In a world where concrete jungles dominate our landscapes, there’s a growing movement that’s turning the tables on urban monotony and bringing a breath of fresh, leafy air to our built environments. It’s time to unlock the secrets of biophilic design and discover how to cultivate your own urban Eden.
Biophilic design is a set of principles that can be followed to design living and working spaces that connect us with the natural world and enhance our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It’s about finding ways to purposefully create a connection between people and nature when designing buildings and interiors.
So let’s dive into the specifics of this concept as well as some tips for how to incorporate biophilic design concepts into your home and every day life.
Contents: Biophilic Design Elements
- What Is Biophilic Design? Jump to section
- Biophilic Interior Design Vs Biophilic Architecture Jump to section
- Biophilic Design Benefits Jump to section
- Biophilic Design & Sustainability Jump to section
- Easy Ways To Create A Biophilic Home Design Jump to section
What Is Biophilic Design?
Biophilic design is based on the principle of biophilia, or the innate human tendency to seek connections and interactions with nature. It stems from ancient Greek words literally meaning “love of nature”.
In other words, it’s a concept that suggests that humans have an instinctive bond with other living organisms and the natural world.
Biophilic design takes the abstract, philosophical concept of biophilia and gives it practical, real-world application.
The biophilic design definition, then, is an approach to architecture and interior design that incorporates natural elements into the built environment. It is a design philosophy that seeks to create a connection between people and nature by incorporating natural elements and materials, natural light, and views of nature into the design of buildings and spaces.
Three Pillars Of Biophilic Design
So other than the loose theme of biophilia, what is the concept of biophilic design based on?
It boils down to the three pillars—nature In The Space, Natural Analogues, and Nature Of The Space—originally defined by the Terrapin Bright Green consulting firm.
First, is Nature In The Space. This focused on our tangible connections with nature, or those we can directly feel, hear, and interact with. This can involve something as simple as natural light and plants, or be as complex as incorporating water features and animals.
Natural Analogues takes biophilic design ideas into the abstract, referring to non-living representations of nature, such as the use of natural materials, colors, shapes, and patterns.
Finally, Nature Of The Space deals with spatial design, both with regard to cultivating views of natural and expansive natural landscapes and the innate human desire to take “refuge” via small, cozy nooks.
These three pillars are then subdivided into the six principles of biophilic design that are better suited for practical application in creating connection between people and nature:
- Visual connection with nature: Incorporating views of nature into the design of buildings and spaces. This can be achieved through the use of windows, skylights, and other openings that allow natural light and views of nature into the space.
- Non-visual connection with nature: Incorporating natural sounds, textures, and scents through the use of water features, natural materials, and plants.
- Biomorphic forms and natural patterns: Incorporating natural forms and patterns through the use of curved lines, organic shapes, and patterns that mimic those found in nature.
- Natural lighting: Incorporating natural lighting can be achieved through use of skylights, windows, and other openings.
- Material connection with nature: Incorporating natural materials, such as wood and stone.
- Complexity and order: Incorporating fractals, natural patterns, and other elements that mimic those found in nature.
Biophilic Interior Design Vs Biophilic Architecture
Biophilic design and biophilic architecture share a common goal: to integrate natural features into the built environment.
However, they differ in scope and focus.
In essence, biophilic design enhances interior spaces, while biophilic architecture extends this approach to the entire environment, emphasizing a more comprehensive integration with natural systems.
Choosing to create a biophilic office design, for example, means taking natural elements—like plants, light, water features, and materials—to create a natural environment that mimics nature. Some real-world examples of biophilic design include:
- The Google headquarters in Mountain View, California, which has interior spaces designed to mimic natural environments such as forests and beaches.
- The Bullitt Center in Seattle, Washington, which uses natural materials such as wood and stone throughout the building and has a central atrium that allows for natural light and ventilation.
- The H&M flagship store in Stockholm, Sweden, which has an interior designed to resemble a greenhouse, with plants and natural light throughout the space.
Examples Of Biophilic Design In Architecture
Biophilic architecture—sometimes called biophilic urban design—turns micro into macro by employing the same biophilic design strategies employed in the home on a much larger structural scale. It’s a broader approach, encompassing both interior and exterior spaces and considering how the entire built environment interacts with natural systems.
This approach involves site-specific design, eco-friendly landscaping and natural landscape integration, and sustainable building practices. Incorporating biophilic design in architecture aims to create a holistic and sustainable relationship between the building and its surroundings, emphasizing ecological balance and harmony.
Examples include:
- The Amazon Spheres in Seattle, Washington, which are three glass domes filled with over 40,000 plants from around the world.
- The Bosco Verticale in Milan, Italy, which is a pair of residential towers covered in over 900 trees and 20,000 plants.
- The California Academy of Sciences has a living roof covered in over 1.7 million plants and is designed to reduce the building’s energy consumption.
