Have you ever considered paying extra for an inside cabin on a cruise? Or requested the poorly lit cubicle without a window? If so, you’re an anomaly. As for the rest of us, it’s more or less likely due to our innate instinct to want to connect with nature; a characteristic commonly referred to as Biophilia.

My professors in architecture school always stressed the importance of nature and the built environment. Therefore, to get on the professor’s good side, I could just throw in a courtyard and already be one step closer to receiving an ‘A’. I loved the idea of a courtyard, but I never actually thought about why; it was more than just something I thought was beautiful.

Benefits of Biophilic Design

Biophilic design aims to incorporate elements such as environmental features, natural light and organic shapes and patterns. When applied to the built environment, these elements can offer a variety of benefits.

To quantify the impact of nature on human behavior, consider how much a company can save in one year, just by incorporating biophilic elements into their design. An office space has the potential to save over $2,000 per employee per year in office costs. Thus, investing in employee wellness leads to less sick days taken and an increase in productivity.

Additionally, $93 million could be saved annually in healthcare costs as a result of providing patients with views to nature (Terrapin Bright Green, 2012). Such biophilic design strategies act as a catalyst, leading to shorter hospital stays.

8 Biophilic Designs to Make You Swoon Over

Residential

As you enter this luxurious living room, your eyes immediately become drawn to this magnificent mural of nature. The starkness of the double-height space is instantly transformed into an inviting, mystifying living room.

Benefits of a green wall

• Acts as a natural air filtration system by metabolizing harmful toxins
• Releases clean oxygen into the air
• Cools the air in the hot summer months, thereby saving on energy costs
• Can earn credits toward building performance programs such as WELL or LEED

Healthcare

In this Imaging Room I worked on, there was limited space and a tight budget. Having no windows, the client wanted to incorporate some elements of the outside world. With the help from Sky Factory, this skylight was designed to put patients more at ease. Much more than just a pretty image, the skylight adds an illusion that creates a multisensory effect on the human physiology.

Office

Trends in the workplace have shown an increase in the need for collaboration and socialization. As a result, designers are coming up with new ways to incorporate leisure areas and creative spaces. This spherical “Growroom” not only gives employees the opportunity to interact with one another, but also to interact with the meeting space itself.

Located in London, this experimental office known as the “Living Lab” was designed to study the effects of biophilic design in the workplace. Although many biophilic designs incorporate lots of greenery, this work area focused on the use of other natural materials such as the intricate bamboo privacy screens. Furthermore, circadian lighting helps to mimic the intensity of the sun throughout the day, providing “additional dynamism to the experience.”

The Indeed office located in Tokyo provides a calming biophilic oasis for employees to collaborate or to escape their desks. “Locally sourced materials such as Japanese cedar and Cypress finishes” adorn the ceiling and work surfaces. The indoor landscape utilizes a mix of living plants and zen-like gardens to promote well-being.

Hospitality

Not all Starbucks stores are created equal. The attention to detail in the Miami Beach retail hub is at the peak of design. Biophilic elements are all throughout, from the wood paneling, to the earth-toned colors and the jaw-dropping moss mural. According to the store itself, the global mural, designed by Plant the Future, is a tribute to the “origins of coffee.”

The lobby of the Hudson Hotel in New York City is absolutely breathtaking. Natural vines drape the glass ceiling, allowing just the right amount of light to enter to create this sensual environment. The use of greenery in this situation is a great way to bring in natural elements that are otherwise uncommon in big cities.

Retail

Committed to the company brand, Pirie Associates designed this retail store to promote a healthy outdoor living vibe. Many of the store’s materials are reclaimed from local and regional sources to “support the health and well-being of all living systems.” Additional elements include a double-height green wall and “16 bark-on tree poles.”