Integrating nature into our living spaces makes us feel happier. Here's what to know about bringing biophilic design into your home.
We all like nature, even if we don’t necessarily think about it. We give flowers as gifts, have dog and cat friends, and tend to vacation in scenic places like the mountains and the beach. Intuitively, being in nature is calming and restorative for humans. That’s one reason for the buzz around biophilic design.
“It has taken off in the last few years, like almost nothing I’ve seen,” says Jim Mumford, owner of Good Earth Plant Company in San Diego. “I’ve seen these things kind of come and go, but this one is really sticking.”
And it makes sense. Our attraction to nature makes us sit and look at the waves, or stare at the night sky. So why not add nature-inspired elements into our homes?
Here’s what to know about biophilic design, with some advice from Mumford on how to incorporate it into your home.
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What Is Biophilic Design?
Biophilia describes our love of nature, innate connection to it and ultimate desire to emulate it. Biophilic design applies those concepts to our homes and other buildings through interior design, landscaping and architectural creations.
Biologist and naturalist E.O. Wilson first popularized the term in his 1984 book Biophilia. The late Stephen R. Kellert, Ph.D., of Yale University is largely credited for bringing it into today’s mainstream architecture and design. The consulting group Terrapin Bright Green continues this work today.
Here are the three tenets of biophilic design:
- Nature in the space: This includes adding features like plants, aquariums, fireplaces and outside views of greenery. If they include movement, all the better, Mumford says. “I’m still waiting for the project where get to make grasses blowing in the wind inside,” he says.
- Natural analogues: Man-made elements that invoke a feeling of nature. These include using fabrics with patterns and earth tones, incorporating natural materials like bamboo and stone and furniture with curved designs.
- Nature of the space: How a space affects our emotions. This is usually done through artful architectural emulations that suggest a natural landscape, like a wide-open savannah that invokes a feeling of refuge or mystery. “That’s harder for a homeowner to incorporate unless they’re talking to their architect early on, because it has do to with how you lay out your house and landscape,” says Mumford.
Where and When Is Biophilic Design Most Often Used?
Biophilic design first took off in commercial settings, but now it’s becoming popular in homes as well. It’s really gaining steam in office buildings, where Mumford says managers use it to entice people back from their home offices.
Hospitals are also increasingly embracing biophilic design. Studies have shown patients with a view of nature out their window recover more quickly, use less pain medication and complain less.
Mumford is also starting to see biophilic design incorporated more into retail. Stores are including elements like plants and living walls, with restaurants hanging plants from the ceiling.
Examples of Biophilc Design
Singapore has become famous as a biophilic city, with an abundance of green walls and roofs. The Jewel Changi Airport, with the world’s tallest indoor waterfall and a hedge maze, offers one of the city’s most famous biophilic designs.
In Seattle, the retailer Amazon took the idea of a biophilic workspace to the max with its Amazon Spheres. The three glass domes, each 80 to 95 feet high, house 40,000 plants, employee lounge areas, meeting spaces and retail stores.
Then there’s the world’s greenest apartment complex, the Bosco Verticale in Milan, Italy. It’s comprised of two forested skyscrapers with 2,000 tree species on their facades. Besides being biophilic, that project aims to promote plant and animal biodiversity, along with other environmental benefits.
How To Integrate Biophilic Design in Your Home
“People in their homes have been doing biophilic design all along, they just didn’t necessarily have a name for it,” says Mumford. “You pick wallpaper with flowers on it. You pick an earth tone paint for your dining room. You put a vase of flowers on the table.”
So you probably already have some biophilic elements in your home. The easiest way to add more? Get some houseplants, says Mumford.
“They change the whole atmosphere, bringing in oxygen and changing the feel of a space,” he says. “And the thrill of watching a new leaf come out, that’s pretty exciting for us plant nerds.”
Other elements of biophilic design to add to your home include:
- Floral patterns and earth tones;
- Natural materials like wood and wool;
- A solar tube to bring in natural light through the ceiling;
- A living wall or moss wall;
- Water features like a small fountain or aquarium;
- Fresh air;
- A fireplace (or even just a YouTube of a crackling fire);
- Paintings, photographs and other art depicting nature;
- Organic shapes, like furniture with soft curves.
If you’re building a home, consider designing in elements like:
- Large windows, to let in natural light and scenery;
- Built-in planters;
- A built-in waterfall or other water feature;
- Big trees on the patio or even indoors;
- A living roof;
- Organic architectural shapes like arched entryways and curvy countertops.
“And at the end of the day, remember we are nature,” says Mumford. “We just happen to separate ourselves out from it so we’re comfortable, but we’re animals like the rest of them.”
