for many people, having plants at home is their only direct access to foliage and vegetation. Thus in a bid to increase interaction with nature, we tend to engage in a simulation, forging our own indoor urban jungle environment.

With plants—and nature generally—we tend to feel happier and healthier. Indeed, according to the theory of ‘biophilia’, people have an innate tendency to seek connections with nature. Writing on the subject, American biologist E. O. Wilson suggested ‘the tendency of humans to focus on and to affiliate with nature and other life-forms has, in part, a genetic basis,’ (Encyclopedia Britannica, 2017). In essence, nature enhances our well-being. Ergo, adding anything from a few simple plants to a full-scale plant wall to one’s abode (or workplace) will work wonders for the mind, body and soul.

By Gerard McGuickin @WalnutGrey