Each year, there are new sets of lists describing the design trends for the upcoming year. This year, I thought I’d view these trends through a biophilic lens. There’s no doubt that the yearly trends are important on their own as they can be indicative of larger, more general changes in Architecture & Design. Thus, it pays to follow them and even implement some. However, for architects and designers who focus on human wellness and environmental sustainability, a new question arises: How can you be inspired by these trends while combining them with biophilic and sustainable design?

It’s no secret that biophilic design and sustainable design improve productivity and performance in the workplace, and green building materials like reclaimed wood are renowned for their abilities to improve collaboration and boost employee morale and satisfaction. But how can these work hand-in-hand with the latest office design trends?

If you’re designing a commercial office space and want it to be eco-friendly and healthy while incorporating some of the latest trends, look no further. Here’s how this year’s predicted trends of comfort spaces, minimalism, monochrome, materials with purpose and modular furniture are creating stylish, sustainable spaces that enhance human wellness.

This Google office seamlessly meshes comfort spaces with biophilic design

From Bored Panda: This highly biophilic workspace combines trees, reclaimed wood, and a panoramic view

Google has been repeatedly crowned as one of the best places to work, and it’s no surprise why; their offices are designed to maximize employee health and satisfaction. Google’s workspaces are filled with plants, reclaimed wood, views of nature, water installations, and even more exotic biophilic elements like rock walls.

Google also does an excellent job of pairing biophilic design with current design trends. Noticeably, many of their offices incorporate comfort spaces to provide workers with a sense of calm. This combination of biophilia and comfort spaces inspires employees with contemporary design while anchoring their senses in biophilia. As a result, these workspaces are conducive to both productivity and relaxation. It also reflects Google’s brand: purposefully up-to-date and always responsive.

From Bored Panda: A rock wall and greenery add life and biophilia to this industrial space

Like many other businesses, Google has realized the growing need for more comfort spaces in the workplace. Today’s workers need an office that prioritizes their physical and mental wellness. The ideal office should foster a positive, harmonious work culture that meets all sorts of employee needs from mental breaks to intensive coworking sessions.

Fosbury & Sons uses plant life to enhance productivity in minimalist workspaces

From ArchDaily: Fosbury & Sons’s Antwerp office uses plants throughout to bolster employee productivity and mood

Minimalism is one of the more widespread design trends that’s appeared in recent years. There’s a strong appeal to clean, uncluttered spaces, and many corporate offices have implemented minimalism to maintain tidy workplaces that feel good to work in. At the same time, biophilic design is particularly powerful at increasing productivity in the workplace, and this is one huge reason why biophilic elements are so common in top-performing offices.

For Fosbury & Sons, a coworking office space in Belgium, productivity is especially important, so they chose to take their industrial, minimalist space and liven it up with plenty of plant life. Their workspaces feature a variety of potted and planted flora strategically placed near desks and tables to ensure that there’s always a few plants nearby. This also creates an unforgettable first impression. From the moment a visitor enters the lobby, he or she knows that this is a unique office. Most importantly, the inclusion of biophilia prevents the space from becoming too minimal, ensuring that people feel and perform at their best.

From ArchDaily: Plants enrich the industrial space and create a welcoming atmosphere

OVH connects workers by using natural elements

From Dezeen: OVH’s office is resplendent with wood, vegetation, and lots of natural light

When cloud computing business OVH decided to remodel their Quebec City workspace, they took inspiration from both minimalism and biophilic design. The result is a brightly lit, open space enhanced with greenery, which is steadily gaining popularity. The office uses woods with lighter tones to complement the abundance of natural daylight, and the greenery sprinkled throughout the building adds a healthy dose of biophilia. Aside from being visually stunning, this office is excellent for solo work, group work, and employee interaction, as it prioritizes both working and socializing.

