Biophilic Design: Connecting Architecture with Nature
Understanding how incorporating natural elements into building design can improve occupant wellbeing and environmental performance.
Understanding how incorporating natural elements into building design can improve occupant wellbeing and environmental performance.
Biophilic design recognizes the innate human connection to nature and seeks to incorporate natural elements into the built environment. This approach has been shown to reduce stress, improve cognitive function, and enhance overall wellbeing for building occupants.
Biophilic design encompasses direct connections to nature (plants, water, natural light), indirect connections (natural materials, views of nature), and spatial configurations that mimic natural environments.
Successful biophilic design can include living walls, natural ventilation systems, water features, natural materials like wood and stone, and strategic placement of windows to maximize natural light and views.
Research has shown that biophilic design can reduce stress hormones, improve air quality, increase productivity, and even accelerate healing in healthcare environments.
Projects like Amazon's Spheres in Seattle and Singapore's Parkroyal on Pickering demonstrate how biophilic principles can be applied at scale in urban environments.