When You Fake Death to Avoid Arrest V0909 015
Biophilic Design in Interior Office Fit-Outs: What You Need to Know
An example of Biophilic Design in a modern setting for an interior office fit-out.
About Biophilic Design
Biophilic design derives its name from “biophilia,” a term that captures the human tendency to connect and interact with other living organisms in nature. Biophilic design pushes people to reimagine their workspaces from mundane cubicles with fluorescent lighting to spaces encouraging productivity through natural elements like sunlight, plants, and more.
But why are most companies incorporating interior office fit-outs with this type of design? Well, it’s more than a philosophy as research shows that biophilic design actively promotes cognitive function, physical health, and psychological well-being.
Biophilic Design Benefits for Your Office’s Interior
By integrating elements like natural light, greenery, and other nature-inspired features in your interior office fit-outs, this design approach has been shown to positively impact physical and mental well-being, which is vital for workers attending their offices every day.
A few of their known benefits are:
1. Increase Productivity
The presence of plants and a biophilic design in office spaces has been specifically linked to improved concentration and creativity among employees.
Workspaces with natural elements achieve a 15% higher well-being score and a 6% increase in productivity compared to offices lacking such elements, according to a global study. https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F100090754025343%2Fvideos%2F803571739283912%2F&show_text=false&width=560&t=0
This shows that incorporating greenery and nature-inspired elements can enhance cognitive function, leading to a more focused and innovative work environment.
2. Reduce Stress
The University of Central Arkansas stated in its feature article that biophilic design “has the same mental effect on well-being as being outdoors in real natural environments”. This includes images featuring nature, plants, mountains, and even outdoor landscapes.
If you’ve seen an interior office fit out that’s thoughtfully designed, it’s more than just aesthetics. Having a presence of nature in the form of water, breeze, scents, light, shadows, etc. provides a refuge for people’s minds, enabling them to think clearer and maintain a logical perception.
For example, lively-looking areas vibrant with color can positively affect an employee’s mood. Even a small touch of green can go a long way in reducing stress among employees.
3. Promote Better Air Quality
When discussing biophilic design, many envision the incorporation of living architecture into both indoor and outdoor spaces. The inclusion of plants indoors not only elevates the aesthetic appeal of the interior environment, but also enhances air quality.
Strategically placing living architecture has proven effective in reducing thermal costs by providing shade. It also mitigates direct sunlight, which can lead to glare and heat accumulation. This allows your employees to refresh their minds and think more creatively.
How to Achieve a Biophilic Design in Interior Office Fit-Outs
Add Indoor Plants
Incorporating plants in the interior office fit-out is in line with the biophilic design. They’re a great source of oxygen, especially when it gets stuffy. The green both catches and relaxes the eyes, especially after a long day of typing away.
However, not all plants find the office a habitual environment. Here are a few that you can add to office desks:
- Orchid
- Snake Plant
- Jade Plant
- Rubber Plant
- Dracaena Marginata
- Yucca
More Natural Light
A well-lit environment can enhance mood, reduce eye strain, and contribute to increased alertness and productivity among occupants. Finding a commercial office space that offers big windows can supply this type of benefit. If you’re already a tenant with a space that isn’t well-lit, you can always opt to open the blinds in the morning and cover them up with something sheer to soften the lighting.
Include Natural Elements
Among the six aspects of biophilic design is to include earthy colors to reconnect individuals with the natural environment features.
It doesn’t mean to completely change the color branding but to include materials that mimic/resemble them in the office setting.
This could mean changing the flooring to something brown, like oak wood, or incorporating fixtures made from organic materials like bamboo.
Get an Expert to Achieve a Biophilic Design in Interior Office Fit-Outs
As the awareness of the built environment’s impact on human health and the planet grows, biophilic design continues to gain popularity as a holistic and forward-thinking approach to architectural and interior design.
Prioritizing employee well-being emerges as optimal, especially with recent (Y)our Space survey results. Amenities for leisure and development like a gym, a mental health well-being space, and a healthcare facility are among expected employee demands in the next three years. All this contributes to a more enhanced work-life balance that the biophilic design advocates for.
Amenities and services companies expect employees to demand in the next 3 years globally, according to (Y)OUR SPACE 2023.