Meaningful and natural design materials reflect a company’s values and they deliver on biophilia

From Office Snapshots: Beams clad with reclaimed oak at Sam Edelman’s NYC HQ reflect the brand’s Americana vibe and mirror humble beginnings, hard work and reinventing oneself for success.

The materials chosen in design can establish a meaningful connection for occupants to the office space and the company. Design materials can be selected to reflect the local community and surrounding landscape, and can portray the values of the company’s brand. Choosing sustainably sourced materials and furnishings with non-toxic finishes helps you maintain healthy indoor air quality and supports social and environmental responsibility. And, when these materials are analogues of nature, like reclaimed wood, they can bring the benefits of nature indoors.

Trevor Hoiland’s new biophilic office furniture brings practical modular design to the workplace

From Contemporist: Trevor Hoiland’s new line of modular furniture is rooted in wood, perfect for any office space

In 2017, Burns & McDonnell Design Manager and former Helix Architecture Principal Trevor Hoiland debuted the Story Collection, a line of modular office furniture manufactured by Hightower. Modular design has already made waves in commercial architecture this year, and it has many benefits for the workplace.

Modular workspaces are gaining traction for their flexibility and adaptability; in the office, this means better and frictionless collaboration and productivity. This is why Hoiland’s furniture is so visionary. It can be used for work, meetings, socializing, or any combination of those. Given that the contemporary office needs to be able to suit a range of demands, the usage of modular furniture and layouts makes perfect sense. In addition, the furniture prominently features wood, which is a nice biophilic touch that makes this highly functional collection even better.

From Hightower: Modular seating sets can be configured to meet a variety of needs

Dropbox spices up a monochrome design palette with plants

From Office Lovin: This seating area at Dropbox’s San Francisco HQ uses potted trees to provide pattern and a pop of color to the monochrome scheme

These days, many minimalist spaces are opting for monochrome color palettes. The use of monochrome pairs well with minimalism, as the two work in tandem to create a calming, clean interior that layers shades of the same color. The natural light in Dropbox’s lounge area cast shadows that add additional gray tones, pattern and movement to complement the design. The inclusion of greenery provides pops of color and a natural element to soften the monochrome effect. A few well-placed plants or natural installations (like fireplaces or ponds) can add verve to a minimalist office without subtracting from the minimalist design itself. Expect to see more biophilic elements in minimalist or industrial spaces in 2018 and beyond.

Conclusion

From the lobby to the conference room, an office needs to cater to its workers. That can be a tall order, as employees should feel good and also enjoy their time in the workplace. Thankfully, you can easily balance the latest office design trends with the timeless benefits of biophilic design using these techniques. Designing office spaces to create environments that are inspiring and engaging while including biophilic elements will ensure that workers are feeling great. This is the future of the corporate office: a space that combines the cutting edge of office design with the staying power of biophilia. It’s truly a win-win.

The hospitality industry is more vibrant than ever, and with this boom has come an increased focus on customer experience. Hospitality designers have been looking to the field of experience design to provide more targeted, immersive experiences that leave smiles on customers’ faces. Ultimately, this means designing for the people you’ll be serving, and that requires a close consideration of customers’ wants and needs.

One of the best methods to unexpectedly delight and enhance customer experience, no matter what sector of hospitality, is to use biophilic design elements. Here are 12 of my favorite use cases.

1. Abundant natural materials create a strong connection to nature

From C+TC Design Studio: Westin Buffalo boasts several biophilic elements: plenty of reclaimed wood, a living wall, and plants

For an easy way to enhance the biophilia effect of any space, place several biophilic elements near each other. Even the simple placement of a plant next to a wooden wall can make a noticeable impact on people’s mood and behavior. Doing so creates a visual connection with nature as well as a connection with natural systems, which are two of the 14 patterns of biophilic design as stated by Terrapin Bright Green. The more natural elements you include, the happier and more relaxed your patrons will feel, culminating in a positive experience.

