Journal of biophilic design - articles, research, podcasts, videos on biophilia
Have you ever wanted to really ground yourself in Biophilic Design?
We have teamed up with Oliver Heath to give you 10% off their level 2 course. ‘Biophilic Design in the Home’ is perfect for anyone who wants to learn more about Biophilic Design, whether you’re a designer looking to add another string to your bow or are simply interested in helping yourself and others feel happier and healthier..
There were two articles in the FT at the weekend (5/6 December 2020) which caught my eye. One of them was about British farming written by a farmer calling for a bit of sense. With the fall-out that is going to rain down on us from leaving the EU, one of the industries that will feel the pinch will be British farming. For years now farmers have received subsidies and been flooding the land and soils with artificial aids such as fertiliser and chemical sprays in order to stress the land to produce more. …
You may have heard of the “sick building syndrome” where the actual building we live and work in is making us sick. There are a mass of chemicals that are hidden in the paint we use, the cushions and chairs we sit on, the clothes we wear, the carpets we walk on… it can cause everything from coughs, allergies, skin problems, dry eyes, right down to cancers and inflammatory diseases of the respiratory tract.
I became aware of the topic of biophilic design in 2008 through an online presentation by Stephen Kellert, former Professor Emeritus of Social Ecology & Senior Research Scholar, School of Forestry and Environmental Studies at Yale University.
I immediately recognized a kinship between my work in feng shui and this new discipline and have dedicated the last decade to studying and, eventually earned a certificate in biophilic design from the International Living Future Institute earlier this year. (See my earlier post on The Intersection of Feng Shui & Biophilic Design)…
Sound may not be one of the first things we think of in biophilic design but what most people want from the auditory environment is intrinsically linked to nature.
Our hearing is often key in our perception of the world around us; it helps us to interact, communicate and be aware of what is happening and impending change. It is designed for the outside, a world without walls and other hard reflective surfaces that focus sound and allow it to build up to levels where it affects our concentration, increases levels of anxiety, negatively affects performance and interrupts our sleep….
Feng shui is an intuitive art that has been practiced for thousands of years. It was built on the observation of nature, common sense, and gut instinct and was used to locate the optimal places for survival. But today, the primary goal is to enhance success in life. Feng shui is a language of metaphor that requires attention to the feel of spaces.
On the other hand, biophilic design was developed in reaction to our modern, technology-driven lives. It is based on researchthat shows access to nature and natural elements decreases stress and improves our feeling of wellbeing.
By 2050, the United Nations states that 75% of the world’s projected 9 billion population will live in cities. So, is it so surprising that as a species we have become disconnected from nature…and forests, in particular, where we have lived for most of our life on earth? We are also, increasingly an indoor species. The World Health Organisation names stress as the health epidemic of the 21st century. Since its inception in Japanese culture in the 1980’s, Shinrin-yoku, meaning ‘Forest bath’, has proven to affect health and wellbeing beneficially in a myriad of ways. Forest Bathing/Shinrin-yoku - a Japanese practice reconnecting people with nature, alleviating effects of stress and burnout, developed in the 1980s during tech boom. Research into the practice has continued since then, and expanded worldwide…
Biophilia finds its way in most of my projects
It is only recently I asked myself the question “Why is it that everything I do encompasses biophilia in one way or another?
I do “Interiors with a Purpose” - mostly for workspaces - and I always invite nature into the spaces I create. It’s the most obvious way to create an environment that thrives and engenders wellbeing I believe.
It worries me whenever I see an office environment in a bad state. Of course, I like designer furniture, art ,etc. But even more I appreciate when people make an effort - when you feel that the surroundings have been taken good care of and you feel a good atmosphere. The best atmosphere is when nature is present. Humans have an innate tendency to seek connections with nature…
Something different from us today. I received an email this morning from Friends of the Earth. It was addressed to me from the Bees.