Consulting with a project management team or a fit-out contractor is crucial for crafting a bespoke fit-out that prioritizes overall company well-being. From functionality, and biophilic design aesthetics, to the workforce’s needs, everything is accounted for and considered.
Contact us to learn more about Santos Knight Frank’s project management services today.
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About Santos Knight Frank
The world of real estate can be a difficult place to navigate. Whether property is your investment or a tool that drives your business success, you need a partner who can guide you in every step of the way.
Since 1994, Santos Knight Frank has been guiding Fortune 1000 companies, BPOs, private clients, and institutions in all facets of real estate. We advise companies on their best office, retail, and industrial location, oversee commercial fit-out projects, and manage facilities. We have facilitated over 4 million sqm of office transactions on behalf of clients and managed over 40 million sqm of real estate under our property & facilities management arm.
Our residential brokerage platform and wide collection of bespoke homes allow our private clients to buy, lease, and sell properties within their budget, timeline, and lifestyle.
For landlords and investors, we provide valuations and appraisal, consultancy and research, sales and leasing, and property management services across the Philippines.
Santos Knight Frank is part of the global Knight Frank network of over 384 offices in 51 markets, including the strategically important U.S. partnerships with Cresa (commercial real estate) and Douglas Elliman (residential real estate).
We are locally expert and globally connected, end-to-end and best-in-class – as any great partner in property should be.
The Rise of Sustainable Real Estate Investments in the Philippines
Article
Recent years have shown a rise in consumer preference shifting towards more ecologically friendly products and solutions. Among its many factors are a heightened awareness of environmental concerns such as climate change and sustainability, as well as practicality.
This shift in habits has affected several industries, including the real estate market. That being said, many developers have acknowledged this trend and have begun following suit—providing living spaces that promote health and wellness for their owners while also meeting the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria.
Whether the property is a house or a condominium unit, it goes without saying that there are certain non-negotiables that neither can be without. These include features and fixtures such as comfortable sleeping and living quarters, an accessible kitchen, clean bathrooms and laundry areas, access to scenery, and reliable utilities.
While these features can be taken at face value for their aesthetic appeal, it’s important for buyers to understand that sustainable homes are part of an ecosystem geared towards long-term benefits for themselves as well as for the environment. Below are some of the benefits such homes provide.
Organic Materials
Furniture and building materials such as wood or other naturally-sourced materials are among the top of mind when people hear the word organic in the context of real estate and design. However, sustainable home construction goes beyond these traditional ideas. It includes the use of reclaimed wood and other recycled materials for furniture, flooring, and fixtures. These materials can even be used for certain structural components. Taking this extra step reduces costs associated with construction and manufacturing. It also lowers environmental impact by making use of already-existing materials that would have otherwise gone to waste.
Eco-Friendly Amenities
On a larger scale, these translate to green spaces such as gardens, parks, and other open-air recreational areas. But when it comes to the home, they refer to features that add to the quality of life and comfort of its residents. Windows, for one, do more than provide a view of the outside world. They also widen the spaces they occupy while granting access to natural light and fresh air. Backyards and balconies allow gardens to be set up which can be treated as pastimes or spaces to relax and take a break from technology-saturated environments. Such amenities don’t just bring nature and wellness into a home, they also help reduce energy consumption where possible.
Energy-Efficient Designs
Adding to the above, energy-efficient designs incorporate the use of smart home systems and Energy Star-rated appliances that provide greater savings on water and electricity. These range from low-flow toilets to air-conditioning and refrigeration units that regulate energy consumption while maintaining a certain standard. Smart lighting and automation, while seemingly negligible, add up over time towards financial and environmental savings.
All these contribute to a lower carbon footprint and provide significant savings. At the same time, they cater to the ambiance and luxuries expected in a modern home. So while location and overall aesthetics are still major criteria in any buyer’s decision-making process, the value sustainable homes adds can be the little nudge they need to seal the deal.
Considerations such as these make sustainable real estate an investment opportunity for buyers—not just simply in their future home, but also in the future of the world we live in.
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Find media contacts, and get access to news releases and announcements.
About Santos Knight Frank
The world of real estate can be a difficult place to navigate. Whether property is your investment or a tool that drives your business success, you need a partner who can guide you in every step of the way.