2. For indoor spaces, try biophilic focal points

From the Design Institute of San Diego: This living wall in New York’s Hotel Hugo is a striking biophilic focal point

Indoor spaces without abundant daylight or sightlines to the outdoors are most in need of biophilic elements. For these types of indoor areas, including a biophilic focal point will foster the natural connection needed for customers to feel their best. Go big so as to draw guests’ eyes, impress them, and satisfy their desires to be closer to nature. Living walls, gardens, waterfalls, fountains, ponds, and fireplaces are some examples of biophilic focal points that can be implemented in any indoor environment.

3. Hanging plants provide a unique biophilic aspect

From Mason: Hanging plants can be used to create a suspended garden that wows visitors

This biophilic technique is easy but a bit unexpected. A small assortment of hanging plants placed together can be used to simultaneously add biophilic elements and make a room feel fuller and more alive. You can use different types of hanging greenery to make a floating garden or place the plants more sparsely to create points of visual interest throughout a space.

4. Reclaimed wood adds natural elegance

From Metropolis: This bar’s reclaimed wood paneling is a classy design touch that also serves as a biophilic focal point

In terms of green design materials, reclaimed wood is certainly one of the most versatile and beautiful. Its authentic charm is perfect in any built environment. It can complement laid-back or upscale spaces, and it works in tandem with a room’s existing décor. It especially shines in hospitality environments. Whether it’s used for the floors of a lounge, the walls of a restaurant, or to clad a reception desk, reclaimed wood can make customers and guests feel better and more satisfied with their experience.

5. Lobbies present wonderful opportunities for biophilic design

From Ambius: This lobby’s breathtaking view is perfectly paired with a soothing pond that stretches between trees

Lobby design is of increasing importance in the world of hospitality. Since lobbies are getting more use today than ever before, it makes sense to optimize them for guests and visitors. Best of all, lobby spaces are ideal for biophilic design, and whether your lobby is small or large, you can transform it into a sanctuary for your guests. Any sort of biophilic focal point will work wonders in a lobby. You may choose to install a small pond or focus attention on a reclaimed wood fireplace. A noticeable biophilic element in a lobby will ensure that guests receive all of the benefits associated with biophilia, and it’s a great way to give an outstanding first impression.

6. Seating areas can benefit greatly from potted plants

From Kinorigo: Potted plants are an easy way to add biophilic elements

Potted plants are small but mighty. Research demonstrates that they can help to purify the air even if air filters are already in use. They also reduce stress and thus facilitate more positive moods. Even just a few indoor plants will provide all these benefits, and when plants are combined with other biophilic elements, the indoor environmental quality of a space improves dramatically. Potted plants work particularly well in lounges and other seating areas, especially ones that don’t have a clear view of nature. As shown above, a few pops of greenery in a seating area can be incredibly effective in enhancing the biophilia effect.

7. Create clear sightlines to the natural world outside

From Matador Network: Ladera Resort in Hawaii features breathtaking views of the lush trees, hills, and ocean surrounding the building

One of the most important patterns of biophilic design is visual connection with nature. A direct sightline of nature often provides the most benefits for guests, especially if your building is located near trees or bodies of water. This can be crucial for hotels; Terrapin Bright Green found that the cost of a hotel room with a view of nature is typically 18% higher than a room without a view. Of course, if a view of nature isn’t feasible, you can simulate the results with other biophilic elements. An appealing natural vista will not only improve guest satisfaction but also increase the chances of them returning.

8. Bring uncommon outdoor elements inside

From Traveller Made: This inspired Portugal hotel includes a unique tree-through-table installation

For an especially creative way to implement biophilic design, take an uncommon natural element that exists outdoors and bring it indoors. This is the basic idea behind biophilic focal points like living walls and waterfalls, but there are many interesting ways to bring this concept to life. For example, the hotel pictured above features an indoor tree, which is both biophilic and novel. Other hospitality spaces have brought stone walls, large gardens, and even beaches indoors. The sight of an outdoor element in the built environment will generate interest among guests and can even encourage social interaction.

