+ What are the principles of biophilic design and their effects?
Biophilic design concept uses human connection to nature and applies it to the world we live in, our built environment. Whether on a smaller or a larger scale, this concept has proven benefits for human health, as well as added environmental and economic benefits.
The fundamental connection we have to nature has forced us to seek ways to bring nature back into our lives, and even more so, make it a crucial part of the environment we spend our time in the most, which is why we incorporate biophilic design into architecture and interiors.
Biophilic design has shown remarkable restorative and enhancing effects on human lives, whether concerning their everyday living or working environment.
+ Biophilic principles and their effects - beauty and function
Biophilic design principles are based on elements that offer benefits far greater than the initial aesthetic impression.
Biophilic design has been proven to have a range of benefits so let’s take a look at some of them:
Increases productivity and creativity in workplacesImproves patient recovery in hospitalsReduces crime rates in residential areasIncreases learning abilties and test results in schoolsReduces anxiety and stress levels
+ Biophilic design principles and benefits they invoke
The multi-sensory experience of nature, especially the visual, olfactory, acoustic and tactile, provide a connection that is fundamental to biophilic design principles, which is why they are based on: light, air, water, plants, textures and materials.
Biophilic design is about more than just plants it is a concept that enriches our everyday lives in a range of meaningful ways.
+ Happiness emerges from healthy environments
Biophilic design principles rest on simple but effective solutions - interventions that mimic natural systems, and that ultimately lead to decreased stress levels and enhanced creativity. This is particularly noticeable in workplaces where monotonous, bland interiors do very littl to kep the workforce happy.
Biophilic design can inspire through its beauty but also calm, and soothe, enhancing wellbeing in the workplace and boosting productivity.
+ Plants are key biophilia but not the only things that matter
Yes biophilic design may appear to begin and end with plants but that is really just the beginning. We consider biophilic design both in direct and indirect terms.
Biomorphic patterns and arrangements seen in nature can be an indirect form of biophilia that evokes similar responses in us as a direct form of nature would have. This seems counter-intuitive but representations of nature are highly effective too!
The patterns and fractals used in biophilic design are referred to as biomimicry for example, showing that biophilic design principlescan extend out into a number of creative design solutions.
+ Natural light is one of the basic biophilic design principles
Maximizing natural lighting is also one of the main biophilic design principles.
The lighting that changes either naturally or artificially over the course of the day, therefore mimicking our circadian rhythm helps, which in turn helps us be more in sync with natural environment, and on track with the 24-hour cycle.
Aside from helping us be more in balance with the natural ebb and flow of sunlight, maximizing exposure to natural light during the day enhances visual comfort, which is of importance to workplace wellness.
+ Water, air, sound and smell - the basics that shape the whole
Apart from light, other key elements that we subconsciously associate with nature are water and air.
It was proven that interventions of biophilic design that add the presence of water in the mixture lead to several health benefits, such as lower blood pressure, lowered heart rate as well as better memory recall, but most of all, it’s a feeling of tranquility and serenity that water invokes in us, that makes it such an important component of biophilic design.
Airflow, on the other hand, keeps us awake, gently stimulating our senses, when done correctly.
Most of the time you will find that, when it comes to closed spaces, the advice is to keep the temperature in the room constant, since our bodies tend to overreact at such sudden changes.
However, constant temperature leads to a stuffy atmosphere that eventually leads to sleepiness, something as common as airflow stimulation can easily improve that. It keeps people awake, more focused and generally better performing.
The last consideration is scent and sound, two more biophilic design principles that help create a mulit-sensory experience.
+ Nature mimicking elements
The challenge biophilic design often comes across is the existing limitations of the space you want to improve. It can be complex, or near impossible to add a window to an existing building for example, so we have to find creative alternatives.
This is where indirect forms of nature can enter the equation.Mimicking nature in the form of adding some nature-depicting paintings or biomorphic patterns improves the perception of space, making these elements a more than viable option.
+ Biophilic principles in vernacular architecture
Biophilic principles are also evident in so called “vernacular architecture”, where buildings are constructed in a way that reflects the landscape around them.
This particular type of architecture combined with biophilic interior design allows people to form bonds with the natural world around them in a more profound way.
