Biophilic Design: A Lifestyle Everyone Should Embrace

Interior design trends come and go (good riddance to shag carpet) but biophilic design is one that is here to stay.

Biophilic design incorporates natural materials, natural light, vegetation, outdoor views and other experiences of the natural world into the modern built environment.

As a result, interior designers and architects are incorporating biophilic design into their spaces. Considering that along with the ever-growing popularity of people adding urban jungles to their homes, biophilic design isn’t going anywhere.

Since research favors having plants and other natural elements in our indoor environment, biophilic elements such as living walls and moss walls are being requested more often.

Planthropy's mission is to reconnect people with nature through the addition of biophilic elements in office spaces, businesses, and in the home.

WHAT IS BIOPHILIA?

Now that you understand what biophilia is, let’s discuss biophilic design.

Biophilic design is meant to satisfy human's innate desire to be connected to nature. Since we spend roughly 90% of our time in built environments, the ideal solution is to bring those natural elements indoors.

It goes beyond just adding a few plants in a corner. It is the intentional inclusion of natural elements that contribute to the health and wellbeing of the people occupying the space.

This means that biophilic design should be consistent instead of isolated, adding elements of nature in every space of a design. This is the best way to improve the overall quality of life.

WHAT IS BIOPHILIC DESIGN?

Now that you understand what biophilia is let’s discuss biophilic design.

Biophilic design is meant to satisfy human's innate desire to be connected to nature. Since we spend roughly 90% of our time in the built environment the natural solution is to bring those natural elements indoors.

It goes beyond just adding a few dust collecting plants in a dark corner. It is the intentional inclusion of natural elements that contribute to the health and wellbeing of the people occupying the space.

This means that biophilic design should be consistent instead of isolated, adding elements of nature in every space of a design. This is the best way to improve the overall quality of life.

WHY IS IT BENEFICIAL?

We firmly believe that biophilic design is not just a trend, it is being recognized as a lifestyle by people all over the world. Millennials are creating full-on urban jungles and managers are acknowledging that plants can improve the well being of workers.

Once you’ve experienced the benefits of incorporating biophilia into your life and environment, you won’t have any reason to step away from it.

Studies have shown that plants in a space have benefits such as:

Improving your wellbeing
Purifying the air in your space
Enhancing your overall design aesthetic
Keeping you in touch with nature
Increasing your creativity

There are also many ways that plants help in the work environment. With beneficial outcomes like increased productivity and decreased employee absence, it is becoming more common for managers to find ways to add biophilia in the workplace.

EXAMPLES OF BIOPHILIC DESIGN

Biophilic design is becoming more integrated with building performance which is further evidence that biophilic design isn’t going anywhere. This long-term infusion increases the likelihood of preserving and maintaining the biophilic elements inserted in a building.

Here are some examples of biophilic design in retail and business spaces:

We recently created a series of Moss Frames for Donaldson Plastic Surgery. It was important to them to incorporate green into their treatment, procedure and spa rooms to not only create a welcoming element in the space, but to also add calm, tranquil, beautiful moments in each room.

This beautiful urban apartment garden that commits to filling the living space with abundantly healthy plants

This moss wall backdrop we installed at Beam Dental:

This amazing plant-inspired space divider at The Botanist in Vancouver provides a sense of calm.

This Luxurious living wall in Sante Fe hugs the guests with a feeling of a fresh walk through nature.

HOW TO INCORPORATE BIOPHILIA INTO YOUR LIFE

HOME

There are many ways to incorporate biophilia into your home, ranging from adding a few plants to installing living walls or moss walls in your favorite area. Incorporating other elements such as windows or skylights for access to natural light and air circulation are also a great improvement.

WORK

Although adding a full living wall in your office may not be up to you, bringing in low-light friendly plants will serve to add biophilia into your workspace. Start by adding a couple of indoor plants to your desk or hanging on your wall. Snake plants and pothos are excellent plants to bring into the office because they are hearty and grow in many light situations. These are also great plants for your home.

For zero maintenance solutions for your home and office, Nature Frames or Forest Fragments add vibrancy, textural depth and beautiful earthy elements to your space. You can get the benefits of the outdoor world without worrying about a watering schedule or keeping these alive!

How will you start engaging more with nature by incorporating biophilic design in your life?

RESOURCES

14 Patterns Of Biophilic Design
What Is And What Is Not Biophilic Design