From the Daily Mail: This German resort’s one-of-a-kind indoor beach is a biophilic design haven

9. Find innovative ways to implement greenery

From Plant the Future: This eye-catching plant map is a wonderful and interesting biophilic focal point

There’s something to be said for coming up with new and exciting ways of showcasing greenery. The more visually interesting an installation is, the more guests will talk about it and enjoy it. This can be as simple as creating a wall garden of potted plants or as complex as installing larger topiaries. This is another concept that’s ideal to execute when an environment doesn’t have a direct and open view of nature.

10. Turn a room into an indoor garden

From Retail Design Institute: Lots of plants on the walls and throughout the room make this industrial space much more biophilic

I’ve already discussed the merits of potted plants and gardens: improved air quality, better biophilic impact, and heightened moods, to name a few. An alternative idea is to take a room and transform it into an indoor garden. Since this involves creating patches of soil in which plants may grow, it’s a more intensive biophilic design technique, but it’s extremely effective. Seating areas, event spaces, meeting rooms, and eating areas are a few types of indoor environments that can benefit from large gardens.

11. Experiment with raw, unfinished biophilic elements

From Momentum: The rough reclaimed wood on the desk and the raw tree installation bolster biophilia

Connection with natural systems is one of the patterns of biophilic design I’ve discussed in this article, but it’s so important that it deserves its own section. A connection with natural systems reflects the ongoing changes and processes present in various ecosystems. Some examples include erosion, weathering, aging, and plant cycles. This is one of the reasons why reclaimed wood is such a boon to biophilic design; its natural variances are perfect for creating a connection with natural systems. Other unfinished natural materials like rough stone can strengthen the connection.

12. Ample wood fosters serenity in hotel rooms

From Mocha Casa: This hotel room’s reclaimed wood paneling contributes to the relaxed atmosphere

When your guests are looking to get a good night’s sleep, they’ll be expecting a calming hotel room in which to relax at the end of the day. Since wood works to reduce stress, it’s an ideal material for hotel rooms. It will work with existing elements in the room (like a perfectly made bed or a view of nature) to make your guests feel cozy and at home.

Conclusion

Biophilic design is largely becoming the norm for all kinds of hospitality spaces. Guests expect more than ever, and biophilic design is an effective answer to these ever growing demands and needs. By implementing a few of these concepts, your hospitality space can easily stand out and create an unforgettable experience that will keep people coming back for more.

There’s lots of research aimed at making the natural environment a better place for humans to be, but what about simulated environments? With research indicating that people spend 90 percent of their time indoors, creating optimal indoor environments is more important than ever. While architects and designers have long prioritized sustainability and eco-friendliness, recently indoor spaces have become a focal point. Builders and designers are becoming increasingly concerned about all kinds of indoor elements from air quality to exposure to natural light. After all, since the built environment is fundamentally a space for humans to be, it makes sense that designers should try to make indoor spaces the best they can be.

There’s a growing body of research that documents how people respond to various indoor elements, and this knowledge is crucial to anyone who spends a lot of time indoors. A poor indoor experience can stifle productivity, waste money, and affect occupant health. So whether you’re an architect, designer, business owner, or employee, you should be aware of these 10 ways the indoors can affect you.

1. Indoor elements are often surprisingly toxic

The first questions that arise when discussing indoor environments are how the indoors affect us and how far-reaching those effects are. Those questions are multifaceted because the average indoor environment is complex, with many factors potentially affecting occupant well-being. The CDC’s definition of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) notes that building dampness and contaminant exposure are typically responsible for occupant health issues. Recently, materials with high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been spotlighted as particularly harmful to air quality; the EPA points out that concentrations of VOCs are noticeably higher indoors (as much as ten times higher than outdoor environments). Since VOCs are so common in paints, varnishes, wood preservatives, and other building materials, people who spend lots of time indoors are likely being exposed to particularly high levels of these damaging compounds.

