What is biophilic design?
“Biophilia is the humankind’s innate biological connection with nature,” reported environmental consulting firm Terrapin Bright Green in a 2012 paper titled “ The Economics of Biophilia .” It helps explain watching the fire crackle in a fireplace or a bonfire, why the movement of water in the streams & oceans captivate us, why the view of a forest can improve our mood, why shadows and heights generates a fight or flight response and why being a pet owner and taking a walk through a park have such relaxing effects.
The idea that people have an innate affinity for nature dates back to the 1980s but designing spaces according to the principles of nature is reaching a peak now
Recently, a quiet revolution has begun transforming how people view their workplace spaces. The article focuses on the idea that the great indoor environment must mirror the great outdoor world. The biophilic design dates back to early 1981 when the biologist Edward O. Wilson described his philosophical biophila theory and hypothesized that humans are innately in love with nature.
Biophilic designs can reduce stress and enhance creativity. Theorists, research scientists and designers have worked for decades to define the elements which affect our happiness in built environments. 14 patterns of biophilia explains the relationship between natural and human biology. It aims at allowing the experience and benefit of biophilia as an application to design.
Why is biophilic design relevant today?
According to UNESCO, stress-related diseases have become two major contributors for diseases by 2020 compared with mental and cardiovascular diseases. With the diminishment of our connection to nature, the increasing pressures on the urban space & ubiquitous technology, the ability to regenerate mental energy. Through research, incorporating natural elements in buildings have proven to decrease stress and reduce blood glucose, while also enhancing productivity and creativity.
What does science say about it?
Biophilic design is an emerging trend driven by a number of science studies showing that being in proximity to nature is beneficial to your health and your lifestyle too. A groundbreaking 2019 survey showed Danish children were more prone to depression in adulthood than people not exposed to nature. Various studies suggest that plants can relieve anxiety, help focus and even boost immunity. A few studies link plant productivity. Hospitals are now incorporating biophilic design into their buildings. The Cleveland Clinic, a not-for-profit multi-specialty academic medical center in Ohio, became the first healthcare institution to achieve WELL Certification – and it credits biophilic designs as one of the key strategies for its success. Some of the features that helped it achieve certification include live plants throughout the hospital (in patient rooms, lobbies, restrooms and common areas), views of nature from every patient room window and even ceilings painted with natural light patterns to mimic the sky. The Mayo Clinic is another top U.S. healthcare provider that uses biophilic design in many ways across its campuses, including incorporating natural light into patient rooms, providing views of nature through windows and adding biophilic features to its buildings.
How can you apply biophilic design in your life?
There are many ways people today incorporate biophilic designs in their lives without even realizing it. Whether it is a walk at the park or spending time with pets, these activities help connect us with nature which stimulates our senses & affects emotions positively; they improve mental health while also improving physical well-being since indoor air quality plays an important role by affecting breathing, allergies etc. The more we get away from technology (which constricts rather than expands), the more likely that biophilia will be given room to grow stronger within each one of us again.
What are some biophilic design elements that have been shown to improve health & well being?
Biophilic designs typically incorporate nature in a space by using various elements such as natural light, water features or access to greenery/plants while providing opportunities for occupant interaction with the outdoors i.e. views of trees from windows and balconies etc. It can also be through smells like pine wood or floral fragrances but biophilic design is not limited to these aspects only; it’s more about how you use your spaces beyond aesthetics which positively impacts the occupants’ moods, productivity at work and overall health!
Plants and Biophilic Designs
In biophilic environments plants are very important elements that promote a feeling of health and wellness. Plants not only purify the air but they also provide an opportunity for humans to spend time outdoors without going outside – something we all need more of! Biophilic indoor gardens a.k.a atriums help people feel calm which can then lead them to be better able to handle stressful situations at work or school with increased patience and understanding. In addition biophilic indoors spaces allow us to connect with nature even when it is cold out or raining because’s no need for you leave your home to enjoy nature!
Is biophilic design only limited to incorporating plants in your space?
No, biophilic design can be practiced in different ways. It is about how you use space to incorporate nature & improve the health & well being of the occupants. Biophilia has been linked to improved moods and decreased stress levels because it helps us connect with natural elements that stimulate our senses & affect emotions positively. Not only does biophilic design improve mental health but also physical well-being since indoor air quality plays a vital role in influencing your health by affecting your breathing, allergies, sense of smell etc. Good ventilation reduces pollutant concentrations while access to daylight relieves eye strain and improves productivity at work or school; noise reduction reduces irritation from outside commotions while increased water features reduce blood pressure & heart rate which in turn reduces stress levels.
Biophilic Designs – Healthy Homes and Minds!
Plants increase productivity. Studies have shown that direct views of the natural world and daylight in general have other strong influences over environmental psychology. In 1984 Roger Ulrich performed a study that posited that healthcare patients with visions of green nature recovered quicker than people viewing a brick wall. Whether including an indoor stream or the addition of natural airflow into a building these aspects help the natural appearance of the building.
Biophilia and the built environment – Your Workspace!
