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Mindful Designing - Freyja Sewell on Biophilia, Neurodiversity and Positive Futures

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Mindful Designing - Freyja Sewell on Biophilia, Neurodiversity and Positive Futures

There are many places where we can feel an overwhelm, for some of us, the overwhelm can be, well, overwhelming and trying to find somewhere to recalibrate can be difficult. 

So how can design help us feel safe, connected and able to participate in the world? Designer and interdisciplinary artist Freyja Sewell begins with nature, sensory experience and a willingness to imagine things differently.

As a neurodivergent designer herself, Freyja is founder of HUUS Design, where she brings together art, technology, nature and sensory design to create gorgeous woven soft felt pods and other products including digital capability to help create environments that support human experience better. Her work is also woven by an ambition to make positive futures tangible.

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Blue Earth - What will you do? Join us.

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Blue Earth - What will you do? Join us.

In conversation with the Journal of Biophilic Design Podcast, Patrick Keogh explores why the future depends on bringing different worlds together, learning from nature and having the courage to act.

 

What kind of future do we want to live in? The way we design our buildings, organise our businesses, invest our money and relate to the natural world lies at the heart of this year's Blue Earth Summit, taking place at Woolwich Works in London from 14–16 October 2026. Bringing together people from business, science, investment, culture, sport and the environmental world, the Summit aims to move beyond familiar conversations about sustainability and explore how we can create a more regenerative future.

 

In the latest episode of the Journal of Biophilic Design Podcast, I spoke to Patrick Keogh, who leads the Blue Earth Summit programme, about the importance of interdisciplinary thinking, the lessons we can learn from nature, and why we need to turn our knowledge of environmental challenges into meaningful action.

Explore the Blue Earth Summit programme and book your ticket.

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The Glasshouse - Helping women in custody grow

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The Glasshouse - Helping women in custody grow

The Glasshouse is using horticulture, employment and a deep connection with nature to give women leaving prison something they often desperately need: dignity, confidence and the chance to build a different future. I am joined by co-founder Kali Hamerton-Stove alongside Ri, who came through the programme herself and now works on the senior team.

 

A plant needs the right conditions, nourishment, care, light and time. Give it those things and given the opportunity, it grows. For Kali Hamerton-Stove, co-founder of The Glasshouse, this has become the foundation of an extraordinary social enterprise supporting women approaching the end of their prison sentences.

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The Bath, the Bins and the Biology of Light

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The Bath, the Bins and the Biology of Light

Light: The Missing Element in Biophilic Design

Light is far more than something that allows us to see. It is a powerful biological signal, influencing our body clocks, mood, alertness, sleep and sense of wellbeing. In this fascinating conversation, Dr Shelley James, “The Light Lady”, explores how our brains and bodies respond to light — and why biophilic designers need to pay much closer attention to it.

From the difference between Kelvin and colour rendering to the restorative rhythms of daylight, Shelley reveals how thoughtful lighting can help us create spaces that work more naturally with our biology. She also explores prospect and refuge, moving shadows, contrast and even the remarkable ways our brains interpret light as a signal of the natural world.

Discover why good biophilic design begins not just with bringing nature into a space, but with understanding the light that makes us feel at home in it.

Natural environments contain variation, contrast, shadow, movement and changing horizons. Light filters through leaves, reflects from water, changes with clouds and seasons, and gradually shifts from morning to evening.

Our visual systems evolved within this complexity.

Shelley describes the brain as looking for patterns that are familiar from the natural world — an appropriate balance of order and complexity, rather than either complete uniformity or overwhelming contrast. Even something as simple as dappled light and moving shadows can provide the kind of non-rhythmic visual stimulus associated with nature….

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Nature Preserved - The Ultimate Guide to Preserved Plants

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Nature Preserved - The Ultimate Guide to Preserved Plants

To coincide with the launch of our new monograph, Nature Preserved: The Definitive Guide to Preserved Plants, we talk to its author, Edgardo Rossi, known as The Green Man, about the thinking behind the book and his pioneering Green Lock System. What has years of working with preserved botanical material taught him about design, sustainability and the spaces we inhabit? We explore when living plants should come first, why designers need to walk the space before choosing the greenery, and how cork, bio-based materials and real preserved plants come together. We also challenge common misconceptions about longevity, maintenance and air quality—and ask why real nature should never be forced or faked.

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Nature, Nervous Systems and the Places that help us heal

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Nature, Nervous Systems and the Places that help us heal

What happens when we step away from the noise of everyday life and enter a space designed to help us restore, reconnect and simply breathe?

