As we become increasingly aware of the physical and psychological effects of being connected 24/7, the popularity of digital detox is also growing. It can take many forms, from dedicated retreats to more personalized, human-scale approaches. Whether you’re traveling for a digital detox or paying special attention to your devices, the goal is the same. It’s about regaining awareness of what the essential parts of life are like.
Now, it appears there is another option for those who want to disconnect, and it involves luxury real estate. In an article for Curbed, Kim Velsey described the amenities at 505 State Street, Brooklyn’s first all-electric skyscraper. Velcy’s report focuses specifically on one of the building’s features: the Grow Room, a vast green space where cell phone use is prohibited.
The building’s website proclaims, “Transfer yourself to an immersive, technology-free space filled with plants and designed to provide moments of respite.” It also suggests a variety of activities in the Grow Room, such as talking with friends or bringing in a book to read.
Velcy called the room “in some ways a miniature of the already popular detox retreats,” noting that it’s part of a larger trend of adding indoor green space to notable buildings around the world. This feature doesn’t just apply to residential spaces. Corporate offices also experiment with different plants to change the character of a particular room.
Cell phones have been around for only a few decades, but the idea of taking a break from modern society is much older. Patrick Leigh Fermore’s book A Time of Silence describes the author’s experiences attending silent retreats in many monasteries throughout Europe. Digital detox may be a recent phenomenon, but the idea behind it has been around for much longer.
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