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The word biophilic translates to love of life, and in the context of design, it means designing spaces that increase our connection with nature. In other words, spaces make us feel more connected with nature. This is especially important for the modern world where we spend most of our time in offices trying to stay productive, shopping centres and other urban settings. Even at home, many people live in apartments without much access to green space.
Stephen R. Kellert gets a lot of credit for the introduction of biophilic design, but the concept was introduced by E.O. Wilson in his 1984 book Biophilia. Indeed, Kellert did write a book called The Biophilia Hypothesis in 1995, which Wilson edited. And Kellert continues to be an expert on the practise of biophilic design.
This can have a negative impact on our mental health and well-being. In this article, you will learn what biophilic design is, why it’s important, and how you can use natural landscapes in your own garden, home or workplace.
What is Biophilic Design?
Biophilic design is a methodology that encourages human connection to nature by embedding natural elements in the urban environment. Stephen Kellert, a social ecologist and long-time advocate, came up with the six principles of biophilic design incorporating nature into homes and offices.
Biophilia design, though relatively simple to grasp and understand how and why it produces positive outcomes, is difficult to apply in reality, according to Kellert. Because we don’t fully comprehend the biological functioning of our love of nature or how to apply any understanding we do have to physical structures, we don’t know how or why nature is beneficial.
Biophilic design can be successfully applied in the built environment or outdoor space if we create a framework based on the six principles.
What are the Biophilic Design Principles?
Described below are the 6 principles that need to be followed to achieve a biophilic design for buildings and outdoors.
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Environment features and other natural elements
Features of the natural world are included in the built environment to create a biophilic design. People are naturally drawn to plants, animals, and natural materials, for example. Sunlight, colours and water can all contribute to a feeling of connection with nature, as can well-ventilated spaces. Living or working in more natural light, fresh air and water features can make positive impacts on mental well being.
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Natural shapes and forms
Another crucial component of biophilic design is the utilization of organic shapes and forms. Columns, ovals, arches, shells, spirals, botanical patterns, biomimicry, etc. are a few examples of these elements. Straight lines and right angles are uncommon in natural formations.
Using different materials, colours, and textures, tactile and visual sensations can be generated. In terms of design principles, the association of colours and their transitions across spaces can influence the mind, with blue and green being connected with peace and red and orange with vitality.
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Restorative patterns and processes
Unlike shape and form, this principle focuses on how adding nature-based elements to our urban environments can improve them, such as having a variety of detailed textures in objects we see with our eyes or hear with our ears, the gradual variation of materials over time, central focus points, boundaries between spaces, and a sense of pattern, contrast, or connection between different spaces. It is also pleasing for people to perceive a place as being fully formed, composed of several distinct parts.
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Light and space
In this principle, the focus is on utilizing light and space to elicit a desired human response. One’s mood is positively influenced by light and shadow, and a shift in the light’s quality can cause a calming rhythm to alter, improving visual comfort all day.
Shadows created by pergolas, skylights, and openings, as well as the light’s varying intensity, can contribute to a warm environment. Light can regulate indoor temperature as well as give warmth to a space. These ideas are based on natural environments, to
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Place-based relationships
The connection of culture with ecology is referred to as place-based relationships. Our desire to secure resources and ensure safety through territorial control leads us to become homesick or yearn for places where we feel at home.
The connection between people and places can be based on geographical or historical features, local ecosystems, cultural elements, and natural or built environments. Having a personal connection to a location gives people a protective sense of guardianship over it.
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Evolved human-nature relationships
While all the principles discussed show how humans interact with their surroundings, this one focuses on the core ideas of that interaction and how they might be mirrored in built environments.
This can involve encouraging a sense of security and safety, a balance of diversity and regularity, curiosity and exploration, as well as a sense of accomplishment and environmental mastery. With a biophilic garden design, we may also tap into our connection and attraction to nature, celebrating biodiversity and harmony.
What are the main elements of Biophilic Design?
The connection between biophilic design and positive physical and mental health, as well as increased productivity in work environments, has been well documented. When designing an indoor or outdoor environment, keep these 10 key biophilic elements in mind.
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Visual connection with nature
Bringing nature indoors can be accomplished by installing a green wall in the setting, which provides a cool, welcoming atmosphere by combining vegetation and moss, ferns and potted plants, in the common areas are all simpler ways to bring greenery indoors.
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Auditory Elements
Listening to nature sounds can help to connect non-visually with nature, aiding psychological healing and restoration as well as creating a relaxing and healthy ambience. The relaxing sounds of birds chirping and water flowing have a calming effect on people and increase cognitive performance. These spaces are normally well-balanced and are similar to being outdoors.
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Scented Elements
Natural scents, such as the aroma of rain, flowers, grass, and others, can stimulate powerful memories in humans. Using flowers as potted plant specimens, fruit essences and essential oils to add scent to your environment may have a truly energizing and calming effect.
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Non-rhythmic sensory stimuli
There are several built environment elements that can positively influence heart rate, blood pressure, and sympathetic nervous system activity, such as wind, rustling plant life, and flowing water. These sounds may be reproduced in built environments using fabrics or screens that move or shine with light or breeze to create natural sounds.
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Water presence
A water feature can improve mood and increase self-worth by soothing the environment. In addition to aquariums and fountains, water can be represented as an art piece to soothe the garden environment. It’s a beautiful way to integrate natural aesthetics into your building architecture.
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Airflow and thermal changes
Subtle changes in air temperature, humidity, airflow, and surface temperatures that mimic nature’s environment are referred to as Thermal and Airflow Variability. These indicators are known to improve comfort, well-being, concentration, and overall job productivity.
An artificially created environment with good thermal and air flow variability can be created indoors by using HVAC delivery, system controls, window treatments and window operability to make it feel refreshing, active, and energized.
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Light changes
Buildings exposed to changing light intensity and shifting shadows throughout the day mimic the natural environment and help boost circadian system performance. People feel at ease in spaces where light conditions change dynamically. Built environments can be simulated to provide light variability by employing accent lighting, light distribution strategies, and daylight-preserving window treatments.
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Patina of time
Dynamic forces such as growth and aging are what people respond to positively when it comes to nature. There are various design strategies that can simulate the patina of time in built environments, including weathering, the passage of time, and the use of naturally ageing materials.
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Prospect and refuge
The primary advantage of prospect is unrestricted sight lines over distance, while the main benefit of refuge is protection from harsh environmental conditions and the provision of sites for security and safety.
Enhanced comfort and security are achieved by reducing stress, boredom, and fatigue in these conditions. Visual connections between interior spaces can be created using transparent or translucent materials to assist in achieving these conditions.
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Ecological and cultural connection to location
Designs that are culturally relevant seek to establish a connection to a place by incorporating natural materials and regional elements in landscape architecture. In contrast, ecological connections are connected to creative performance and a feeling of comfort.
These connections encourage people to preserve and sustain both the natural and built environment. An authentic and rich sense of place can be achieved by using natural building materials such as leather, bamboo, wood, stone, and neutral colour schemes in your garden.
Hopefully now you understand the benefits of the biophilic design elements. And it’s clear bringing in living systems and green spaces to our concrete buildings can have great mental wellbeing and physical health benefits.
And it’s pretty evident, using biophilic design principles in interior design improves our wellbeing, and it’s simple to implement. It can even be in artwork, with sculptures made from natural materials, or even a series of painting by an artist who paints the countryside.
If I’ve missed some information, or you have some questions, comment below.