Since 1994, Santos Knight Frank has been guiding Fortune 1000 companies, BPOs, private clients, and institutions in all facets of real estate. We advise companies on their best office, retail, and industrial location, oversee commercial fit-out projects, and manage facilities. We have facilitated over 4 million sqm of office transactions on behalf of clients and managed over 40 million sqm of real estate under our property & facilities management arm.
Our residential brokerage platform and wide collection of bespoke homes allow our private clients to buy, lease, and sell properties within their budget, timeline, and lifestyle.
For landlords and investors, we provide valuations and appraisal, consultancy and research, sales and leasing, and property management services across the Philippines.
Santos Knight Frank is part of the global Knight Frank network of over 384 offices in 51 markets, including the strategically important U.S. partnerships with Cresa (commercial real estate) and Douglas Elliman (residential real estate).
We are locally expert and globally connected, end-to-end and best-in-class – as any great partner in property should be.
How to Fake Your Death & Disappear Without a Trace
Stage a pseudocide as quietly and seamlessly as possible
Co-authored by Finn Kobler
You’ve heard stories and seen it in movies: people faking their own death and disappearing into the ether forever (or at least until they get caught). But how do they pull it off? Is it actually possible? Is it even legal? If you’ve got burning questions about “pseudocide,” you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to fake your own death, how to avoid getting caught, and the emotional challenges you’ll face if you really decide to go through with it.
Faking Your Death
Although pseudocide isn’t illegal, it’s psychologically, emotionally, and logically challenging. You may also have to break the law to stay off-the-grid. Gradually wipe traces of your identity, like deleting your social media and email accounts. Clear as much debt as you can and set aside cash to fund your new life.
1
Think twice about faking your own death.
Pseudocide is both logistically and psychologically challenging. It takes time, careful planning, and money, and even then, many people still get caught eventually. Before you go through with it, ask yourself: is your situation dire enough to warrant a fake death? Are there less-difficult alternatives? Can you handle never speaking to family or friends again?[1]
- Also consider the emotional impact that faking your death will have on your loved ones. Loss is traumatizing. Is it worth putting them through the pain of thinking you’re gone forever?
- Be prepared for the emotional difficulty of leaving your home and loved ones behind. Lots of people who fake their own death end up returning or confessing, because they miss their old life.[2]
2
Understand the legal ramifications of pseudocide.
It’s difficult to fake your own death without breaking the law. Even though pseudocide itself isn’t technically illegal, you’ll probably have to commit some crimes in order to stay off-the-grid. If you do and you get caught, these could lead to excessive fines or even jail time.[3]
- For example, creating a fake identity is considered identity fraud. Cashing in on your life insurance policy after faking your death is insurance fraud.[4]
- If you’re pretending to be dead, you also won’t be able to pay taxes as yourself, which will eventually lead to charges of tax fraud.[5]
3
Begin erasing your information months in advance.
Prepare for your fake death slowly, otherwise people will get suspicious. A lot of people who try to fake their own death do so in a panic. They want to disappear fast, so they leave in a rush and make careless mistakes like taking their laptops or completely clearing their credit cards. To successfully disappear, give yourself some time to figure out logistics and wipe traces of your identity gradually. [6]
- Start by deleting small, inconsequential evidence of yourself like emails and social media accounts. Then, after a few weeks, move on to bigger things like switching SIM cards or getting a new phone.
- Clear as much debt as you can before disappearing, but don’t do it all at once. Take a little off each week.
- Never use your personal devices to research or plan your death. Handwrite important information and use public computers (like the ones in your library) for online planning.
4
Start stockpiling cash gradually.
Set aside some cash to fund your new life without a trace. You won’t be able to use your bank accounts or credit cards after faking your death. Save as much cash as you can, but leave a little behind to lower suspicion. Withdrawing all of your money at once would be a red flag, so retrieve and store your money in a safe place slowly. The more cash (and time you have to stockpile it), the better.[7]
- There is no exact number for how much money you should save to fake your own death. While living off the grid will likely be cheaper than your current lifestyle, you’ll also be without luxuries like insurance, streaming accounts, and other things that can leave a paper trail.
- To budget for a pseudocide, ask yourself: where do you plan on living? How much would it cost to feed yourself and to buy basic necessities?
- Getting a job is hard (but not impossible) after faking your own death, so you’ll need to have a decent amount of cash to get you through until you find a source of income.
