Biophilic design

Biophilic design starts from the idea that people carry an instinctive affinity for nature. The biologist Edward O. Wilson popularised the term biophilia, and in architecture it turns into concrete decisions that multiply moments of contact with the natural world. The point is not to scatter pot plants around, but to tie a building’s light, air, materials and views back to nature.

The tools of biophilic design

• Direct contact: plants, living walls, courtyards, water features and operable windows for fresh air.
• Indirect contact: timber, stone and clay, along with textures, patterns and colours drawn from nature.
• Spatial experience: long outward views paired with sheltered corners to retreat to, and light that changes through the day.

The approach comes up often in offices, hospitals and schools, where comfort and concentration are on the line. In homes it usually shows up more quietly: an inner courtyard, a generous window seat, a material palette led by wood.

Nature in visualization

A render that is meant to sell a biophilic idea has to get plants and light right, or the idea falls flat. Leaf detail, the contrast between sunlit and shaded surfaces, the warmth of timber and a believable sky do most of the work. Our piece on future architecture trends looks at biophilic design alongside smart buildings.