What is Biophilic Design?

Biophilic design is pretty much what it sounds like – bringing nature back into the spaces where we live, work, and move around. Think green roofs, living walls, big windows that actually let sunlight in, and views of something other than concrete.

The idea behind it is surprisingly simple: we spent thousands of years surrounded by nature, and our brains are still wired for it. When we're cut off from it – stuck in sterile offices or grey urban blocks – we feel it. Studies show that even small doses of nature can lower stress, lift your mood, and help you focus and retain information better.

So biophilic design isn't just an aesthetic choice. It's an attempt to give back something we quietly lost when we built our modern world.

5 examples of biophilic building designs

1. The Living Wall in San Francisco: The Living Wall is a residential building that features a green wall on the exterior, which provides insulation and improves air quality. The building also includes a rooftop garden and a courtyard with a water feature.

2. The Green School in Bali: The Green School is a sustainable school that incorporates biophilic design throughout its campus. The school features green roofs, a bamboo structure, and a living wall, as well as a variety of indoor plants.

3. Amazon Spheres in Seattle: The eye-catching Spheres at e-commerce giant Amazon’s Seattle offices are a fantastic example of biophilic design. The three transparent greenhouses are packed with a variety of plants, making for a unique workplace.

4. The Bosco Verticale in Milan: The Bosco Verticale is a residential building that features a green wall on the exterior, which provides insulation and improves air quality. The building also includes a rooftop garden and a courtyard with a water feature.

5. The Het Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam: The Het Nieuwe Instituut is a biophilic building that features a green roof, a rain garden, and a variety of outdoor spaces that provide access to nature. The building also includes a variety of interactive exhibits that teach visitors about the importance of nature and the role of design in promoting sustainability

Main principles for the effective practice of biophilic design:

1. Incorporating natural elements: Biophilic design should include a variety of natural elements, such as plants, water, light, and natural materials, in order to create a connection to nature.

2. Access to nature views: providing access to nature views, such as through windows or outdoor spaces, can improve well-being and cognitive function.

3. Natural light: Incorporating natural light in the design can help regulate circadian rhythms and improve sleep.

4. Indoor-outdoor connection: Biophilic design should include a connection between indoor and outdoor spaces, such as through the use of patios or green roofs, to increase the sense of connection to nature.

5. Flexible spaces: Biophilic design should include flexible spaces that can be used for a variety of activities and that can adapt to changing seasons and weather conditions.

6. Nature-based patterns and forms: Biophilic design should incorporate nature-based patterns and forms, such as fractals and the golden ratio, in order to create a sense of visual harmony and connection to nature.

7. Attention to biodiversity: Biophilic design should not just focus on a single type of nature, it should provide a diverse environment that can support various species of plants, animals and microorganisms.

8. Adaptive to different cultures: Biophilic design should be adaptable to different cultures and take into account the cultural significance of different natural elements.

9. Sustainable design: Biophilic design should be integrated with sustainable design principles, such as energy-efficient building systems and the use of non-toxic materials, to minimize the environmental impact of the built environment.