What is biophilic design? - CaraGreen (2024)

FAQs

What is biophilic design? - CaraGreen? ›

There are three pillars of Biophilic Design: Nature in the Space, Nature of the Space and Natural Analogues. To simplify, Nature in the Space is literally incorporating nature into the space. Adding water, plants, fish ponds, herbs etc. By definition, humans are drawn to nature and natural things.

Biophilic design is an approach to architecture that seeks to connect building occupants more closely to nature. Biophilic designed buildings incorporate things like natural lighting and ventilation, natural landscape features and other elements for creating a more productive and healthy built environment for people.

Biophilic design can be organized into three categories – Nature in the Space, Natural Analogues, and Nature of the Space – providing a framework for understanding and enabling thoughtful incorporation of a rich diversity of strategies into the built environment.

Difference Between Biophilic and Green Architecture

While both approaches are important for creating sustainable and healthy buildings, biophilic architecture places more emphasis on the psychological and emotional benefits of connecting with nature.

The Barbican Centre is one of the earliest and most famous examples of biophilic architecture. Opened in the 1980s as an estate in London, it's renowned for its striking, brutalist design. The bleak style of the Barbican is juxtaposed with the use of natural and artificial lakes and extensive wildlife.

Biophilic design comprises the 5 senses; sight, smell, touch, taste and hearing. The ultimate goal is to use these in conjunction with each other to create a space which reenergises its occupants and allows for maximum return on investment.

If not properly maintained, natural elements can become unsightly or even hazardous. Allergies: For some employees, exposure to natural elements such as plants or flowers can trigger allergies or other health issues. Space limitations: Biophilic design may not be practical for all workspaces.

Stephen Kellert is known as a father of biophilic design because of his widely accepted principles and framework around the idea. Below is a short summary of his biophilic framework.

Aspects that are unrelated or offer limited sustained benefits to people, such as desert or deep-sea habitats, microorganisms, alien species, extinct species, or obscure elements, are not considered integral to biophilic design.

Is biophilic design expensive? ›

Biophilia is increasingly recognised as an important element in building design for creating spaces that support health and wellbeing. Luckily, biophilic design does not require extensive or expensive interventions to have an impact.

Biophilic designs increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions. This concept has been around since ancient times, but the term was more recently coined in the 1980s.

Kellert identified two dimensions of biophilic design, which he calls the organic, or naturalistic, dimension, which relates to shapes and forms in the built environment that in some way reflect the human connection to nature, and the place-based, or vernacular, dimension which describes features that connect a ...

Few dense cities can truly boast being “in a garden” in the way that Singapore can. In many ways, Singapore is the shining example of a biophilic city.

Known by many as the “Godfather of Biophilia”, Dr Stephen Kellert's extensive works on implementing nature in design have had a profound influence on the way we create spaces.

It is just now that design professionals and researchers are pulling these together en masse and presenting them under the umbrella of biophilic design. There are three pillars of Biophilic Design: Nature in the Space, Nature of the Space and Natural Analogues.

Stress Reduction and Emotional Well-being

Modern life often inundates individuals with stressors. BiophiThe biophilic responds to this by introducing elements that evoke tranquility. Natural textures, soothing colors, and the presence of plants have been shown to reduce stress levels and elevate mood.

The biophilia hypothesis is the belief that humans are genetically predisposed to be attracted to nature. It states that all humans inherently love the natural world. This idea that we are drawn to and need nature was first put forth by a man named Edward O. Wilson in his book, Biophilia, published in 1984.

Key Principles of Biophilic Design:

Biophilic design focuses on elements of the natural world that, over evolutionary time, have advanced human health, fitness, and wellbeing. Biophilic design incorporates nature in a way that is connected, complementary, and integrated within the overall environment.

Biophilic design aims to engage all the senses, creating multisensory experiences that resonate with occupants on a deeper level. Incorporating elements such as natural textures, soothing sounds of water, and subtle scents of plants can evoke a sense of calm and connection.