From South Coast Air Quality Management District: Architectural and surface coatings are two of the most common sources of VOCs, making many indoor spaces unhealthy for occupants

Thankfully, there are some simple ways to rectify this issue of exposure. Green building materials that have low or no VOCs are ideal for creating healthier indoor environments. However, the fact remains that materials with high concentrations of VOCs are still in widespread use, a fact that occupants and designers alike need to be aware of.

2. Indoor elements affect how you work, interact, and even sleep

An indoor environment doesn’t have to be toxic to significantly affect its occupants. That’s what the Well Living Lab, a collaboration between Delos and the Mayo Clinic, found in its first study. Researchers attached biometric wearables to office workers and monitored their biological response to various changing elements in the environment, including changes in acoustic, lighting, and thermal conditions. The Lab concluded that such changes affected how the workers performed, interacted, and slept. We’re more sensitive than we might think to even more subtle environmental changes, and as a result, if indoor elements aren’t carefully optimized, people won’t feel or perform their best.

From Annual Leave: Elements such as exposure to natural light can greatly affect how occupants feel and behave in a space

3. A poor indoor environment can cause productivity (and profit) to plummet

Unfortunately, the stereotype of the stuffy office is still true today. It’s not uncommon to see workplaces without windows, adequate ventilation, fitness solutions, or places of rest. These conditions can cause a poorer quality of life, and occupants in spaces like these may suffer from major sleep issues. Perhaps most noticeably, productivity rapidly declines and may even hit an all-time low.

From New Atlas: Employees who work in sustainable, human-optimized indoor workspaces, like this one in Amsterdam, perform better than workers in unoptimized workspaces

This may not seem obvious until you take a look at how employees in optimized workspaces are performing. For instance, an increase in ventilation from 20 cubic feet per minute of outdoor air to 40 boosts annual productivity per worker by $6,500. Even the smallest of changes can create a ripple effect; the simple inclusion of one plant per square meter increases productivity by 15%. For business owners and employees alike, these statistics underscore the importance of creating a work environment conducive to health and well-being.

There are also countless worker health benefits that a better workplace brings with it. A 2000 study published in the Annual Review of Energy and the Environment observed that millions of dollars and countless work hours are lost yearly due to a poor indoor environment. The study estimated that better environments could reduce problems related to respiratory diseases, allergies, asthma, and other building-caused health issues, saving an estimated total of $31 billion annually. (And that’s not even counting the estimated $140 billion savings from improved employee performance in general.) All in all, a human-first indoor workspace isn’t a design accommodation but rather a fundamental necessity.

4. Be aware of the 9 foundations of a healthy building

At Harvard University’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health, the Healthy Buildings project is examining exactly what a “healthy building” looks like and how the A&D industry can set new standards for indoor health. The initiative is the brainchild of Environmental Design professor Joseph Allen and his team, who have synthesized a wide range of environmental research into a condensed approach they call the 9 foundations of a healthy building. These foundations are the elements that make up the indoor built environment: air quality, thermal health, moisture, dust and pests, safety and security, water quality, noise, lighting and views, and ventilation. These 9 foundations require the right balance to foster the best possible indoor environment. This list is perhaps best used as a springboard to identify problem areas within an indoor environment and establish a set of criteria by which indoor spaces can be evaluated and explored.

From forhealth.org: The 9 foundations of a healthy building review the most essential components of the indoor built environment

5. Air quality is one of the most important indoor elements

While all of the 9 foundations for a healthy building are essential to an optimized indoor environment, many designers and businesses are focusing heavily on air quality. This makes sense, as the EPA states that poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can have long-term health effects, possibly including respiratory diseases, cancer, and heart disease. Less severe but nonetheless damaging effects include irritation, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. It’s well documented that inadequate ventilation (and therefore lower IAQ) can lead to a loss of productivity and satisfaction. The EPA suggests several methods of improving IAQ, such as eliminating or reducing air pollution, improving ventilation, and utilizing air cleaners. Since air quality impacts all occupants and can have lasting effects, it needs to be a top priority for anyone in A&D.

