Biophilic Design Summary

The phrase ‘Biophilic Design’ was coined in 1984 to describe the human affinity for natural settings and life processes. Essentially, our minds and bodies are tuned to respond positively to the natural environment: our health, emotional wellbeing, and relationships all benefit from a sense of connection with the natural world.

The sustainable building movement is part of a new paradigm referred to as ‘restorative environmental design’. The paradigm employs two strategies; designing for low environmental impact to minimize the adverse affects of a building on the natural environment, and creating buildings with positive environmental impacts that foster beneficial contact between people and nature. The first strategy is addressed by the LEED green building rating system. The second strategy, referred to as biophilic design, has been neglected due to the difficulty in translating the concept into specific approaches for designing the built environment.

There has been a revival of interest in the concept of biophilic design as evidence mounts regarding its benefits, especially as they relate to healthcare. Recently, there have been over 50 rigorous studies devoted to understanding the influence of biophilic design on patients, staff, and families. Examples of some of the proven benefits are listed below:

• Contact with nature has been found to enhance healing and recovery from illness and major surgical procedures. Contact can be direct (i.e. natural lighting, vegetation) or representational and symbolic.
• People living in proximity to open spaces report fewer health problems and enhanced coping skills. Even token amounts of nature (i.e. grass and a few trees) have been shown to be beneficial.
• Work settings with natural light, natural ventilation and other contact with nature result in better performance, lower stress, greater motivation and longer employee retention for workers.
• The human brain responds functionally to sensory patterns and cues emanating from the natural environment.

There are six basic dimensions to biophilic design that encompasses more then 70 specific attributes that can be incorporated into a building. The basic dimensions are:

• Environmental Features
• Natural Shapes and Forms
• Natural Patterns and Processes
• Light and Space
• Place-based relationships
• Evolved human-nature relationship