Nature Meets Architecture: What to Know About Biophilic Design

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During a challenging year when most people spent more time at home than ever, the idea of wellness-enhancing design — creating spaces that boost our sense of well-being — gained traction. “Biophilia” was coined in the 1960s and popularized by American biologist Edward O. Wilson in the mid-1980s, who proposed that evolution has soft-wired us to prefer natural settings over built environments. Biophilic design is based on the concept that having a direct connection to nature not only makes us happier and healthier, but more productive too.

Read on to learn more about this enduring design movement and discover how to incorporate biophilic design principles and foster stronger connections to nature in your next project.

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What Are the Elements of Biophilic Design?

According to Shannon Ggem, interior designer and principal at Los Angeles-based Shannon Ggem Design, biophilic design is far from a passing fad. “Nature never goes out of style — everything humans use to build is derived from nature in some form,” she says. “Human beings are nature, and therefore we are intrinsically linked to the earth that supports and sustains us. We find different ways to express the importance of this connection between humans and buildings, but in 4,000 years of building history, humans and nature remain permanently entwined.”

Biophilic design is about more than just adding a few plants to an interior. Instead, it means incorporating a diverse range of elements, including daylight, views, ventilation, organic shapes and natural materials and motifs in the design of a home.

There are many ways you can apply the principles of biophilia into your next residential project, including building with natural and sustainable materials, maximizing door and window openings, specifying a picture window to frame a water feature that provides the sound of trickling water and choosing architectural elements such as deck railings that provide safety without obstructing views. For example, in the home pictured above, the architect used disappearing cable railings to line the deck, which brings the home’s water views into the living space.

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Deck design by Treeline Construction; photo by Wayde Carroll Photography

Incorporate Nature Into Architecture

Building with natural materials, such as clay bricks, stone, responsibly sourced wood and rammed earth, is the first step to designing a home along biophilic principles. When it comes to paints and adhesives, choose nontoxic options that won’t release harmful gases.

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“Using daylight in a space is an important biophilic principle that increases productivity,” Ggem says. Orientation plays a key role. Homes should be positioned to capture daylight and breezes and to naturally boost thermal comfort so there’s less need to rely on artificial heating and cooling. In the home pictured here, a wall of windows floods the living space with natural light, while blinds can be closed on hot days to help keep the home cool.

Look to draw nature into the design of your client’s home in inventive and eye-catching ways. Line the walls and even the ceiling with richly grained wood or add a unique, natural feel to stairs by trading railings for nature-inspired resin infill panels, as seen here, which can be embedded with organic materials such as bamboo, grass, leaves and branches.

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Use Natural Materials, Shapes and Colors

Reinforce a connection with the great outdoors by selecting colors and finishes inspired by nature’s palette. Think earthy tones of clay, putty, olive, buff and stone for walls, woodwork and counters. If your client is a fan of brighter hues, consider oceanic blues, burnt terra cotta or soft, leafy greens. Then bring in plenty of natural texture in soft furnishings, such as organic linen, cotton, woven jute, rattan and bamboo.

Introduce natural patterns in wallpaper, artwork and fixtures, such as botanical print wallpaper and murals, landscape photography and paintings, and stair panel infills featuring nature-inspired motifs. In the home pictured here, the stair panel infills look like a subtle pattern from across the room, but up close they reveal a ginkgo leaf motif embedded in resin, which looks like leaves scattered beneath a tree.

When it comes to furniture, dispense with sharp angles and instead seek out pieces with gentle, organic lines that resemble the shapes found in nature, such as curvy sofas and armchairs and a live-edge kitchen counter or dining table that highlights the nuances of the wood grain. Complete any indoor space with a medley of air-purifying plants positioned at different heights around the room to create a lush, layered look.

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Maximize a Connection With Nature

Blur the lines between inside and out by specifying large sliding, stacking or bifold doors that open onto your client’s deck or outdoor area. High-performance glazing, such as double- or triple-glazed windows or ones made with e-glass, are a wise investment if your client is looking to boost their home’s energy efficiency.

If you’re putting in a new deck, aim to create a space that’s large enough to accommodate an outdoor dining or sofa setting to allow your client to relax and entertain outdoors. Choose deck railings that provide safety while maximizing garden views, such as minimalist stainless steel cable railings.

Draw nature inside by opting for generously sized windows. “One of the simplest things homeowners can do to receive biophilic benefits is ensure their furnishing layout allows for opening windows in quiet areas; the smells, sounds and sights of nature are all beneficial!” Ggem says. Consider installing a picture window or two to frame your client’s favorite garden features. “Where natural views are not available, art over 36 by 36 inches depicting scenes of nature also has benefits,” Ggem says.

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Choose Sustainable Products

Sustainability and biophilic design go hand in hand. Select earth-friendly products and materials wherever possible, such as recycled, recyclable or upcycled flooring, kitchen cabinetry and counters, along with energy-efficient appliances. When it comes to fixtures and building materials, seek out ones that are responsibly designed. Feeney’s stainless steel cable railings, for example, contain 70% recycled materials and are fully recyclable, and the brand’s laser-cut aluminum panel infills , pictured here, are made using recyclable materials and can also be recycled.

Much like sustainability, biophilic design is likely to remain at the forefront of design in coming years, perhaps even more so after a year spent largely at home. “A heightened awareness of how we apply biophilic principles to residential homes was so important in the pandemic, when families found themselves in their homes more, but the benefits will continue to deliver in coming years,” Ggem says. “Put very simply, a biophilic home can make people happier, with less stress.”

Tell us: Can you see using any biophilic principles in your upcoming projects? Share with us in the Comments below.

More: To learn more about Feeney’s nature-inspired product ranges, including its Resin Panel Infill for DesignRail and customizable CableRail Kits, visit the company’s website .

This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.