From Aeroqual: Strategic implementation of elements like windows and greenery can help improve IAQ

6. Climate change may impact IEQ

The relationship between outdoor and indoor environments is more interconnected than it may at first appear. That’s what a 2011 report by the Institute of Medicine indicated, noting that climate change may worsen already poor indoor environments. The abstract states, “As the world’s climate changes, buildings that were designed to operate under the ‘old’ climatic conditions may not function well under the ‘new’—affecting the health of those who live, work, study, or play in them.” Indoor elements like air quality, building dampness, thermal stress, and ventilation could all be adversely affected by climate change. If left unchecked, these elements can create detrimental indoor spaces, so it’s critical to monitor these in both old and new buildings.

7. Integrating biophilic design is better for everyone involved

The typical indoor environment today isn’t exactly what I’d describe as “connected to nature.” Indoor spaces tend to be rather shut off from the natural world, and many don’t even have windows. Yet a connection to nature is exactly what biophilic design aims to create in order to foster a healthier environment for humans. Biophilic design can help improve behavioral health as well as social interaction and work performance. Many other aspects of biophilic design are naturally healthy––the presence of plants can enhance IAQ, for example––and it’s also a highly sustainable design philosophy, making it an attractive option for both human occupants and the indoor environment.

From Mocha Casa: Biophilic design transforms indoor environments into spaces that respond to our biological needs

8. Studies prove that comfort matters

Most indoor spaces are built to be comfortable, but few builders and designers qualify comfort during the planning and building processes. Comfort can be correlated with the indoor elements that affect occupants (see #2 above). A study in the International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment looked at thermal comfort, acoustic comfort, and visual comfort. Each element is essential to overall IEQ and needs to be regulated to maximize occupant comfort. Furthermore, these elements can be manipulated to create various indoor environments. For example, natural ventilation causes people to feel closer to nature than mechanical ventilation. Thus the particular levels of comfort can be adjusted with occupant needs and the local environment in mind.

From Work Design Magazine: Allsteel’s Washington, D.C. office boasts excellent acoustic comfort

9. Watch out for Sick Building Syndrome and Building Related Illness

The range of negative health effects that an indoor space can have on occupants is often categorized under the Sick Building Syndrome term. As defined by the EPA, Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is “used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.” While the culprits are often easy to identify (e.g., high-VOC materials, inadequate ventilation, etc.), if left untreated SBS can significantly impact occupant health. SBS can affect more than physical health; workers can experience a loss of energy and productivity, while visitors and guests may experience dissatisfaction with the space. The best prevention against SBS is continuous surveillance of indoor elements and ongoing maintenance to ensure that IEQ is at its best.

From EPA: Optimized ventilation can help mitigate SBS and BRI

Similar to SBS, Building Related Illness (BRI) refers to health issues that “can be attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.” A 1994 study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology categorized the mechanisms by which agents cause BRI into four categories: immunologic, infectious, toxic, and irritant. It’s also possible for more than one of these mechanisms to cause BRI. However, the problems of SBS and BRI are preventable and manageable through vigilance and proactive measures.

10. Circadian-based light exposure can improve productivity and mood

Human circadian rhythms are responsible for the regulation of our energy cycles, but many artificially lit commercial settings disrupt these natural rhythms. In an office setting, this often causes workers to underperform and feel drowsy throughout the day, and in a general commercial setting, this can cause mood drops in occupants. Considering circadian rhythms in the built environment ultimately aids in performance increases and generates more positive emotions. Specifically, circadian-based lighting is greatly beneficial. Unfortunately, many indoor environments don’t have enough light to biologically stimulate occupants and satisfy circadian cycles. When light is sufficiently able to stimulate a biological response, IEQ increases. In one study, occupants who received more circadian stimuli became less depressed and got more sleep. Modifying lighting to the human circadian cycle is a simple yet dramatically effective change that any indoor space can easily make.

