Project Summary

East River Greenworks was brought in to design and install a planting scheme for Seed’s New York City office. Working from the interior design team’s visual direction and material palette, the goal was to introduce plants that felt integrated with the architecture and furniture rather than decorative additions.

The planting strategy focused on sculptural forms, restrained planter materials, and species that would reinforce the studio’s calm, natural palette of white, wood, stone, and deep greens.

The final installation brings softness, scale, and living texture into the workspace while maintaining the minimal, design-forward character of the office.

Design Context

The design team developed the office around a palette of warm wood floors, soft white walls, natural stone, and deep green furnishings. The space features large industrial windows, exposed columns, and an open plan that balances collaborative work areas with quieter moments throughout the studio.

Plants needed to complement the architectural clarity of the space while introducing a sense of life and movement. Rather than filling every corner with greenery, the approach focused on strategic placement and scale, allowing plants to act as quiet architectural elements within the room.

Large specimens were used to anchor seating areas and circulation paths, while smaller plants were incorporated into desks and shelves to soften workstations and bring greenery closer to daily activity.

Planting Strategy

The planting design emphasized species with strong silhouettes and rich green foliage to echo the deeper green tones used in furniture and textiles throughout the office.

Key considerations included:

• Sculptural scale for focal locations such as seating areas and entry circulation

• Soft trailing plants above architectural volumes to introduce movement

• Durable species suitable for bright interior conditions and long-term maintenance

• Neutral planters in stone and concrete tones that align with the interior material palette

Larger floor plants were used to create vertical structure within the open floor plan, while smaller tabletop plants add warmth to the workspace without creating visual clutter.

Implementation

Installation focused on carefully positioning each plant so it felt integrated with the surrounding architecture and furniture.

Large planters were placed to frame seating areas and guide circulation through the office, while smaller plants were incorporated into desks, shelving, and kitchen areas to create moments of greenery throughout the workday.

Trailing plants above the central office volume soften the strong architectural geometry and introduce a subtle sense of movement and organic texture.

Result

The completed planting scheme reinforces the studio’s interior design vision while adding depth and livability to the workspace.

Plants introduce contrast against the clean white architecture, complement the deep green furniture palette, and help break up the open plan with natural forms.

The result is a workspace that feels calm, grounded, and connected to nature while maintaining the minimal aesthetic of the original design.

Project Details

Client

Seed

Location

New York, NY

Scope

Interior plant design, sourcing, and installation

Services Provided

Plant selection

Planter sourcing

Installation

Placement design