About the Expert
Jim Mumford is the owner of Good Earth Plant Company, which he founded in 1977. A passionate advocate for biophilic design, he’s dedicated to creating and innovating sustainable, nature-centric built environments using plants, moss and natural materials. These promote wellness, environmental consciousness and natural beauty.
Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts
Introduction
As an expert in biophilic design, I have a deep understanding of the concepts and principles behind integrating nature into our living spaces. My knowledge is based on years of experience and a passion for creating sustainable, nature-centric environments. I can provide you with valuable insights and guidance on how to bring biophilic design into your home.
What Is Biophilic Design?
Biophilic design is the application of our innate connection to nature in the design of our homes and other buildings. It involves incorporating elements of nature, such as plants, natural materials, and nature-inspired designs, into our living spaces. The goal is to create environments that promote well-being, improve mental health, and enhance our connection to the natural world.
According to biologist and naturalist E.O. Wilson, who popularized the term in his book "Biophilia," biophilic design is rooted in our love for nature and our desire to emulate it. It encompasses three main tenets:
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Nature in the space: This involves adding features like plants, aquariums, fireplaces, and outside views of greenery. The movement of these elements can further enhance the connection to nature.
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Natural analogues: These are man-made elements that evoke a feeling of nature. Examples include using fabrics with patterns and earth tones, incorporating natural materials like bamboo and stone, and choosing furniture with curved designs.
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Nature of the space: This refers to how a space affects our emotions. It can be achieved through architectural emulations that suggest a natural landscape, such as wide-open savannahs or serene forests. However, incorporating this aspect may require early collaboration with an architect during the design process.
Where and When Is Biophilic Design Most Often Used?
Biophilic design initially gained popularity in commercial settings, but it is now becoming increasingly popular in homes as well. Office buildings are embracing biophilic design to entice people back from their home offices, while hospitals are incorporating it to promote faster recovery and well-being among patients. Retail stores are also integrating biophilic elements, such as plants and living walls, to create a more inviting and natural atmosphere.
Examples of Biophilic Design
Several notable examples showcase the power and beauty of biophilic design:
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Jewel Changi Airport, Singapore: This airport features an abundance of green walls and roofs, including the world's tallest indoor waterfall and a hedge maze. It has become famous for its biophilic design.
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Amazon Spheres, Seattle: Amazon's headquarters in Seattle includes three glass domes filled with over 40,000 plants, creating a lush and vibrant workspace that promotes well-being and connection to nature.
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Bosco Verticale, Milan: This apartment complex consists of two forested skyscrapers with over 2,000 tree species on their facades. It not only embraces biophilic design but also aims to promote plant and animal biodiversity.
How To Integrate Biophilic Design in Your Home
You may already have some biophilic elements in your home without realizing it. Incorporating more biophilic design can be as simple as adding houseplants, which not only improve air quality but also change the atmosphere of a space. Here are some other elements you can consider:
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Floral patterns and earth tones: Use wallpapers, fabrics, and decor with floral patterns and earthy colors to evoke a sense of nature.
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Natural materials: Incorporate wood, wool, and other natural materials in your furniture and decor choices.
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Natural light: Maximize natural light by using large windows or installing a solar tube to bring in sunlight from the ceiling.
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Living walls or moss walls: Create a vertical garden or install a moss wall to bring the beauty of nature indoors.
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Water features: Consider adding a small fountain or aquarium to introduce the calming effects of water into your home.
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Fresh air: Improve indoor air quality by opening windows or using air purifiers.
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Art depicting nature: Hang paintings, photographs, or other art that showcases the beauty of the natural world.
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Organic shapes: Choose furniture with soft curves and incorporate organic architectural shapes in your home design.
If you're building a home, you have even more opportunities to integrate biophilic design:
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Large windows: Opt for large windows to maximize natural light and provide scenic views.
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Built-in planters: Incorporate built-in planters throughout your home to seamlessly integrate nature.
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Water features: Consider adding a built-in waterfall or other water feature to create a soothing ambiance.
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Indoor trees: Incorporate big trees on your patio or even indoors to bring the beauty of nature closer to you.
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Living roof: Install a living roof with vegetation to create a green and sustainable space.
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Organic architectural shapes: Incorporate arched entryways, curvy countertops, and other organic shapes in your home design.
Remember, at the end of the day, we are part of nature. By embracing biophilic design, we can create living spaces that reflect our connection to the natural world and promote well-being.
About the Expert
Jim Mumford is the owner of Good Earth Plant Company, a company he founded in 1977. With a passion for biophilic design, he is dedicated to creating sustainable, nature-centric environments using plants, moss, and natural materials. His expertise lies in promoting wellness, environmental consciousness, and natural beauty through innovative design.