How do we create places for wellbeing? Light, temperature, air quality, acoustics, materials, smell and even silence are not merely aesthetic considerations. They form the sensory environment in which our bodies and minds operate. Ali points to natural light as particularly important, both for circadian rhythms and mood, while comfortable temperatures and fresh, clean air can help create an environment in which people can relax rather than remain on alert.

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Designing for How We Feel - Robert Hopkins on Biophilic Architecture

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Designing for How We Feel - Robert Hopkins on Biophilic Architecture

What happens when architecture is designed around how people feel, not simply how buildings perform? Robert Hopkins, architect and sustainability leader at AHR, joins the Journal of Biophilic Design podcast to explore the thinking behind landmark projects including The Spine, Thrive Health and Wellbeing Centre and the Daphne Steele Building. From trauma-informed design and evidence-based decision making to materials, air quality, nature, choice and collaboration, Robert shares how small decisions can transform how people experience a place. His advice? “Don’t chase points” — focus on the why. Listen to the conversation and discover why, for Robert, great architecture might ultimately be about helping people be nice to one another. WATCH THE INTERVIEW

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How do we make our increasingly dense cities healthier, greener and more resilient?

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How do we make our increasingly dense cities healthier, greener and more resilient?

As our cities grow, access to clean air, clean water, biodiversity and meaningful connections with nature will become ever more important.

In this conversation, we explore living architecture, green infrastructure, urban density, clean air and water — and how we can design cities that work better for both people and the planet.

What happens when we stop thinking of nature as something we add to a building and start thinking about it as part of the infrastructure of the city itself? For landscape architect James Worth, the answer lies in bringing disciplines, ideas and people together — and fundamentally rethinking how we design our urban environments.

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Living Architecture: Bioreceptive Design for People and Planet

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Living Architecture: Bioreceptive Design for People and Planet

What if the buildings that help us tackle climate change were also the buildings that lift our spirits?

We talk a great deal about the performance of buildings: how to reduce carbon, manage heat, conserve energy, deal with water and increase biodiversity. But perhaps we need to ask another question. What should these buildings look and feel like?

For architect and Alive Labs founder Nicky Naidu, the answer is not to choose between performance and beauty. We should expect both.

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Eye of the Beholder: Frank Lloyd Wright, Photography, Biophilia and Awe

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Eye of the Beholder: Frank Lloyd Wright, Photography, Biophilia and Awe

What happens when we stop looking at a building simply as a building?

For Lincoln Stoller, physicist, psychotherapist and son of celebrated architectural photographer Ezra Stoller, the answer lies somewhere between architecture, psychology, nature, photography and the human capacity to experience something beyond the immediately visible.

Ezra Stoller was regarded as one of the pre-eminent architectural photographers of his generation. His extraordinary archive includes some of the most significant buildings of twentieth-century modernism, photographed not simply as objects, but as experiences. His approach was distinctive: rather than producing straightforward images designed to showcase a building, he sought something beyond it – what Lincoln describes as the “essential and ethereal.”

This is particularly fascinating when we consider Frank Lloyd Wright, whose architecture is now frequently discussed through the lens of Biophilic Design, despite Wright never using the term. Wright trusted Ezra to understand what he was trying to achieve without needing to explain it. Lincoln describes their relationship as almost a meeting of opposites: Wright the forceful creator, Ezra the sensitive and receptive observer. Together, they understood something difficult to put into words – the ineffable quality of space. READ ON and WATCH the VIDEO

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3.8 Billion Years of Design Intelligence - Why the future of design begins by learning from living systems

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3.8 Billion Years of Design Intelligence - Why the future of design begins by learning from living systems

Biophilic Design and biomimicry are often discussed as separate disciplines, yet they are deeply complementary. Biophilic Design reconnects people with nature, creating healthier places that nurture wellbeing and strengthen our relationship with the living world. Biomimicry asks a different, but equally important question: how can nature’s 3.8 billion years of evolution teach us to solve human challenges?

Together they offer a blueprint for creating buildings, products and systems that help all life flourish.

While architecture often looks inward for innovation, one of the most fascinating lessons for the built environment is currently emerging from an unexpected place: fashion.

Amanda Sturgeon, CEO of the Biomimicry Institute, has been leading the Institute’s Nature of Fashion initiative, exploring how lessons from natural decomposition could help address one of the world’s fastest-growing environmental challenges—textile waste. Working alongside partners including The Or Foundation in Ghana, Circle Economy in the Netherlands and the Beneficial Design Institute in Germany, the project asks a deceptively simple question: what if the materials we create behaved more like nature?

