We are also convening a Biophilic Design Masterclass on Placemaking with two of the best brains in Biophilic Design, Oliver Heath and Bill Browning. Plus a panel discussion on Biophilic Design and Resilience with Kirsty Wilman of Rebalance Earth, Luke Engleback of EcoUrbanist and Joanna Yarrow of Human Nature.

Designers are always searching for ideas that endure — ideas rooted not only in aesthetics, but in how humans live, heal and belong within the natural world. That is why viewing Finding Harmony: A King's Vision matters now. The film brings together decades of thinking from King Charles III about our relationship with nature, communities and the built environment — themes that sit at the heart of biophilic design.

For architects, landscape architects and urban designers, the documentary offers more than a portrait of a monarch’s environmental advocacy. It is, in many ways, a historical record of ideas that anticipated today’s conversations around regenerative design, nature-based solutions and the social value of green space. In a moment when the profession is grappling with climate, wellbeing and how cities must evolve, the film provides context — and a reminder that these principles have deep roots.

Designers should watch it not simply as a documentary, but as a source of hope and inspiration. It shows that reconnecting people, place and nature is not an abstract theory but a lived practice — one that can shape farms, neighbourhoods, prisons, schools and entire communities. At a time when the future can feel uncertain, the film argues that harmony with nature is still possible, and that design has a crucial role in achieving it.

Will we see you at Workspace Design Show 25 - 26 February 2026?

• Sustainability Talks – From biophilia to net zero

• “Reconnecting design and nature: Purpose, people, and the challenges of biophilia” chaired by Vanessa Champion (The Journal of Biophilic Design), featuring Nicola Tomkins (Overbury), Lidia Johansen (chapmanbdsp) and Paulo Ribeiro (AECOM).

The 2026 edition of Workspace Design Show has officially revealed the shortlisted projects for its newly launched Workspace Design Awards, recognising outstanding achievements across workplace design, innovation, sustainability, experience and adaptability.The shortlisted projects showcase the breadth and depth of talent shaping today’s workplaces across the UK and Europe,from smart offices and large-scale corporate headquarters to flexible co-working environments and future-focused concept designs.Winners from all categories will be announced liveat the Workspace Design Awards Ceremony & Networking Party, taking place on Wednesday 25 February 2026 from 5:30pm to 7:30pm. The evening will bring together designers, architects, occupiers, and industry leaders to celebrate the most creative projects in workplace design. The networking party is also proudly sponsored by Mute, who is the main Headline Sponsor of the awards.

As the third Monday in January earns its reputation as the year’s most challenging day, Biophilic Design offers a much needed antidote. Rooted in our innate connection to nature, biophilic principles remind us that even small encounters with living systems—particularly plants—can positively influence mood, reduce stress and restore emotional balance. By introducing calming blue-green foliage and flowering plants into our homes and workplaces, we can soften the impact of “Blue Monday,” using colour, texture and life itself to create spaces that nurture wellbeing. In this spirit, renowned interior landscape designer, houseplant stylist and author of At Home With Plants, Ian Drummond shares his favourite “blue plants” to lift the spirits and bring a smile when it’s needed most.

At its core, Biophilic Design is not about plants or aesthetics. It is about designing the conditions in which humans function best, drawing on our innate biological responses to light, nature, materiality, rhythm, refuge, connection and sensory balance. In other words, it provides a tangible way to turn cultural intent into lived experience.

Culture as an operating system is expressed not only through policies and leadership behaviours, but through the environments people inhabit every day. Spatial hierarchy, access to daylight, acoustic control, choice and autonomy, visibility, and opportunities for connection all send powerful signals about what is valued. A workplace that offers psychological safety, dignity, and agency does not rely solely on behavioural KPIs to reinforce culture — it embeds it into the system itself.

Similarly, as leaders become the primary interface of culture, the environments they operate within either support or undermine their ability to lead well. Biophilic workplaces reduce cognitive load, stress and fatigue, enabling better judgement, emotional regulation and decision-making. This matters when leaders are being asked to hold complexity, have difficult conversations and support mental health alongside performance. Capability does not exist in isolation from context.

CPOs’ deliberate reframing of wellbeing as performance infrastructure also aligns strongly with biophilic principles. Decades of research link exposure to natural light, views of nature, sensory variability and restorative spaces with improved concentration, faster recovery from stress, reduced absenteeism and stronger engagement. This is not a trade-off between care and results; it is a performance strategy grounded in human biology. READ on

The Journal of Biophilic Design is proud to be one of 60+ industry-leading organisations, including UK Green Building Council (UKGBC), RIBA, ASBP - Alliance for Sustainable Building Products, and UK Architects Declare, supporting Futurebuild 2026. These influential bodies and associations play an integral role in the Futurebuild Knowledge Programme, delivering 133 hours of CPD-accredited content over 3 days across two conferences and multiple seminar stages.

Futurebuild is the platform where content is curated by the industry for the industry. Immerse yourself in three days of ideas, inspiration, topical discussions and debates on:

Improving design & safety
Tackling rising costs
Meeting ambitious sustainability goals

Find out more and register free CLICK HERE

Who would want to live in a world that is not quite fatal?

So said ecologist Paul Shepherd in 1958, and quoted by Rachel Carson in “Silent Spring”. 

The Biophilic Design Conference this year has a theme of Policy, Place, Planet – Biophilic Design for a regenerative future. It has this theme for a reason. 

We are living in a ticking time bomb. Our planet is heating up, our climates are changing all over the world, our food security is at risk, our physical health is challenged not just by lifestyle and town planning but also by air and sound pollution inside and outside of the home and workplace, our crops are sprayed, our bees are dying, we are losing our pollinators, our skies are quieter, our living world is struggling to breathe and we are the culprits.

When I first learnt about Biophilic Design, it seemed to me a concept which if applied globally and on all facets of society we could go some way to reverse the ills we have inflicted onto ourselves and our planet. 

READ ON…