Is Biophilic Design Nature’s Antidote?

What is Biophilic design?

Biophilia is the desire to connect with nature. Biophilic design is an extension of biophilia. It is a concept used in the building industry to increase people’s connectivity to the natural environment by incorporating natural materials, natural light, vegetation, nature views and other experiences of the natural world. It is commonly believed that biophilic design has health, environmental, and economic benefits for building occupants and urban environments. Although this is a relatively new concept, indicators of biophilic design have been seen in architecture from as far back as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.

Architect Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “I go to nature every day for inspiration in the day’s work. I follow in building the principles which nature has used in its domain.” That sentiment is the culture of biophilic design. Biophilic design is not only aesthetically pleasing but also mentally beneficial.

Research supports that when hospital patient rooms have views of nature, postoperative stays are generally shorter, less pain medication is dispensed, and their overall condition improves. There is evidence of reduced stress and enhanced creativity when images of natural features such as landscapes, gardens, and waterscapes are displayed in buildings. One study by researchers Katcher, Segal, and Beck found that patients waiting to undergo dental surgery exhibited lower anxiety levels when an aquarium of fish was present in the waiting area as opposed to when the aquarium was absent.

Studies show that biophilic design tactics employed in the workplace increase the well-being of employees and therefore aid other financial benefits like reduction in use of sick days. The annual savings for a company can amount to $3,000 per employee.

Biophilia in your home office

Bringing the outdoors inside of your home is an excellent way to reconnect with nature. Use indoor houseplants in your home to add beauty. Live plants not only help to purify the air within your home but they also promote a peaceful atmosphere. Add greenery in pots, trailing plants hanging from the ceiling and a herb garden on the kitchen windowsill.

The sights and sounds of water are an aspect of Biophilic Design that helps create a connection to nature. Installing a fountain in your outdoor living area or an outdoor entryway is an easy way to embrace biophilic design. Also, try adding a fish tank to your home to welcome the earth into everyday life.

Make the most of available natural light by keeping your windows clear, clean and unobstructed by blinds and curtains.

Embracing the biophilic lifestyle may just be the key to surviving self- quarantine :). While you are hanging out in your new office, take a look at the newest GrantWatch grant category dedicated exclusively to grants focussing on novel coronavirus.