From SAB Magazine: This indoor environment utilizes a LED ceiling to simulate the sky and satisfy occupant circadian rhythms

Conclusion

The indoor built environment is receiving more attention as architects and designers are recognizing the importance of healthy, human-first indoor spaces. These 10 items are some of the most essential factors when developing and improving indoor environments. Design that considers occupant well-being is the future of A&D. With human wellness as a core driver, the impact of design is greater than ever.

The biophilia hypothesis. If you’ve worked within the LEED or green design world for any period of time, it’s likely that you’ve run into this term. As intimidating as it might sound, the biophilia hypothesis is actually fairly simple to understand. And, more likely than not, you’ve experienced what the biophilia hypothesis describes. So, what is the biophilia hypothesis?

What is the Biophilia Hypothesis?

The biophilia hypothesis is the belief that humans are genetically predisposed to be attracted to nature. It states that all humans inherently love the natural world.

This idea that we are drawn to and need nature was first put forth by a man named Edward O. Wilson in his book Biophilia published in 1984.

The idea that humans have an innate love and need for nature has been adapted to many different areas of study. The biophilia hypothesis has been used to support the idea that humans are healthier when they’re connected to nature and has even become popular within the movement of green design, reusing materials, and eco-friendly architecture.

Though at first the biophilia hypothesis put forth by Wilson was more aspirational than based in scientific fact, researchers are now finding there are health benefits to being surrounded by nature. I’ll explore the many health benefits of nature later in this article.

The Science Behind the Biophilia Hypothesis

From Frederick Law Olmsted, the designer of Central Park in New York City, to Edward O. Wilson, to Florence Williams, the belief that nature makes humans healthier is an enduring and fascinating topic.

Research has found that nature helps to lower levels of cortisol, the hormone typically used to assess stress levels, improve concentration, and heighten creativity. They’ve found that taking a walk in a park and even looking at nature through a window can improve someone’s health.

Nature not only improves health, it helps people to feel happier.

From Architectural Digest: A living wall at mndfl, a meditation studio.

Though science has come a long way to measure and prove the link between nature, health, and happiness — most of us intrinsically know that nature makes us feel good. No one needs to tell us.

Whether science proves it or not, the biophilia hypothesis has played a role in making biophilic design, green architecture, and eco-friendly buildings more popular.

The Biophilia Hypothesis in Architecture and Design

Many large companies are getting behind the idea of biophilic and green design. Everyone from Google to Amazon to Clif Bar are incorporating nature into their buildings to help employees to feel happier and healthier.

In addition to building a brand and selling products, companies are shifting focus to creating a workplace and ethos of holistic health. Bringing nature inside has also proven to improve worker productivity.

Elements of Biophilic Design

Biophilic design can be incorporated in many ways to the built environment. You might use reclaimed wood for the floors or wall paneling, plant a green wall, or add more windows to bring in natural light.

The tenets of biophilic design are simple, just an attempt to bring nature indoors for the health of the people inhabiting the space but, can lead design to new and unexplored possibilities.

Add Plants

Whether you add a green roof, a living wall, or just a potted plant here or there, plants are an easy way to incorporate biophilic design and bring nature indoors.

From International Living Future Institute: In Singapore, the Khoo Teck Puat Hospital brings nature and health to its patients.

Not every designer can go all out like in Singapore, but even something as simple as adding a green wall can bring the outside world inside.

From Inhabitat: A green wall in Dubai.

Use Natural Materials

Instead of building with metal, plastics, or man-made materials, use wood. Reclaimed wood is eco-friendly and beautiful.

From Terramai: Reclaimed wood flooring and tree inside Google’s Mountain View headquarters.