- Singapore’s CapitaSpring “biophilic skyscraper” is packed with thousands of plants and trees—not to mention the city’s many other natural features, like vertical urban farming allotments.
The argument for biophilic architecture and interior design alike boils down to the tremendous benefits their incroporated natural features can have for the humans who occupy the spaces, including improving mental health and well-being, increasing productivity, and reducing energy consumption.
Biophilic Design Benefits
Applying biophilic design principles to our living and working environments can improve both our physical and mental health.
Physical Health Benefits
One of the biggest biophilic design benefits is its positive impact on physical health. Incorporating natural elements such as plants, water features, and natural lighting can help reduce stress, balance circadian rhythms (for which proper morning and evening light exposure is critical), reduce hypertension, lower blood pressure, and improve overall well-being.
Studies have also shown that patients exposed to biophilic hospital designs (such as those with views of nature) have a faster recovery time and require less pain medication.
Plus, since plants are a core tenant of biophilic design principles, biophilic living rooms tend to have much cleaner air quality, due to the fact that air purifying plants can drastically reduce indoor air pollution caused by VOCs and other common household toxins.
Mental Health Benefits
Biophilic design and mental health are positively correlated in numerous respects. Exposure to nature has been shown to improve mood, reduce anxiety and depression, and increase feelings of relaxation. Incorporating natural elements into interior spaces can help create a calming and soothing environment, which can be particularly beneficial in high-stress environments such as hospitals and offices.
Productivity Benefits
Biophilic design in the workplace (whether public or your home’s biophilic design office) can create more productive and creative working environments. Studies have shown that employees who work in spaces with natural elements such as plants and natural lighting are more productive, have higher job satisfaction, and experience less stress.
Additionally, incorporating natural elements into office spaces can help stimulate creativity and innovation, leading to more successful and innovative ideas.
Biophilic Design & Sustainability
Human health and well-being aside, biophilic design and sustainability are also interlinked, considering sustainable materials are a cornerstone of biophilic design.
Designers often opt for eco-friendly, renewable, and locally sourced materials, minimizing the environmental impact of construction. Furthermore, the use of reclaimed and recycled materials aligns with sustainability principles, reducing waste and conserving resources.
Biophilic design strategies often consider the longevity and resilience of structures. By selecting durable materials and integrating green infrastructure like green roofs and living walls, buildings become more resilient to environmental stressors such as extreme weather events and climate change. This longevity reduces the need for frequent renovations and replacements, further conserving resources.
By using natural materials and increasing the number of CO2 consuming plants in the world, it can help us reduce our impact on the planet, too. Not to mention the fact that increasing things like natural light and ventilation reduce the need for artificial lighting and mechanical climate control systems. In other words, it’s an excellent way to conserve energy at home.
Easy Ways To Create A Biophilic Home Design
Sure, you may have some home growing kits to green up your space, but if you’re serious about greening up your living space, it’s easy to take these concepts to the next level by looking at some simple biophilic design examples you can start implemeting any time.
Plants, Plants, & More Plants
Create a veritable indoor jungle by icurating a house full of plants. Plants not only add a touch of greenery to our living spaces but also help to purify the air we breathe. Choose plants that are easy to care for and suit our home’s lighting conditions.
Optimize Natural Light & Views
Maximize natural light in your home by choosing light-colored curtains or blinds that allow sunlight to filter through. While your sustainable interior design might be somewhat limited in this respect simply by what windows are in your home, you can at least position your furniture to take both advantage of the natural light and maximize views to natural landscapes by positioning to face windows with a view.
Increase Natural Ventilation
Open windows and doors to let fresh air flow into our homes. This not only helps to improve air quality and increase natural light, but also creates a connection to the outdoors.
Prioritize Natural Fabrics & Materials
Fill your home with natural fabrics and materials such as cotton (ideally organic cotton if you’re looking for the healthiest choice), linen, wool, and hemp fabric. When shopping for new sustainable furniture, look especially at raw wood furniture with minimal, non-toxic finishes.
Use natural flooring and rugs such as hardwood, bamboo, or jute to add texture and warmth to our living spaces. These natural materials also tend to be more durable and easy to maintain.
Decorate With Natural Shapes & Objects
Nature is the world’s greatest sustainable home decor brand, so use her expertise to fill your space with cute curios like seashells, rocks, and organic-shaped decor.
Have some neat fallen branches in your yard? Try your hand at some crafts, like turning them into a holder for your jewelry or hanging photographs.
Maximize Outdoor Space Use
Not everyone is fortunate enough to have a big backyard homestead, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make the best of the outdoor spaces we do have access to. Whether it’s a small fenced backyard or just a balcony, commit to spending more time there. Start by curating a cute outdoor seating area that just looks inviting.