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🌿 Biophilic Design you can Taste - How Urban Farming is transforming Workplaces and Cities

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🌿 Biophilic Design you can Taste - How Urban Farming is transforming Workplaces and Cities

How can our buildings become active contributors to healthier lives rather than passive consumers of resources? Our cities are grappling with climate change, biodiversity loss, employee wellbeing and the changing role of the workplace, for Patrick Dumas, Founder and CEO of Square Mile Farms, the answer begins with growing food.

His concept has evolved into one of the UK's largest networks of indoor urban farms, with more than 120 installations and over 75,000 plants growing inside workplaces and residential developments. Yet the plants, herbs and vegetables are only part of the story…. READ ON

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How many plants do we need for wellbeing?

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How many plants do we need for wellbeing?

Over the past decade, introducing greenery into workplaces has become almost synonymous with employee wellbeing. Yet according to workplace and environmental psychologist Dr Craig Knight, if organisations believe that adding a few plants alone will transform productivity, they have misunderstood the research.

Employees working in enriched environments containing plants, artwork and opportunities for personalisation consistently performed better than those working in lean, standardised offices.

The psychology behind their success is equally compelling. Rather than distracting employees from their work, enriched environments provide opportunities for brief moments of cognitive recovery. Looking away from a screen towards a plant or another visually engaging feature gives the brain the chance to reset before returning to the task at hand. These small interruptions help sustain attention rather than diminish it. As Craig puts it, people are happier and more productive when their surroundings offer something meaningful to engage with.

 

Yet as our conversation developed, it became clear that the plants themselves were not the most significant finding from decades of workplace research.

The real story is choice. READ ON… and WATCH the interview.

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Biophilia: Africa, Nature and Remembering What It Means to be Human

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Biophilia: Africa, Nature and Remembering What It Means to be Human

As Biophilic Design continues to gather momentum around the world, much of the conversation has centred on research emerging from Europe, North America and Australia. Yet one of the most powerful perspectives may come from a continent where living with nature has never been considered a design trend at all. For Wangui Mwangi, Founding Chair of the Green Biophilic Living Society and Convener of the Africa Biophilic Building Conference & Expo 2026, biophilia is less about innovation than remembering.

Speaking on the Journal of Biophilic Design podcast, she describes traditional African settlements where buildings were constructed using local materials, courtyards encouraged natural ventilation, communities lived outdoors, and architecture reflected both ecological intelligence and spiritual connection.

Watch the interview and read more…

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Dare to Dream - Why Stone is calling us back to Nature

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Dare to Dream - Why Stone is calling us back to Nature

There is something deeply timeless about holding a piece of natural stone. Perhaps it is the cool surface beneath our fingertips. Perhaps it is the intricate mineral patterns that could never be replicated twice. Or perhaps it is something much older than conscious thought—a recognition that for almost all of human history, stone has been our shelter, our monuments, our meeting places and our memories.

While we are searching for healthier, more sustainable ways to design our buildings, natural stone deserves to be part of the Biophilic Design conversation once again.

During this conversation on The Journal of Biophilic Design Podcast, Benjamin Ayling, UK Business Development Manager for Lundhs and founding member of the Stone Collective, reflected on why this ancient material still resonates so deeply today.

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Sleep by Design - Can your bedroom improve your health?

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Sleep by Design - Can your bedroom improve your health?

Why Nature helps us sleep better

One of the most compelling parts of the conversation explores how our connection with nature throughout the day influences sleep at night. Morning daylight is particularly important.

"If you want really good quality sleep in the night, start in the morning getting bright light."

Natural morning light resets our circadian rhythm, signalling to the brain that a new day has begun. Around sixteen hours later, this helps stimulate the release of melatonin—the hormone that prepares us for sleep. Time outdoors offers even more benefits. Walking, exercising and simply spending time in natural surroundings reduces stress while increasing serotonin production.

"Being in nature is de-stressing."

That serotonin later becomes melatonin, reinforcing the body's natural sleep cycle. Biophilic Design has long recognised these benefits. Access to daylight, views of nature and opportunities to connect with the outdoors are not aesthetic luxuries—they are essential components of healthy buildings.

Read the article and Listen to the podcast

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Why we need nature inside our buildings - The Future of Healthy Buildings with Biophilic Design

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Why we need nature inside our buildings - The Future of Healthy Buildings with Biophilic Design

In this episode of the Journal of Biophilic Design podcast, we speak with landscape specialist Tom Palfreyman, whose work across commercial, hospitality, retail and workplace environments has focused on the principle that plants fundamentally change how people experience space. With more than twenty years’ involvement in interior and exterior landscaping, Tom has spent his career exploring how nature can improve the places where we work, rest and play,  and why maintenance, care and long-term thinking are just as important as the initial design itself.