Designers for office co-working spaces are among the first to adopt. The goal is to both provide visual and acoustically secure space and to benefit from all of the advantages that are associated with being close to plants. Biophillic designs in the office or workplace can benefit employers as well. The biophilia hypothesis suggests that humans spend more time doing and working when they feel calm and comfortable – biophilic interiors help create healthier, happier employees who are less likely to be absent from work due illness. Employees also tend to perform better on tasks with biophilic elements such as plants, natural light sources like windows and water features including fountains which encourages creativity and problem solving skills by promoting mindfulness. This reduces turnover rates because employees want to stay at their jobs longer instead of looking for other opportunities where the environment is not optimally designed for health but rather productivity alone.
Biophilic Designs for health and well being of your children
Biophilia inspired designs are especially beneficial for young children who spend so much time at home and in the classroom. Parents want to create healthier homes for their kids because they know that natural elements can help the children feel calm which then leads to improved patience, understanding and better sleep quality. All of which benefits children who are still developing emotionally.
Biophilic interiors have been shown to reduce stress levels by up to 68%, increase creativity by 65% as well as improve focus by 50%. In addition nature inspired home decor promotes feelings of safety from predators or other dangers while also encouraging physical activity- both of these factors benefit a child’s development physically and emotionally.
Biophilic Design allows for direct experiences of nature.
In biophilic interiors sunlight is a very important element to consider since humans need at least 30 minutes of sunlight every day in order for the body to produce vitamin D and serotonin which help improve mood and sleep quality. Natural light sources like windows can also contribute greatly to biophilic designs because’s it’s easier on people eyes than artificial lighting – something we spend way too much time with. In addition design elements such as water features or indoor gardens (with live plants!) encourage physical activity, calmness and relaxation all while providing opportunities for children to learn about nature through playtime activities like watering flowers or pulling weeds from garden beds.
Biophilic Designer in Ontario
Biophilic designs in Ontario is quickly becoming one of the most important trends in interior design for businesses and homes alike. Biophilic designs not only look beautiful but they also help provide opportunities to create healthier, happier individuals who are more likely to be productive employees or students. Biophilic designs also complement our lifestyle of busy, fast-paced lifestyles where we spend so much time indoors. Images credits – Canva.
Our biophilic designers at White Wolf Interiors & Feng Shui are passionate about creating interior spaces for your home or workplace, inspired by the principles of biophilic designs. We know that biophilic design elements can help create healthier, happier individuals who are more productive in their work and studies which is why we want to provide you with all of the biopihlic tools necessary to create biophillic design spaces that are unique to your needs.
If you’re looking to create a healthier home or office in the new year or Looking for more interior design inspiration?
What is biophilic design?
“Biophilia is the humankind’s innate biological connection with nature,” reported environmental consulting firm Terrapin Bright Green in a 2012 paper titled “ The Economics of Biophilia .” It helps explain watching the fire crackle in a fireplace or a bonfire, why the movement of water in the streams & oceans captivate us, why the view of a forest can improve our mood, why shadows and heights generates a fight or flight response and why being a pet owner and taking a walk through a park have such relaxing effects.
The idea that people have an innate affinity for nature dates back to the 1980s but designing spaces according to the principles of nature is reaching a peak now
Recently, a quiet revolution has begun transforming how people view their workplace spaces. The article focuses on the idea that the great indoor environment must mirror the great outdoor world. The biophilic design dates back to early 1981 when the biologist Edward O. Wilson described his philosophical biophila theory and hypothesized that humans are innately in love with nature.
Biophilic designs can reduce stress and enhance creativity. Theorists, research scientists and designers have worked for decades to define the elements which affect our happiness in built environments. 14 patterns of biophilia explains the relationship between natural and human biology. It aims at allowing the experience and benefit of biophilia as an application to design.
Why is biophilic design relevant today?
According to UNESCO, stress-related diseases have become two major contributors for diseases by 2020 compared with mental and cardiovascular diseases. With the diminishment of our connection to nature, the increasing pressures on the urban space & ubiquitous technology, the ability to regenerate mental energy. Through research, incorporating natural elements in buildings have proven to decrease stress and reduce blood glucose, while also enhancing productivity and creativity.
What does science say about it?
Biophilic design is an emerging trend driven by a number of science studies showing that being in proximity to nature is beneficial to your health and your lifestyle too. A groundbreaking 2019 survey showed Danish children were more prone to depression in adulthood than people not exposed to nature. Various studies suggest that plants can relieve anxiety, help focus and even boost immunity. A few studies link plant productivity. Hospitals are now incorporating biophilic design into their buildings. The Cleveland Clinic, a not-for-profit multi-specialty academic medical center in Ohio, became the first healthcare institution to achieve WELL Certification – and it credits biophilic designs as one of the key strategies for its success. Some of the features that helped it achieve certification include live plants throughout the hospital (in patient rooms, lobbies, restrooms and common areas), views of nature from every patient room window and even ceilings painted with natural light patterns to mimic the sky. The Mayo Clinic is another top U.S. healthcare provider that uses biophilic design in many ways across its campuses, including incorporating natural light into patient rooms, providing views of nature through windows and adding biophilic features to its buildings.
