What is Biophillic Design?

"Biophilic design can reduce stress, enhance creativity and clarity of thought, improve our well-being and expedite healing; as the world population continues to urbanize, these qualities are ever more important. Theorists, research scientists, and design practitioners have been working for decades to define aspects of nature that most impact our satisfaction with the built environment." https://urbannext.net/biophilic-design/

Workmind.org say "Workspaces that incorporate natural elements into their design help counteract the negative effects of the office environment on employee mental health. But how, exactly? The experts from Diamond Interiors explore the science behind biophilic design and its psychological benefits.

Amazon’s rainforest office. Microsoft’s treehouses. Google’s giant rooftop garden.

Biophilic design is everywhere. It’s being adopted by the world’s biggest businesses and shows no sign of slowing down.

Why? It has to do with the positive effect it has on employee wellbeing. Incorporating natural elements into the office has been shown to boost the mood of employees, reduce stress, and increase productivity.

But why is that? What is it about nature that has such a positive effect on our mental states?

The biophilia hypothesis

The concept of biophilic design germinated with the work of American psychologist Erich Fromm in 1973. He coined the term ‘biophilia’ to describe what he thought to be an innate love of nature in all human beings.

Fromm concluded that biophilia manifests in the way we interact with spaces. It’s what we instinctively pay attention to and what we withdraw from. It’s where we feel on edge and where we feel safe.

Twenty years later, biologist Edward O. Wilson applied this concept to indoor layouts. He used ‘biophilic design’ to define artificial spaces that mimic the environments we find in nature. In collaboration with author Stephen Kellert, Wilson identified the benefits of biophilic design were recognised in the world of architecture in The Biophilia Hypothesis (2008).

Since then, the biophilia hypothesis has blossomed into what we see today: a hallmark of contemporary office design.

The key elements of biophilic design

Biophilic design is about much more than the occasional fern or a mini zen garden at your desk. It’s a complex array of elements that coalesce to form an environment where employees feel like they’re connected with nature.

Within that ecosystem, there are some key elements that have tangible benefits to the psychological wellbeing of your employees." To find out more visit https://workinmind.org/2019/02/27/how-biophilic-design-can-help-with-employee-mental-health/