Project Description

BIOPHILIC DESIGN: OUR INNATE LOVE OF NATURE

“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, Birthright: People and Nature in the Modern World

What is biophilia?

Biophilia is described as the inherent human inclination to affiliate with nature. Biophilia is widely considered critical to our physical and mental health, as well as our general well-being. Biophilic design is an extension of biophilia and it uses direct and indirect nature, light and water in environments and spaces to help us connect with nature.

Biophilic design

Author of Nature by Design: The Practice of Biophilic Design, Stephen R. Kellert, wrote: “One of the great challenges of our time is to bring the beneficial experience of nature into the design of contemporary buildings, landscapes, communities, and cities.”

So, how do we combine nature and design?

Biophilic design does not require a large budget and there are many simple ways to apply the principles to a space for example:

  • Changing the layout of your office to maximise the views of the outside
  • Having a mix of easy to care for plants in your workplace at various heights
  • Maximising natural daylight or recreating natural lighting
  • Opting for natural materials in your refurbishment like stone or wood

The Benefits

Biophilic design in the workplace comes with many benefits for your team.

  • Improves air quality

Having plants indoors is a great way to improve the air quality in your work place as they provide additional humidity and oxygen into a room, which can be helpful for decreasing the spread of allergens.

  • Improve mental well-being

Studies show that biophilic design can drastically reduce stress and anxiety which leads to a much happier team!

  • Increase productivity

Exposure to natural light can increase energy levels, alertness, and productivity. This UK study shows that those who worked in offices with natural greenery saw a 15% rise in productivity over a three-month period.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you incorporate biophilic design into your next commercial refurbishment.