Biophilia

Human wellness depends upon our innate connection to nature.

We must support biophilia in how we build.


WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

Connection to Nature Sustains Us

Emerging as an important green building design and human health concept is the notion of biophilia and biophilic design. Biophilia is humankind’s innate biological connection with nature1, while biophilic design is the practice of connecting people and nature within our built environments and communities.2

Key aspects of biophilic design include:

  • incorporating nature through environmental features, light and space, and natural shapes and forms;
  • integrating nature’s patterns through natural patterns and processes and evolved human-nature relationships;
  • connecting to place, climate, and culture through place-based relationships; and
  • providing sufficient and frequent human-nature interactions in both the interior and the exterior of the project to connect the majority of occupants with nature directly.3

 

Environment and Well-being

An environment without nature can have a negative effect on individual health, productivity and well-being which in turn can result in poor performance, lost work time, and increased costs. Recent studies suggest that biophilic design can reduce stress, and improve cognitive function and creativity, improve our well-being and expedite healing.

A recent Human Spaces global study of 7,600 office workers from 16 countries, examined the impact of the physical office environment on employee well-being. It concluded that office design was important to workers and found that:

  • a third (33%) of global respondents stated it would affect their decision to work for that organization making biophilic design an important consideration for employee recruitment and retention;
  • workers in offices with natural elements such as greenery and sunlight are 6% more productive;
  • report 15% higher level of well-being; and
  • are 15% more creative4

 

SOURCES

  1. http://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/14-Patterns-of-Biophilic-Design-Terrapin-2014p.pdf
  2. https://living-future.org/biophilic-design/
  3. https://living-future.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Biophilic_Design_Guidebook.pdf
  4. https://greenplantsforgreenbuildings.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Human-Spaces-Report-Biophilic-Global_Impact_Biophilic_Design.pdf