I wanted to share something with you. I am founder of Argenta Wellness, I’m a commercial documentary, portrait and natural world photographer, all my life has been wrapped around conservation, environmentalism and the embracing of nature. My mother was influential on me when I was a child, her own course on ecology and vociferous stance on protecting our rain forests helped shape my thirst for understanding the natural world. My father used to swim in the River Wensum when he was a boy, he loved birds and just being outside, birds would come to sit on his hand or just by him as he painted in the garden. I was a real bird nerd when a child too, priding myself on identifying as many as I could (I still do this I confess…!)…
Many things have changed for humans since their early days as a species—how excited do you think early Homo sapiens would have been by heating, air conditioning and weather tight structures to install them in, for example?
Not everything is different, however. We still have fundamentally the same brains as the first creatures we would recognize as “one of us.” That means we process and respond to the basic sensory inputs we see, hear, feel, taste, and smell today as our earliest human ancestors did….
Epigenetics - Why our hospitals need to look and feel more natural. ‘Epigenetics’ is a recently established pillar of biomedicine, it examines how environmental signals control the health of our cells. the opposite of the placebo effect, the nocebo effect, which, simply put, says negative thoughts create sickness. If you believe the power of the placebo effect, think about how important it is to not fall into the nocebo effect, driven by negative thinking. This may worry many, as psychologists say that 70-80% of the average person’s thoughts are negative ones. So, coming back to the fear of being in hospital…
Theatre, TV and film create simulations of environments to transport the audience somewhere else. Similarly here at The Journal of Biophilic Design and those who work using biophilic design, we create harmony by mimicking nature to bring about a simulated environment of an outside space to bring peace and calm to workplaces, healthcare and so on….
Whilst there remains some debate over the precise causes of SAD there is a consensus that it is associated with reduced exposure to sunlight and the deprivation that results. Light therapy and certain lifestyle measures can play their part in helping address the condition and are a potent reminder of a human’s need for certain stimuli and an equilibrium that puts us both at ease and in a better frame of mind. To some of us a woodland walk and being able to savour the petrichor that results from recent rains proves a welcome tonic. For others filling our homes with plants and flowers does the trick, tapping into that deep bond with the natural world that continues to inspire artists, poets and other sentient beings. Where once great houses might seek to bring nature within by hanging paintings by Claude Lorrain or John Constable now homes and public and private institutions can help simulate nature through Biophilic Design. Mental wellbeing is being improved via the use of canvasses, plants and art installations that enhance transport hubs, hospitals, universities and the workplace…
Biophilia. It’s now one of the most influential elements in today’s design trends. And it’s having an increasing influence on interior design and architecture decisions across almost every sector. Biophilic Design integrates nature and natural elements, materials and forms into the architecture and interiors of the buildings we occupy day in and day out.
“Biophilic Design is fast becoming one of the most
important design considerations of this century”
If you were asked to picture a scene where you felt most calm and relaxed, you would most probably imagine a place in nature. Researchers have found that more than 90% of us imagine a natural setting.
We feel good in nature. But even more than this, our physical and mental well-being depends on continued interaction with our natural environment. It affects our personal well-being, productivity and creativity. In the last few decades studies into Biophilic Design have been conducted by the scientific and design communities. These have reported convincing evidence of the positive benefits of interaction with nature.
Plants and greenery have been proved to be a great way to introduce a biophilic element which can have a very positive contribution to wellness in the workplace. They are minimal in cost compared to a refurbishment, make a huge visual impact and can be installed extremely quickly.
Interface conducted a global study of 7,600 employees across 16 countries into the impact of biophilic design on office workers and has revealed that those who worked in spaces with natural elements such as greenery and daylight reported:
· 15% higher level of wellbeing
· 6% more productive
· 15% more creative
Interestingly, 33% of respondents said office design would affect their decision whether or not to accept a job offer
The study also identified the 5 most wanted elements in office space:
1. Natural light (44%)
2. Indoor plants (20%)
3. Quiet working space (19%)
4. A view of the sea (17%)
5. Bright colour (15%)
Note regarding Point 4: This was a global survey so a view of the sea could be interpreted as a nice outlook or if this is impossible, it has been found, perhaps surprisingly that even looking at pictures of scenes of nature has the ability to lift our spirits and make us feel more relaxed.
