Biophilic Design
24 Sep 2020
Biophilic design is a modern movement which involves the integration of nature into our built environment for its health and wellbeing benefits. In our latest edition of our Wood Book we explore the role of Biophilic design in interior design.
When looking to understand wellbeing you might simply define it as: “the experience of health, happiness, and prosperity... good mental health, high life satisfaction, and a sense of meaning or purpose.” Considering we spend 90% of our lives indoors, it really is in our best interest that those buildings we spend so much time in contribute to our overall wellbeing.
One way of doing this directly is to bring real nature into a space. Biophilic Design expert, Oliver Heath, suggests that this can be from something obvious like having more plants in a room with “living walls” becoming increasingly popular, or by maximizing natural light and air flow. Studies have proved that natural light increases our mental functions, including memory.
If bringing nature into a project directly isn’t feasible (whether due to budget or practical limitation), indirect contact with nature has measurable benefits too. A 2010 study by Karlstads University in Sweden suggested that “simulated natural environments facilitate stress reduction”.
Suggestions for bringing nature indirectly into your design:
- Biomorphic forms and patterns – for example organic shapes, curves, spirals, and natural colors
- Material Connection – natural materials are a great way to integrate nature indirect – wood obviously being our favorite!
- Complexity and order – designs that reflect the complexity and order of nature through pattern and repetition.
