The yearning to commune with nature is ingrained in our DNA, despite the fact that we now spend the majority of our time indoors. Natural resources such as food, clothes, shelter, and other essentials provided for our hunter-gatherer ancestors. Even if we can easily meet our needs without foraging or hunting thousands of years later, we nevertheless feel a strong attraction toward the outdoors. So the goal is to find ways to bring nature into our largely inside life. Biophilic design can help with this.
The most basic explanation of biophilic design is that it is a design movement inspired by nature. Every aspect and sphere of it focuses on the optimization of nature and all of its features in the design process. Frank Lloyd, one of the greatest architects there ever was once said, “Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you.” This is the illustration of where biophilic design originated from, and after he translated this philosophy into building structures and maintaining the harmony between humanity and its environment, organic architecture came to be. This principle slowly grew into a movement that birthed the concept of biophilic design.
Biophilic design simply focuses on the various aspects of the natural world that directly or indirectly affect human health and productivity in the constant struggle of life to survive, and stay healthy. Following this concept, if a design does not focus on nature as it relates to structures and human longevity, or find a way to somehow incorporate nature into the design sustainably, then it is not biophilic.
Concept of Biophilic Design
Biophilic design is a concept used in the building industry to encourage occupant connectivity to the natural world, through the use of direct and indirect nature conditions. One very distinctive feature of biophilic design is its emphasis on constant, recurring and engaging contact with nature. That is its distinct peculiarity.
The idea is derived from the word “biophilia” which describes a human's desire to engage with other living things. In terms of design, it refers to achieving harmony between your house and the outside environment.
This concept is asserted to have minimal downsides when applied at both the city- and building-scales, and to have positive effects on people’s health, the environment, and the economy. Although the term “biophilic design” was only recently developed, examples of this type of construction can be traced as far back as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
Simply put, biophilic design is concerned with those characteristics of the natural world that have aided human productivity and health in the never-ending battle to be healthy and survive. This is why microbes, desert or deep-sea environments, alien or extinct animals, or any other obscure aspects of nature are mostly irrelevant as components of biophilic design, because they provide very little in the way of long-term benefits to people.
Biophilic design relies on interventions that are related, complementary, and integrated into the whole environment rather than isolated or ephemeral, for it to be effective. It lays emphasis on the human adaptation to the natural world that have been instrumental in sustaining people’s well-being, health, and fitness over time.
As the world’s population continues to urbanize, the benefits of biophilic design are becoming more and more significant. It can lower stress, boost creativity and cognitive function, improve well-being, and speed healing. Given how quickly being in nature can have a restorative effect and the fact that stress-related illnesses cost U.S. businesses billions of dollars each year in lost productivity, biophilic design, which re-connects us with nature, is crucial for giving people the chance to live and work in stress-free environments with improved health and wellbeing.
Biophilia
Biophilia is the inborn biological affinity that humans have for the natural world. It explains why sounds like crackling flames and breaking waves fascinate us, how a view of a garden can inspire us, how heights and shadows arouse both intrigue and anxiety in us, and how spending time with animals and taking a stroll in a park can have restorative and healing effects. It may also be possible to use biophilia to explain why some urban parks and structures are preferred over others. Researchers, designers, and other design professionals have spent decades identifying the natural features that have the biggest influence on how satisfied we are with our constructed surroundings.
BiophobiaBiophobia is a term used to describe a person’s innate dread of nature and animals, whereas biophilia describes the need to experience and enjoy nature. In the case of modern life, humans feel a strong need to migrate away from nature and toward technology; this urge is fueled by a cultural tendency for individuals to identify with human artifacts, interests, and controlled activities. The dread of blood, snakes, and spiders are only a few examples of environmental phobias that have their roots in anthropocentric evolution. Bright colors, heights, enclosed places, darkness, and wide open spaces in relation to structures can all cause biophobia, which makes occupants feel uneasy.
Patterns of Biophilic design
Since we evolved in a natural environment for the great majority of our history, humans have an innate love of nature and a sense of dependence on it. Below is a list of 14 patterns used during biophilic design.
Visually Connecting With Nature
Observing aspects of the natural world, including living things and their processes.
Non-Visual Connection to Nature
Stimuli that induce a conscious and positive reference to nature, living things, or natural processes. Examples include auditory, haptic, olfactory, or gustatory stimuli.
Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli
Random and transient connections with the natural world that can be statistically examined but may not be exactly predicted.
Heating and Airflow Variability
Minimal variations in air temperature, relative humidity, skin airflow, and surface temperatures that resemble natural habitats.
Presence of Water
The presence of water Is a factor that improves a location’s experience by allowing visitors to view, hear, or touch water.
