Why Biophilic Design?

When I first heard of biophilic design about a decade ago, I was unimpressed. In fact, the idea made me a little angry. It seemed like yet another human-centric approach focused on using nature to benefit people. I wondered, what was in it for nature? What was nature getting in return? What I realized later is that this anthropocentric focus is actually the strongest feature of this design approach.

In biophilic design, it is the human need of health and well-being that is the driving force for creating sustainable, nature-centric habitats. This, in turn, benefits the environment, creating a virtuous cycle. Biophilic design satisfies people’s innate and essential need of connection with nature, resulting in health benefits and a noticeably improved quality of life. The impacts are tangible and generate positive return on investment. When people recognize these benefits and realize that their very health depends on the nature around them, this leads them to become stewards of the environment.

In his last book, the late Stephen R. Kellert, the leading expert in the field who pioneered the concept of biophilic design in architecture, defines sustainable design as low-environmental-impact design. Many of today’s sustainable or green buildings successfully minimize or avoid a harmful impact on the environment and human health. But what if instead of just minimizing its adverse effects our built-environment could be re-generative and actually improve our wellness? This is where the biophilic design approach comes into play. It is the missing piece of sustainable design whereby architecture and design go beyond simply decreasing the environmental impact of the structures, and focus on creating healthy and productive habitats for humans.

Biophilic design approach is heavily evidence-based. Although the research on its effects is ongoing, the results indicate unequivocal benefits of nature-full design and its positive impact on our health and wellness. This is not a new idea and humans instinctively know that exposure to nature is positive. We are drawn to nature, for example that’s why we pay premium for rooms with a view. As the city increasingly becomes our ‘natural habitat,’ people will actively seek out biophilic spaces to live, study and work. Even though a number of cities globally make commitments to sustainability, we are still to witness a shift from sustainable to regenerative design, i.e. one that focuses on renewal and the wellness of people. It is evident to me that this is the direction we are headed.

As I continue my research and unpack this information, I will continue sharing it with you. My next entry explains what exactly biophilic design is and how and where it originated. In the meantime, HERE is an excellent article by the aforementioned Stephen Kellert for the Metropolis Magazine about what biophilic design is not. I look forward to any comments, questions, suggestions you may have!

“I look forward to innovative design that breaks down the walls of the building into sliding, swinging, folding layers of engagement with nature, and re-engages the activity in the building with natural conditioning and the street itself. I look forward to innovative design that peels off a lot of space that does not need to be highly conditioned into flexible, environmentally engaged workspace, public space, and retail space.”

 Vivian Loftness