Many large companies, such as Google, have begun to incorporate nature elements into their office spaces through the use of reclaimed wood accents, flooring, and paneling.

From Terramai: Amazon’s Seattle headquarters uses reclaimed wood wall paneling.

Bring In Natural Light

Nature isn’t just about sight: it’s about smell, sound, and feeling.

Designing a building around its location and orienting it to get maximum light and wind will not only make it more beneficial to those who work there, but also more eco-friendly. Windows let in natural light and if opened, fresh, outdoor air.

The biophilia hypothesis simply tells us what we already know: nature makes us happier and healthier. Biophilic design has encouraged architects and designers to bring the outside world inside by incorporating natural elements such as reclaimed wood, plants, and natural light into their design.

Biophilic concepts are steadily making their way into popular design. The concepts can take a variety of forms as local culture, ecology, project intent, and architect and designer perspective all direct how biophilic elements are applied to a space. The research is clear – biophilic design has many positive outcomes, most importantly it makes us happier. Biophilia seeks to reconnect us with nature, and by doing so provides all kinds of benefits—behavioral, mental, and physical. Studies have shown that biophilic design improves human well-being and boosts productivity.

From a commercial perspective, biophilia is a solution for creating better working environments. Windowless offices, poorly lit common areas, and cluttered design can all have numerous negative effects on humans, ranging from sleeping issues to increased sick leave. By building and designing with biophilic principles in mind, these problems can be significantly mitigated.

From C+P: This biophilic office was designed to optimize employee well-being

Moreover, these biophilic principles need to be deeply embedded in architectural and design philosophies. Access to nature needs to be prioritized in order to create the most optimal environments for humans. In other words, biophilia can’t be an afterthought.

Here are some ways architects and designers might integrate biophilia more holistically.

Nature as a necessity, not a tool

Commercial designers that design from a perspective of nature can gain insight and find inspiration to create re-imagined spaces. Using nature as the design driver and not simply another tool––is a necessity. While it is important to strategically include natural elements in a way that is aesthetically pleasing, nature needs to come before design. Therefore, instead of asking a question like, “How can we complement this space with natural elements?” one might ask, “What natural elements are vital for this space?”

When nature comes first, more biophilic needs are satisfied, and the environment appears more organic. It shouldn’t seem as if nature was thrown into the mix at the last minute. Some noteworthy examples of this concept include the Google Quad Campus and the COOKFOX Architects studio.

From Terrapin Bright Green: The COOKFOX studio was designed with nature in mind

Balancing the organic and the artificial is key

Although biophilia aims to restore a connection with nature, it must work hand in hand with constructed materials. As with any design, the elements must be in balance and have relevance. Terrapin Bright Green notes that biophilic design is the inclusion of “aspects of nature that most impact our satisfaction with the built environment.” Designers must uncover how best to implement the principles of Biophilia for each particular space.

A prime example of this balance is the Alliander business park in the Netherlands. The entire environment is outfitted with large skylights, open walkways, and ample vegetation. The natural elements and the constructed architecture work seamlessly together, creating the ideal balance.

From ArchiNed: The Alliander building is an excellent example of the biophilia effect in action

Biophilic design must meet real human needs

The basic premise of biophilia is that humans innately need to participate in nature. By extension, biophilic design must consider these needs and work to fulfill them. This overarching need for nature can be broken down into 14 patterns, which provide a framework for architects and designers. Each of these patterns addresses a fundamental aspect of biophilic needs, and when one or more patterns are utilized in a human-created space, these needs are met.

Station 101, a multi-office building in Westwood, Massachusetts, exemplifies biophilic design that satisfies human needs. Wood and vegetation create a natural connection, while the large windows allow daylight to pour in.

From TerraMai: Station 101 focuses on biophilia with wood and greenery

Commercial architecture has a need for greater usage of biophilic design principles. By using green building materials and keeping biophilic needs in mind, designers can craft environments that make humans happier and healthier.