Nature Meets Design
How biophilic design can change the way we live
13 January 2025
3-4 minute read
Biophilic design may sound like another modern trend, pervading your social media spaces and vying for influence and attention, but just as wellness is a relatively modern word for a concept as old as human society itself, so too is biophilia.
It may look and sound a little opaque, potentially complicated, and strangely alienating at first, but it doesn’t need to be: it refers to the innate human desire to feel connected with nature and the natural world.
It’s primal and necessary, perhaps even urgently so.
“We will never be truly healthy, satisfied, or fulfilled if we live apart and alienated from the environment from which we evolved.”
— Stephen R. Kellert, Biophilic Design
We are drawn to nature.
In his 2021 BBC series “Nature and US: A History through Art”, art historian James Fox explores the relationship between humanity and the natural world through the evolution of art, weaving a compelling narrative. The first figurative art works that we know of are overwhelmingly depictions of animals. There are almost no representations of humans, or where they do occur they are far more abstract. The early depictions of animals seem to be studious and keenly observed in their representations of the anatomy and behaviour of various species. This supports a widely-held belief regarding our relationship with nature: that pre-agrarian humans were far more intimately connected with the natural world around them and lived in much more comfortable harmony with it.
We see as culture evolves and humans begin to exploit the natural world for greater gains through agriculture, so too do the depictions of nature through art evolve. This is seen as the moment in which our “separation” from nature began, as we began to exert control over it, rather than live within it.
Yet somewhere, deeply-rooted in our psyche, our relationship with nature yearns for a return to the old ways. We desire equilibrium, comfort in our surroundings, and a feeling of belonging. We feel restored by nature when we can simply enjoy relating to it and absorbing its sensory wonders, without having to exercise our control over it.
“Staggeringly accurate art is proof our ancestors were intimately connected to the other species living alongside them.”
— James Fox, Nature and Us: A History through Art
Many of us feel the pull of biophilic need without necessarily acknowledging it, or without understanding what is at work in our psyche. Do you ever notice how your body seems to relax when in a natural environment, surrounded by the sights, smells, sounds and textures of plants and landscape? Does your body somehow feel lighter as soon as you step out into your garden, or when you arrive at the coast and look out over the sea, or take a stroll through some deep green and shady woodland?
Now imagine stepping into a space that instantly makes you feel calmer, more alive, and deeply connected to the natural world. Perhaps you can see out to it; or perhaps it’s how your senses are engaged by the space that makes you feel that engagement with nature; or perhaps it affords you just a glimpse of something, like a brush of evening sunlight casting languid shadows on a wall.
Biophilic design is about tapping into our innate love of nature to create environments that nurture both the body and mind.
It’s not hard to agree that being connected with nature is good for you, and that it’s something we all would like to do more of.
Studies have shown that just the sounds of nature can contribute to feelings of relaxation, relieve symptoms of anxiety, and even in some cases, depending on the individual’s circumstances, reduce feelings of pain in some people. The conservation scientist Rachel Buxton reviewed 36 separate studies of the effects of natural sounds such as water, birdsong, and wind, upon humans. Her findings support this line of thought: there was a 28% reduction in feelings of annoyance across the subjects of the studies; the sound of water was found to be the strongest of all the measured factors in reducing blood pressure, pain markers and heart rates, by 23% on average.
There is something poetic and nostalgic about the concept that our bodies are calling out to nature for connection, even healing. There is also a growing body of evidence that this connection can have real, tangible benefits.
Applying this concept through design thinking is referred to as biophilic design. Biophilic design is design that seeks to foster the human-to-nature connection, breaking down the barriers between us and nature that are put in place by modern lifestyles. It provides opportunity for this interaction; celebrates the natural world; invites it into interior spaces and vice-versa; makes use of natural; un-processed materials; and explores the world of natural light and the passage of time. In the simplest terms, it means designing spaces that reflect and incorporate elements of the natural world.
There is a strong link between biophilia and wellness, with the former strongly contributing to the latter at an emotional, spiritual and physical level. Environments which are designed around biophilic concepts contribute passively to their occupants’ wellness, creating inherent relaxing, calm and peaceful spaces.
Here are some of the most common ways in which biophilic thinking influences design:
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Natural Light
Maximising opportunities for daylight to enter the space through windows, skylights, and by opening up layouts of spaces and rooms, avoiding spaces without any natural light unless they have a specific programmatic requirement to be completely dark or only artificially lit
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Greenery
Incorporating indoor plants, living walls, rooftop gardens, lush garden designs, and orientating towards and highlighting outdoor views where available
Specifying natural materials is key for us, especially sustainably-sourced timber, but also stone and earthen materials like clay. We feel that materials have a greater capacity for emotional resonance the less processed they are. Materials in their natural state tell us stories of their formation and remind us of the world's natural processes at work, free from human cares. Their imperfections and idiosyncrasies, their subtle variations, create uniqueness and individuality that means no two components are exactly alike.
We bring plants into spaces not just for their aesthetics but for their biological benefits too. Spider plants, snake plants, English ivy and peace lilies are excellent air purifiers. Aromatic plants such as lavender, rosemary and jasmine can help promote relaxation and tranquility; lower cortisol levels; improve cognitive function; improve sleep quality; and alleviate symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Everything we do has biophilic thinking at its core.