How can you apply biophilic design in your life?
There are many ways people today incorporate biophilic designs in their lives without even realizing it. Whether it is a walk at the park or spending time with pets, these activities help connect us with nature which stimulates our senses & affects emotions positively; they improve mental health while also improving physical well-being since indoor air quality plays an important role by affecting breathing, allergies etc. The more we get away from technology (which constricts rather than expands), the more likely that biophilia will be given room to grow stronger within each one of us again.
What are some biophilic design elements that have been shown to improve health & well being?
Biophilic designs typically incorporate nature in a space by using various elements such as natural light, water features or access to greenery/plants while providing opportunities for occupant interaction with the outdoors i.e. views of trees from windows and balconies etc. It can also be through smells like pine wood or floral fragrances but biophilic design is not limited to these aspects only; it’s more about how you use your spaces beyond aesthetics which positively impacts the occupants’ moods, productivity at work and overall health!
Plants and Biophilic Designs
In biophilic environments plants are very important elements that promote a feeling of health and wellness. Plants not only purify the air but they also provide an opportunity for humans to spend time outdoors without going outside – something we all need more of! Biophilic indoor gardens a.k.a atriums help people feel calm which can then lead them to be better able to handle stressful situations at work or school with increased patience and understanding. In addition biophilic indoors spaces allow us to connect with nature even when it is cold out or raining because’s no need for you leave your home to enjoy nature!
Is biophilic design only limited to incorporating plants in your space?
No, biophilic design can be practiced in different ways. It is about how you use space to incorporate nature & improve the health & well being of the occupants. Biophilia has been linked to improved moods and decreased stress levels because it helps us connect with natural elements that stimulate our senses & affect emotions positively. Not only does biophilic design improve mental health but also physical well-being since indoor air quality plays a vital role in influencing your health by affecting your breathing, allergies, sense of smell etc. Good ventilation reduces pollutant concentrations while access to daylight relieves eye strain and improves productivity at work or school; noise reduction reduces irritation from outside commotions while increased water features reduce blood pressure & heart rate which in turn reduces stress levels.
Biophilic Designs – Healthy Homes and Minds!
Plants increase productivity. Studies have shown that direct views of the natural world and daylight in general have other strong influences over environmental psychology. In 1984 Roger Ulrich performed a study that posited that healthcare patients with visions of green nature recovered quicker than people viewing a brick wall. Whether including an indoor stream or the addition of natural airflow into a building these aspects help the natural appearance of the building.
Biophilia and the built environment – Your Workspace!
Designers for office co-working spaces are among the first to adopt. The goal is to both provide visual and acoustically secure space and to benefit from all of the advantages that are associated with being close to plants. Biophillic designs in the office or workplace can benefit employers as well. The biophilia hypothesis suggests that humans spend more time doing and working when they feel calm and comfortable – biophilic interiors help create healthier, happier employees who are less likely to be absent from work due illness. Employees also tend to perform better on tasks with biophilic elements such as plants, natural light sources like windows and water features including fountains which encourages creativity and problem solving skills by promoting mindfulness. This reduces turnover rates because employees want to stay at their jobs longer instead of looking for other opportunities where the environment is not optimally designed for health but rather productivity alone.
Biophilic Designs for health and well being of your children
Biophilia inspired designs are especially beneficial for young children who spend so much time at home and in the classroom. Parents want to create healthier homes for their kids because they know that natural elements can help the children feel calm which then leads to improved patience, understanding and better sleep quality. All of which benefits children who are still developing emotionally.
Biophilic interiors have been shown to reduce stress levels by up to 68%, increase creativity by 65% as well as improve focus by 50%. In addition nature inspired home decor promotes feelings of safety from predators or other dangers while also encouraging physical activity- both of these factors benefit a child’s development physically and emotionally.
Biophilic Design allows for direct experiences of nature.
In biophilic interiors sunlight is a very important element to consider since humans need at least 30 minutes of sunlight every day in order for the body to produce vitamin D and serotonin which help improve mood and sleep quality. Natural light sources like windows can also contribute greatly to biophilic designs because’s it’s easier on people eyes than artificial lighting – something we spend way too much time with. In addition design elements such as water features or indoor gardens (with live plants!) encourage physical activity, calmness and relaxation all while providing opportunities for children to learn about nature through playtime activities like watering flowers or pulling weeds from garden beds.
Biophilic Designer in Ontario
Biophilic designs in Ontario is quickly becoming one of the most important trends in interior design for businesses and homes alike. Biophilic designs not only look beautiful but they also help provide opportunities to create healthier, happier individuals who are more likely to be productive employees or students. Biophilic designs also complement our lifestyle of busy, fast-paced lifestyles where we spend so much time indoors. Images credits – Canva.
Our biophilic designers at White Wolf Interiors & Feng Shui are passionate about creating interior spaces for your home or workplace, inspired by the principles of biophilic designs. We know that biophilic design elements can help create healthier, happier individuals who are more productive in their work and studies which is why we want to provide you with all of the biopihlic tools necessary to create biophillic design spaces that are unique to your needs.
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