What is Biophilic Design and How do you Identify it?
Do you know what biophilic design is?
Biophilic design is a type of design in buildings that increases connectivity to the natural world and environment through nature. It connects people to nature within building environments.
If you’re interested in learning more about biophilic design, read on.
Everything You Need to Know About Biophilic Design.
It Connects Us With Nature
Biophilic design seeks to connect our needs with nature inside buildings. The biophilic design process aims to keep nature instrumental in a person’s mental and physical health inside a building.
Today, our natural habitat is, for the most part, artificial. Our environments lack natural elements, and we spend most of our time indoors. Biophilic design seeks to bring nature inside modern buildings to create natural, healthy environments.
What Does Biophilic Design Focus On?
Biophilic design focuses on our deeply rooted, often subdued connection to nature. By designing spaces that include natural light, views of nature, natural products & materials, it connects us to nature on a subconscious level. In short, we feel healthier & more comfortable in our built environment.
Overall Habitat
Biophilic design also emphasizes an overall habitat instead of isolated and disconnected elements that do not relate to one another. Pieces put in place must relate to one another and impact the performance and health of the people working or living in the spaces.
When it comes to biophilic design, everything must be connected. You cannot simply put one isolated item (a single flower pot) and call it biophilic design. The elements used in biophilic design must connect and integrate with the entire environment.
Repeated Contact With Nature
Biophilic design emphasizes repeated contact and engagement with nature. It creates an emotional attachment to spaces which improves performance and productivity.
Biophilic design also helps create positive relationships between people and the environment, which helps create a sense of community.
Today, most buildings lack natural lighting, ventilation, materials, environmental forms, views, and other natural world parts. By simply introducing these design aspects, health and productivity can vastly improve.
Biophilic design seeks to implement the direct experience of nature, which includes:
- Natural landscapes
- Water
- Light
- Air
- Plans
- Animals
How to Identify Biophilic Design
Nature in built environments gives us physical, direct contact with nature. Elements used in biophilic design include stimulating views of nature, water features, sounds, natural breezes, and more.
These patterns all bring fundamental elements of the natural environment into our built environments.
Patterns and elements can include:
- Living systems such as indoor & outdoor gardens.
- A window with a view to nature
- Flower beds
- Living walls
- Ripples on water
- Sway of grass
- Changes in air temperature
- Airflow, breeze, or humidity across the skin
- Water
- Lighting and shadows
- Seasonal changes
- Grains, textures, and elements that reflect nature
- Oversized skylights or windows
- Balconies with views
- High walkways or glass walls which overlook a large city
Biophilic design focuses on bringing the natural environment indoors, where people spend most of their time. When people spend more and more time inside urban and built environments, they lose their connection to nature. If you’re interested in biophilic design, an experienced and reputable home builder can help you get on the right track.
Are you interested in biophilic design? Our award-winning Edmonton home designers team is here to help you build your dream home. We provide our clients with a trusted and reliable level of service. As a result, we can design an energy-efficient home that fits your needs and lifestyle while enhancing your overall life and well-being.
We will work with you every step of the way to build the home of your dreams.
Contact us today. We build homes we would be proud to live in ourselves. So let’s talk about your dream.
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