And it's not just office environments enjoying the benefits, another recent study showed that the hospitality industry sees guests spending 25% more in spaces incorporating biophilic design. Whilst rooms with a view attract a premium of 23%. More research can be found here: https://www.benholm.com/biophilic-design-planting
Hospitals with an abundance of nature see patients recuperate faster too. Dr Charles R. Hall of Texas A&M University reports:
“Shrubs, trees, and flowers have a practical application in hospitals: the presence of plants in patient recovery rooms greatly reduces the time necessary to heal. The soothing effects of ornamental flowers and plants are so great that simply having daily views of flowers and other ornamental plants in landscaped areas outside patient recovery room significantly speed up recovery time.”
Benefits of plants aren’t just felt by patients; their calming effect can also be particularly useful for staff that are working in this type of high-stress environment.
Retail outlets with plants and flowers benefit from shoppers spending more. With customers enjoying a real shopping experience they perceive the products sold by stores filled with nature to be of better quality and value the brands more highly.
Natural elements such as plants and greenery can be combined with Argenta’s range of beautiful scenic images to create realistic three-dimensional scenes in any of these spaces for increased impact. By collaborating with Argenta we are opening up a host of new visual display opportunities for our customers to transform their interior environment. Take this forest scene for example; we are confident it would take a keen eye to tell the difference between this created indoor space and a true stroll in the countryside!
So, in answer to the question: Is Biophilic Design always relevant, we can conclude that yes, it is. This design principle can be applied to almost any interior situation in almost any market sector and the positive benefits can be seen and felt.
Adrian Byne, Marketing Manager, Benholm Group
At the Benholm Group we use plants creatively to enrich people, places and spaces.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us if you'd like to explore some ideas for a biophilic makeover in your premises. Call Freephone 08000 724723
Podcast Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the awesome intro and outro creation (“Footsteps, dry leaves” and “Concrete” sound samples included courtesy of InspectorJ).
The benefits of biophilia are increasingly being accepted by workplace designers and managers as not only adding to the visual attractiveness of a workspace, but also by enhancing the wellbeing and happiness of its staff and visitors. We all know that this in turn results in increased productivity, creativity, attendance rates, stress levels and fatigue, and ultimately increased workplace performance. Read more…
Scientific support (1) for the underlying principles of biophilia continues to grow.
A smartphone app trialled in Sheffield has brought further confirmation of the beneficial effects of a connection to nature. Researchers at the University of Derby asked 582 adults, some with mental health difficulties, to interact with the app when they saw something they liked in nature in the South Yorkshire city.
What happens if you try to change the world and you’re successful?” asked William Keyes Rudolph, introducing a touring exhibition entitled Victorian Radicals*.
The answer, where interiors are concerned, illustrates the Law of Unintended Consequences. It arises from nothing more complicated than the geometry of walls….
How many times have I written, “it’s not rocket science…nature is good for you?” Well for the umpteenth time, I’m saying it again, and so is NBC. A recent NBC article discusses why natural scenery improves your mood and makes you more productive. They quote the results of an article published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology which outlines the benefits of having just 40 second green views can have on sustaining attention, less errors and more consistency. This is because it boosts sub-cortical arousal and cortical attention control.
Croner-i published an article announcing the launch of the new UK Association formed to promote hearing conservation in the UK. The UK Hearing Conservation Association (HCA) claims that current noise risk at work management programmes are not working, and that improvements are needed in several key areas.
We are particularly interested in that their focus will be on preventable causes of hearing loss and hearing health impact “through common sense, cost effective, evidenced solutions”.
70 million working days are lost each year due to mental ill-health, costing Britain £70-£100 billion, according to the Mental Health Foundation, with a 24% increase to the number of working days lost in the past 6 years the number of working days due to stress, depression and anxiety. How do we improve this? The solution is closer and cheaper than you think…