5
Stage your death.
Create a convincing fake death that will trigger very few questions. If you leave a suicide note, law enforcement will be less likely to investigate. If you’d rather not put your family through that, stage an accidental death like drowning or disappearing on a hike. For extra assurance, look into fraudsters who will forge your death certificate and fake a cremation to use for fake evidence.[8]
- When staging your death, look for scenarios that will make your body hard to find: getting lost at sea, driving off a cliff, etc.
- No fake death is foolproof. If law enforcement discovers financial, legal, or marital problems, they may investigate further, even if they think you’re gone for good.
6
Leave some belongings behind to avoid suspicion.
Make it seem like your “death” was accidental (or at least uncalculated). Keep a few credit card accounts open. Leave your laptop and old cell phone behind, but delete your digital footprint.[9] Investigators are good at spotting potential red flags, so scrub all evidence of your plans and only take what you need. Bumping up your life insurance policy and selling all of your assets right before you leave are surefire ways to get caught.
- Scrubbing too much after you disappear can also tip some people off. It’s unlikely someone who got lost at sea would have a completely cleared search history or be mysteriously missing all of their valuables. Find a happy medium between leaving too much and too little.
- Generally, the less money and fewer assets you have, the less likely your disappearance will raise suspicions.
7
Assume a new identity.
Disguise yourself and create a new name to avoid getting caught. Leave your old identity behind to avoid people recognizing you. Find subtle ways to change your appearance like facial hair, hair dyes, and glasses, so pictures of you are hard to recognize. Then, create an alter ego with a new backstory in case anyone asks questions. [10]
- Avoid visiting places or traveling with companies that check IDs (bars, planes, etc). Using forged identification is illegal, and obtaining these documents is often costly (sometimes as much as six figures). It’s not worth the stress, risk, or financial strain.
8
Cut ties with everyone you know.
Resist reaching out to loved ones no matter how much you trust them. Don’t log into your old social media or email accounts. Any contact with your old life can easily tip off investigators. Try to make peace with the fact that you probably won’t see your hometown again.[11]
- Don’t look at yourself online either. While you may get curious about investigations and how your loved ones are handling your pseudocide, your IP address can give away your location.[12]
9
Lay low immediately after your “death.”
Hide somewhere close and wait out any possible investigations. Check into a nearby flophouse hotel (cheap places usually don’t check IDs as long as you have the cash to cover your stay) or camp out in a secluded area. Load up on non-perishables and keep yourself occupied with books, music, etc. for a few days while your death is still high-profile. Then, after about 7 days, travel to a more long-term location to start your new life.
- Usually, investigations for missing people cool down after the first 72 hours, but you should probably wait about a week or so before you risk long-term travel.[13]
- If you have to go out for any reason, disguise yourself.
10
Move somewhere where you won’t be recognized.
Figure out your destination before you stage your death and travel there. The further from your hometown, the better. It’s totally legal to pay rent in cash in most states.[14] However, creating a rental agreement with bad credit and no paperwork might be challenging, especially if you want to remain inconspicuous. Look for individual landlords instead of large companies and offer to pay more each month to make up for it.
- While it may seem counterintuitive, move to a big city instead of a secluded small town. You’re more likely to blend in plain sight.[15]
- Travel by train or bus to your new city. Both of these are low-profile and, as long as you travel domestically, won’t check your ID.
11
Work under-the-table to support yourself.
Find a way to make money without paperwork after faking your death. Stashed-away cash won’t be enough to get by forever. You’ll need to earn money so you can afford basic necessities like food and shelter. Since you won’t be able to use any of your degrees or professional certifications in your new life, look for odd jobs that pay cash or find someone who’s willing to pay their employees off the books.[16]
- Look for unskilled labor positions like farming, cleaning, and food service. Advanced positions will require you to show a fake employment history, which is illegal and will raise suspicion.
12
Stay private to protect your identity.
Avoid public places and socializing so you don’t give yourself away.Stay mysterious by speaking minimally about yourself and staying home as much as possible. Be polite, but don’t invest in any friendships. If you feel like people are starting to know too much about you, move somewhere new immediately.[17]
- When people ask personal questions, try to change the subject as organically as possible. You want to seem shy, not suspicious.
