The internalised joy of beautiful plants, the deeply felt calming effect of the forest, and the innate affinity for nature: are called biophilia. More and more architects and interior designers all around the globe have recognised this deeply human desire and incorporated the principles of the theory of “Biophilic Design” into their projects – homes, office design workplaces and public buildings.
We are all part of a modern society that strives for progress, lives industrialisation and digitisation, and yet remains human despite everything. And deeply rooted within us is the more or less conscious desire to reflect and reconnect with nature. With this in mind, the concept of Biophilic Design integrates design elements and motifs from nature into the spaces where we work, live, sleep and create.
And because we stay indoors in our homes, workspaces and workplaces most times of the day, architects and designers who have recognised this need have incorporated Biophilic Design in home or office interior design. This actually benefits the people who stay in them and increases the wellbeing and productivity of employees.
Biophilia is a concept introduced by biologist E.O. Wilson and it refers to the innate human attraction to nature and other forms of life. It is based on the idea that humans have evolved in natural environments and therefore have a deep-rooted affinity for the natural world. Biophilia suggests that we have an instinctive need to connect with nature and other living beings.
According to the principles of the biophilic concept, our connection to nature is not just a matter of design, aesthetics or leisure but is essential to our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Biophilia has implications for a wide range of fields, including architecture, urban planning, psychology, and environmental conservation. By recognizing and fostering our connection to nature and incorporating biophilic features into the interior of our homes and workplaces, we can create more sustainable as well as livable environments and interior living spaces that support human health and wellbeing.
Biophilic Design is an approach to architecture and interior design for homes, public spaces as well as for workplaces that seeks to connect people with nature and natural elements. This theory is based on the idea that humans have an inherent affinity for nature. And as a consequence, when we incorporate natural (biophilic) elements into built environments, it improves people’s wellbeing and productivity. Biophilic components can include features such as natural light, vegetation, water features, and natural materials like wood and stone. The goal is to create spaces that are visually appealing, calming, and conducive to health and wellbeing. Biophilic Design is becoming increasingly popular in both residential and commercial design, such as office design and other workspaces. Nowadays, many architects and designers incorporate biophilic features into their projects.
But Biophilic Design goes far beyond the concept of the urban jungle that greens the apartment. It starts with the architecture and includes the interior design and choice of materials. Thus, Biophilic Design provides the basis for positively influencing human and ecological well-being with our built environment by sensitively adapting to individual site ecology, culture, history, and distinctive beauty – and thereby creating places of joy, inspiration and made connections.
The goals and strategies of Biophilic Design have evolved from research areas such as environmental and behavioural studies, biology, and physical and mental health studies. Empirical evidence shows that Biophilic Design in interior living spaces promotes healing, learning, cognitive ability and creativity through psychological and physiological effects. In addition, people enjoy being in spaces that connect them to nature through these inherent biological relationships.
The benefits of Biophilic Design in interior living spaces can also be quantified in monetary terms, as it has been shown to have a positive impact on employees who spend their time in biophilic workplaces because it provably impacts aspects such as absenteeism and sick leave in the office, employee retention, job performance, healing rates, learning rates in the classroom (for students), overall happiness, and reducing stress and violence.
These six biophilic elements were first defined by Stephen R. Kellert, the founder of this discipline. They form the framework and principles of Biophilic Design and the classification of over 70 attributes.
Four of the six biophilic elements are represented in the Aspecta portfolio.
Enviromental
Features
Natural Shapes and Forms
Natural Patterns and Processes
Location-based Relationships.
Envolved Human-Nature Relationship
Light and Space
Experiences in nature are not only pleasant and have a positive effect on our emotional well-being, but also improve our physical health. Exposure to natural elements has been shown to increase comfort, lower blood pressure and even boost our creative and cognitive abilities, including in the office. The rich tones and complex shapes of Aspecta™ designs embody the natural elements of wood and stone, bringing the direct benefit of the natural world to our human experience into the built environment.
Colours can trigger both emotional and physiological responses, evoking feelings of calm, alertness, focus, and energy. Bright, bold colours remind us of features from nature: the sky, a sunset, a forest, the bright glow of the sun, a blooming flower. The strategic use of colour is a primary mechanism in enhancing the perception of an interior space, especially in Biophilic Design.
Integration of Representations and Simulations of the Natural World
Botanical motifs that resemble natural forms such as leaves, branches and shells serve as abstractions of nature. Biophilic design with organic patterns offers an experience of naturally ordered complexity and richness. The scale of these elements contributes positively to their visual appeal and decorative effect.
Natural features rarely consist of straight lines and right angles. Instead, they appear to us as curves and organic shapes formed by natural forces. Straight lines and right angles, on the other hand, are created by human engineering and are evident in manufactured products, synthetic structures or spaces. Biophilic Design makes it possible to create a fusion of organic forms and synthetic construction in architecture and design.
Our senses are trained to recognise arrangements and structures that occur in nature. Recognising the same features in non-natural materials stimulates a positive response and allows us to apply familiar logic to them. The close attention that Aspecta pays to the visual details and textures of wood grain and stone reinforces our perception of, and therefore appreciation for, the integrity of the material.
Nature’s patterns and structures are proven and allow organisms to thrive in evolutionary ways. Biomorphic design not only mimics natural forms, but also follows the similarities and replicas in the formal logic.
Emphasising the inclusion of naturally occurring properties.
We are attracted to materials and structures that respect the passage of time. Simulating the traces of natural processes such as weathering, decay, and wear and tear contributes to our perception of materials as natural rather than synthetic. We strive for materials that match our biophilia by encouraging diversity, complexity and our appreciation of the natural environment.
There are no naturally occurring monotonous repetitions. We find rhythmic repetition and beauty in multiple registers. Mentally and physically, people perceive these aesthetics as comfortable and soothing. The stimulation of our senses through a varied environment in terms of colour, structure and light enables us to interact appropriately in and with our environment.
Our human bodies come alive with experiences that engage our rich sensory system, with a penchant for natural complexity. Biophilic Design elements, by definition, can mimic nature’s patterns, sparking interest and engaging us. Layering a variety of natural textures and motifs creates a deep layering of information for our brain and body to respond to, which in turn enhances our cognitive functioning, creativity, curiosity or imagination, and thus can have a direct impact on our well-being.
Fractals are mathematically defined patterns that are self-repeating and scaling and occur in nature. Snowflakes, tree branches, shells, mountains, plants – these are all examples of fractals. Elements with a fractal scale naturally stimulate our visual and tactile interest. Our brains are trained to respond positively to fractal motifs that are similar in density to those that occur naturally.
Starting from our biological need for information, this process helps to satisfy our human affinity for biomorphic forms that are in harmony with our body and mind. By following the edges, we complete the shapes.
The successful marriage of culture and ecology in a geographic context.
The Biophilic Design aspect of this style appeals to our inherent human affinity to be deeply rooted in history, to form a meaningful relationship with place and to be connected to the world. This is precisely the reason for the continuous upward trend of Biophilic Design.
