At Residencial Palau, nature has been incorporated into the communal areas to create more welcoming, pleasant spaces that respond to the needs of older people.

Communal and social areas are places where residents can relax, talk, receive visitors and spend time together. To make these spaces feel warmer and more inviting, planters with natural vegetation were introduced, bringing life, colour and texture while helping to create a more personal and human atmosphere.

The planters feature self-watering systems that simplify maintenance and help keep the plants healthy over time.

A scientific review published in 2024 suggests that horticultural interventions may support aspects such as self-esteem and self-efficacy among older people, although further research is still needed to confirm and better understand these benefits.

At Residencial Palau, we are carrying out a specific study using neuroscience tools to analyse the contribution of biophilia to the space and how it may influence residents’ experience and well-being.

This project allows us to go beyond simply introducing vegetation and to objectively study the relationship between nature, design and well-being. The aim is to generate knowledge that can help create more natural, welcoming and people-centred senior living environments.

Client: Residencial Palau
Sector: Senior living
Location: Barcelona
Solution: Planters with natural vegetation and self-watering systems
Application: Integration of nature into communal and social areas