We’re thrilled to share that Oakland Green Interiors won a Silver Award at the 2026 Biophilic Design Awards for our work at Green|House Columbus! The award recognizes our project in the Cut Floral, Artificial Foliage & Artificial Floral Work category. We’re especially proud to be the only Central Ohio interior plant design company honored in this year’s program.
Green|House Columbus is a wellness-focused luxury residential community built around daily connection with nature. Our team brought that vision to life across the building’s many shared spaces. We combined live plants, replica foliage, moss, and an exterior artificial green wall to create a cohesive experience. From the lobby to the fitness areas, every installation connects residents with nature!
Designing with Artificial Foliage
A majority of the project’s most dramatic features use replica plants. These installations required horticultural expertise and careful composition to achieve a natural, intentional look. We selected each plant and placement to complement its surroundings.
Two 12-foot multi-trunk replica olive trees anchor the main amenity space. Their expansive canopies bring scale and visual impact to the double-height room. In the “Secret Garden”, a replica Ficus benjamina creates a focal point amongst a u-shaped area of custom built-in planters. The gym features a custom curved plant wall with ferns, tropical foliage, and trailing plants. Our team composed the wall by hand in our warehouse before installing it on the curved architectural surface.
These installations demonstrate how replica foliage can support biophilic design. Some environments present challenges for live plants, including limited light, high humidity, and heavy foot traffic. In these spaces, artificial foliage offers a dependable way to introduce natural forms and textures. It also maintains the intended look without the same growing and maintenance requirements as live plants.
A Biophilic Experience from the Outside In
The project extends beyond the building’s interior. An 878-square-foot exterior plant wall spans W. Broad Street and S. May Avenue. The wall features 123 linear feet of greenery and about 850 hand-placed stems. It brings a natural element to the surrounding streetscape and offers residents and passersby a visual connection to nature.
Inside, each space offers a distinct experience. The olive trees create a sense of openness and shelter in the main lounge. The Secret Garden offers a more intimate place to pause and recharge. In the yoga studio, live plants bring genuine living elements into the space. The gym wall introduces natural forms and textures into the workout environment. Across the building, layered foliage, cascading plants, moss, and varied leaf shapes add depth and visual interest.
One of our favorite details appears in the gathering space. A message carved into the warm wood fascia reads, “Nature is as close to God as one can be.” Below it, a planted trough overflows with palms, ferns, and tropical foliage. This detail captures the philosophy behind the project: nature isn’t an accessory at Green|House Columbus. It’s part of the experience.
Why This Project Stood Out
- 12-foot replica olive trees create an architectural-scale indoor canopy.
- Custom curved gym plant wall combines ferns, tropical foliage, and trailing plants.
- 878-square-foot exterior green wall features 850 hand-placed stems.
- Live and replica plant combinations address the needs of each environment.
- Custom staging and container work coordinate with the building’s architectural millwork.
- Horticultural expertise guides the selection and composition of realistic artificial foliage.
- Biophilic design principles such as Prospect, Refuge, Visual Connection with Nature, and Complexity & Order shape the resident experience.
- Cohesive plant design connects multiple floors and amenity spaces.
- Long-term performance and durability guide decisions about materials, placement, and plant types.
Green|House Columbus shows what’s possible when plant design becomes part of the architecture and resident experience. Each installation serves a purpose. Some create a dramatic first impression, while others offer a quiet retreat or soften a busy fitness space. Together, they extend the building’s connection to nature into the surrounding neighborhood.
We’re honored to receive this Silver Award in the 2026 Biophilic Design Awards. We’re equally proud of our team, partners, and client for bringing this ambitious vision to life!