Dynamic and Diffuse Lighting
Utilizing dynamic and diffuse light to mimic natural settings by using different light and shadow intensities that fluctuate throughout time.
Connection to Natural Systems
Understanding of natural processes, particularly seasonal and temporal fluctuations that are indicative of a robust ecosystem.
Biomorphic Forms & Patterns
Subtle references to persistent geometric, textural, or patterned patterns in nature.
Material Connection with Nature
Natural materials and components that, with only minor processing, mirror the regional ecology or geology to evoke a particular sense of place.
Complexity & Order
Abundant sensory data that follows a spatial hierarchy like to those seen in nature.
Prospect
A clear vision in the distance for planning and surveillance.
Refuge
An area where one can retire from the outside world or the main stream of activity while still being protected from above and behind.
Mystery
The promise of further information made possible by partially hidden views or other sensory tools that tempt a person to explore a situation more deeply.
Risk/Peril
A known threat with a solid defense.
Guidelines For Biophilic Design
Give Plants Top Priority as a Design Component.
Using real plants is one of the simplest methods to experiment with biophilic design. Start out small if you’re new to caring for plants by placing a low-maintenance plant on your desk or a collection of potted herbs on your kitchen windowsill. For the more seasoned indoor gardener, find innovative ways to incorporate greenery into the décor of the area to advance your plant collection. If you want to fully benefit from biophilic architecture, dedicate a whole wall to plants, add plants to your staircase, or place your favorite leafy plants in each corner of the space.
Emphasize The Exterior View
If you’re fortunate enough to live somewhere with lots of natural beauty, make sure your home’s design makes the most of it. That is what biophilic design is all about. Large picture windows that aren’t covered by grilles or sashes frame views of the outside. If you live on a lakefront property or have a grassy backyard, you can use this approach to turn nature into wall art. Consider adding a skylight to a bathroom, hallway, or kitchen for views of the sky (and an increase in natural light).
Encourage Interaction Between The Inside And Outside
To facilitate a smooth transition between your home and nature, connect indoor and outdoor living spaces. If you want to connect your living room with an outdoor patio, think about installing sliding doors that you can open. Other indulgences that might make nature feel like an intended part of your home’s design are a balcony off your bedroom or a deck that is connected to your kitchen.
On cool days, at the very least, leave your windows open so you can get some fresh air and hear the rain, wind, or birds outside. Simply raising the blinds or opening the curtains can improve your mood by letting in brightness and providing a peek of the outside when it’s too hot or chilly to open the windows.
Use Natural Materials to Decorate
In addition to using real plants as decor, you can create a similar impact by adorning your house with natural-looking textures, hues, and shapes. Select natural materials from the outdoors, including leather, stone, and wood, and go with subdued, naturalistic color schemes. Developing the relaxing effects of biophilic design is simple and rather cheap when you incorporate small allusions to nature into your decor.
Benefits of Biophilic Design
Through strengthening ties to nature, biophilic design is said to have a host of advantages for building occupants and urban surroundings. Many people think that the concept’s greatest supporter for cities is its capacity to increase the city’s resilience to any environmental stressor it may encounter. Some of the benefits of biophilic design are listed below.
Environmental Benefits
There is a school of thought that claims cities and buildings can better manage stormwater runoff by incorporating physical natural elements like plants, trees, rain gardens, and green roofs into the built environment. This is because there will be fewer impervious surfaces and greater infiltration. Excess greywater can be recycled to water the plants and vegetation, which helps to maintain these natural systems in an economical manner. Vegetative walls and roofs also reduce polluted water because the plants act as biofilters. Moreover, adding vegetation lowers carbon emissions, mitigates the heat island effect, and boosts biodiversity. During photosynthesis, carbon is reduced by carbon sequestration in the plant’s roots.
Economic Benefits
Due to the incorporation of natural elements that need upkeep and more expensive organic products, biophilia may have slightly greater expenditures; nevertheless, the perceived advantages for human health and the environment are seen to outweigh this. According to Peter Newman, incorporating biophilic architecture and landscaping can help cities like New York City save close to $470 million by increasing worker productivity and $1.7 billion by lowering crime-related costs. Also, they discovered that stores on thickly vegetated streets attracted customers who were more inclined to spend 25% more, and that enhancing daylighting through skylights in a business raised sales by 40% +/- 7%. Additionally, properties with biophilic designs sell for greater money, with many going for 16% more than conventional structures.
Health Benefits
Some of the health benefits of biophilic design include;
Improved healing following surgery and illness
A decrease in social and health issues
Increased productivity, increased motivation, and less stress among employees
Enhanced cognitive performance
Healthier kid maturation and development
Higher standard of living and a more solid feeling of place in communities
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