Biophilic design. The power of architecture and nature.

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What is biophilic design and how does it affect architecture

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What is biophilic design and how does it affect architecture

Throughout history, many of the great architectural planners, theorists, research scientists, design and architecture professionals have worked for decades to define aspects of nature that affect our satisfaction with a built environment.

This objective is becoming a "new trend" that has more and more followers, biophilic design. You want to know more? We are going to tell you many interesting things …

What is biophilic design?

In a generic way, we could define biophilic design in incorporating elements of nature in urban or interior spaces to evoke nature in order to help people feel better and reconnect with space-

A way to effectively improve the mental health and well-being of individuals and society, both in individual or closed spaces, as well as in open spaces.

Biophilic design enhances the health and well-being of the built environment by connecting with nature

And all this from introduce nature into architectural spaces… How is it achieved? What does it bring us? What does it take to apply biophilic design? Many doubts that we want to outline.

The incorporation of natural elements in construction; plants, water, animals, air or breezes, sounds, smells, etc. It is achieved based on three main points:

Nature in space	Natural analogies	Nature of space
Visual connection with nature	Biomorphic shapes and patterns	Perspective
Non-visual connection with nature	Material connection with nature	Refuge
Non-rhythmic sensory stimulation	Complexity and order	Mystery
Variability of temperature and air currents		Risk or danger
Presence of water
Diffuse and dynamic light
Connection with natural systems

According to a study carried out by Alba Beltre Ortega. This causes us sensory experiences with the built environment and its natural elements that we can distinguish in three scenarios:

Indirect experience	Direct experience	Experience of space and place
Light	Nature images	Outlook and Shelter
Air	Natural materials	Organized complexity
Water	Natural colors	Integration of the parties
Plants	Mobility and orientation	Transitional spaces
Animals	Cultural and ecological attachment to the place	Mobility
Ecosystems and natural landscapes	Naturalistic forms
Weather	Evocation of nature
Fire	Information wealth
	Awareness of the passage of time
	Natural geometries
	Biomimetics
	Air and daylight simulation

Imagine what you could achieve by applying this technique in architecture! Well, let's see where we start …

14 Biophilic Design Patterns:

The basis of the biophilic patterns and design guidelines, although there is a lot of history behind it, they are considered to be contributed by Stephen Kellert, to help us understand what it takes to apply biophilic design.

Each of the fourteen patterns focus on stress reduction, cognitive performance, improved emotions and mood, and the human body:

We can see the previous scheme from the PDF 14 patterns of the bio-fictional design from HERE. Every time you enter a space, an influx of information about it is delivered to your brain through the senses. What is the space like? What sounds come from it? What does it smell like? Is it hot or cold, wet or dry? …

Human beings are a kind of full-body sensors, and our sensors are absorbing information from the environment where we are, helping us to understand the places we are going. These key points aim to improve health and well-being in a built environment.

Nature in space:

Visual Connection with Nature. A view of the elements of nature, observing natural systems and processes.
Non-visual connection with Nature. Auditory, tactile, olfactory, gustatory or stimuli that generate a deliberate situation or sensation, and the positive reference to nature, living natural systems or processes.
Sensory stimuli. The ephemeral, connections with nature that can be statistically analyzed but cannot be accurately predicted.
Thermal sensation and air flow. Subtle changes in air temperature, relative humidity, air flow through the building, and temperatures that mimic nature.
Presence of water. Provided that it improves the experience and sensations of a place through sight, hearing and even by touch.
Dynamic and diffuse light. Taking advantage of different intensities of light and its shadows, creating conditions that favor an environment surrounded by nature.
Connection with natural systems. Knowledge of natural processes, especially seasonal and temporary changes based on a healthy ecosystem.

Analogous nature:

Biomorphic shapes and patterns. Symbolic reference to contouring, modeling, texturing, or patterns that exist in nature. (Definition of Biomorphism from HERE)
Material Connection with Nature. Elements and materials that through minimal processing reflect the local environment and geology.
Complexity and order. A spatial hierarchy that simulates nature is required.

Nature over space:

The perspective. Sensation of open spaces, observation points and planning of the environment.
Refuge. A place of rest, in which the individual is protected with feelings of well-being.
Mystery. Partially dark spaces, spaces of attraction for the observer. A deep trip to nature.
Risk and danger. An identifiable threat with security points.

How to apply biophilic design in architecture

There is a very useful scheme of how to apply biophilic design techniques in the interior design or architecture sector That will be very good for us and that, in addition, the information is proposed according to the economic budget that we have. Creation of a biophilic space:

As the previous scheme is very long, we can find it in this document on positive spaces HERE (From page 24). A highly recommended document for its well-designed and easy-to-apply outline.

Examples of biophilic design in architecture:

We provide five case studies where the biophilic design in architecture It has had a positive impact for users of both buildings or open spaces.

A biophilic project in the face of health

In this case, the images are part of a hospital project that today is a benchmark in health for children (The Royal Children's Hospital by Bates Smart - Melbourne. Australia) and in the application of Biophilic concepts to improve the well-being of patients.

The conclusions obtained by different studies are clear: patients who are placed in rooms with views of nature or spacious recover more quickly, obtaining a lower "bed rate" than occupants of other rooms.

Biophilic architecture in the office

The Woodsbagot design studio routinely practices biophilic design techniques in your offices. One example is the superbly designed offices of the National Australia Bank (NAB)

A case study of a University of Oregon administrative office building indicated that the Biophilic architecture directly affects the absenteeism rate of office workers, in this case it was concluded at 10 percent.

Biophilic urbanism in public spaces

One of the most emblematic examples can be identified in New York. The High Line park, a train line converted into an open area for visitors with more than 300 species of perennials, herbs, shrubs and trees.

More than four million people visit it every year. The biophilic architecture in public spaces That is adapted to urbanism can also help lower the urban air temperature and improve the island effect in urban areas.