 

As Tom reflects during the conversation, “Plants have transitioned from a nice-to-have decoration in the corner of the building to being an intrinsic essential part of any building.” It is a shift many designers are now recognising. The conversation around biophilic design has matured significantly over the past decade. What was once dismissed as aesthetic enhancement is increasingly understood as part of a much wider discussion around health, wellbeing, productivity, ecology and human resilience.

 

The heart of biophilic design beats out that human beings are not separate from nature, we are an intrinsic part of it. “We evolved to live outside,” Tom says. “That connection with nature, sadly, I believe, has been lost.”

 

Modern life has created increasingly artificial environments - sealed buildings, screen-based working, urban density and spaces designed more for efficiency than human experience. Yet our biology has not changed at the same pace as our architecture. Research across neuroscience, environmental psychology and workplace wellbeing continues to show that exposure to nature can reduce stress, restore attention, support cognitive performance and improve emotional wellbeing.

 READ ON….

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Is Colour the Missing Link in Nature-Centric Biophilic Spaces

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Is Colour the Missing Link in Nature-Centric Biophilic Spaces

Ever wondered why some spaces instantly relax you, while others energise or even irritate? The secret might lie in the colour! Karen Haller, is an expert in applied colour psychology, and reveals how understanding the emotional dance of colours can transform our built environments into havens of well-being and productivity. Whether you're an interior designer, architect, or simply a lover of nature-inspired spaces, this podcast dives deep into the unseen forces of colour.

You’ll learn how colour influences behaviour, how to select the perfect hues for different environments, and why true biophilic design demands more than green and brown, it's about the symphony of natural colours that heal and energise us.

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The Future of Material Innovation and Biophilic Design

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The Future of Material Innovation and Biophilic Design

Have you ever wondered how materials shape our environment? What happens when design meets nature? If you’re craving a fresh perspective on sustainable, regenerative design, dive deep with us into the world of materials, creativity, and a future where biophilic principles transform every building, every product, and every space.

William Knight, co-founder of Material Matters, is a passionate advocate for a future where materials tell stories, innovate endlessly, and reconnect us to nature. His journey from politics to design might surprise you, but his journey has driven him to demystify material innovation that truly inspires.

In this post, you’ll discover how materials are pushing boundaries, why understanding them is critical, and how a shift in industry mindset can accelerate regenerative, biophilic environments.

Living Materials and Regenerative Design

Will emphasises that many materials we overlook have rich stories. Think about timber, agricultural waste, natural extracts, all of these can inspire radically different design solutions. For example, his work with companies using tree sap, algae-based bioplastics, or recycled aluminium demonstrates that every material is an opportunity. This perspective challenges the traditional sourcing black book, pushing designers to explore alternatives that are biophilic, regenerative, and resourceful.

Read on and watch or listen to the podcast….

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The Biophilic Imperative - From Sustainability to Regeneration

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The Biophilic Imperative - From Sustainability to Regeneration

Is it Utopian thinking to imagine a world architected not just to sustain, but to regenerate. A space where every brick, every plant, every human interaction pushes us closer to harmony with nature?  Enrique Soler, is Design Director for Major Projects at Area, where he leads a multidisciplinary team of designers. Formerly Head of Design for Willmott Dixon Interiors, Enrique is a design visionary and passionate advocate of biophilic and regenerative spaces. In this podcast interview he takes us on a journey beyond eco-friendly clichés to uncover how biophilic design can fundamentally transform our relationship with the planet and each other.

Sustainability alone is no longer enough. It’s become a hollow badge; a marketing tab on products. We have to be specifying with regeneration as a fundamental baseline. We have to aim to be net positive, to give back to the earth, and nurture all life through design. If we want to thrive, we must shift from mere mitigation to conscious creation of spaces that actively enhance biodiversity, air quality, and human well-being.

Enrique’s practice extends deep into the core of biophilic philosophy. "It’s not about just having a plant here or there, it’s systems thinking, connecting everything: natural materials, community involvement, local art, and the web of life. Design must be holistic." He illustrates that interior environments capable of reducing noise, improving sleep, and fostering healthy ecosystems are essential.

He shares the surprising outcome of how circadian lighting actually also reduced the sound levels in an office environment, as people were calmer. It’s amazing how biophilic elements can have a far-ranging effect on human health and productivity.

 We also discuss urgency. Without Biophilic Design, we're simply continuing a path of destruction.

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