Redefining Care through Natural Settings: The Advocacy for Biophilic Architecture
In today's modern world, where most people spend about 90% of their lives indoors, the need for a closer connection to nature has never been more apparent. This is where biophilic design comes in, a concept that aims to incorporate elements of nature into architectural or interior designs.
The interest in biophilic design has grown significantly in recent years, no longer being limited to crunchy granola hippies. An epidemic of mental illness is prevalent in society, with the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating mental health problems and a 2022 report finding that 27% of adults report being so stressed they cannot function most days.
Professor Jenny Roe, an environmental psychologist at the University of Virginia's School of Architecture, notes that most of the research on biophilic design has been done in the developed world. However, the benefits of biophilic design are undeniable, with studies showing that it can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood and cognitive function, and promote well-being.
Biophilic design typically aligns with three main categories: direct experience of nature, indirect experience of nature, and experience of space and place.
Direct Experience of Nature includes visual connections with nature, such as views of natural landscapes, plants, and animals. It also includes non-visual connections with nature, like natural sounds (birdsong, water), smells (flowers, earth), and tactile experiences (textures of wood or stone). Presence of water, natural materials, natural light, and air quality and ventilation are also important aspects of this category.
Indirect Experience of Nature includes the use of natural shapes and forms, natural colors, images and representations of nature, and evocation of nature through light and shadow.
Experience of Space and Place includes prospect and refuge, organized complexity, integration of parts to whole, and connection to place. Prospect and refuge offer spaces offering views and feeling of safety, while organized complexity echoes natural order, which is mentally stimulating and comforting. Integration of parts to whole connects different elements harmoniously, reflecting ecosystems, and connection to place reflects local ecology and cultural relationships with the environment.
Examples of healing gardens, which are spaces designed using biophilic principles, include the Bunny Mellon Healing Garden at Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C. and Chase Farm hospital rehabilitation gardens in London. These gardens provide restorative experiences and help promote mental health and well-being.
While biophilic design still cannot compete with being literally out in nature, integrating ecosystems is the next best option. Incorporating simple, affordable biophilic elements can be beneficial to mental health, and integrating actual ecosystems with convincingly natural spaces whenever possible is recommended to maximize the benefits of biophilic design.
As more research is conducted on biophilic design, it is becoming clear that it has the potential to make a significant impact on mental health. By consciously applying these 14 principles, designers can create spaces that nourish mental health by embedding human environments within richer natural contexts—providing comfort, stimulation, and restorative experiences.
References: [1] Terrapin Bright Green, 2014. "The Economics of Biophilia." [Online]. Available: https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/research/economics-of-biophilia/ [2] Ulrich, R.S., 1984. "View through a window may influence recovery from surgery." Science. 224(4647), 420-421. [3] Kellert, S.R., 1993. "Biophilia: The Human Bond with Other Species." Yale University Press. [5] Wilson, E.O., 1984. "Biophilia." Harvard Magazine. Available: https://www.harvardmagazine.com/1984/02/biophilia [2] White, M.P., Alcock, I., Wheeler, B.W., & Depledge, M.H., 2021. "The Health Benefits of Contact with Nature: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Green Exercise Trials." Environmental Health Perspectives. 129(7), 077023.
- The magazine focused on health-and-wellness discusses the growing importance of biophilic design, a concept integrating natural elements into architectural designs to improve mental health.
- The newsletter on sustainable living mentions the Chase Farm hospital rehabilitation gardens in London, examples of healing gardens using biophilic principles to promote mental health and well-being.
- The community garden in the home-and-garden magazine emphasizes the use of natural colors and textures, highlighting the indirect experience of nature, a key aspect of biophilic design.
- The lifestyle magazine's feature on mental health explores the benefits of biophilic design, citing studies that show its potential in reducing stress, anxiety, and improving mood and cognitive function.
- The art exhibition showcasing pieces inspired by the natural world incorporates visual connections with nature, such as views of landscapes and animals, making it a prime example of the direct experience of nature in biophilic design.
