Let's Upskill in 2025: Biophilic Design

For this brand new season, this Newsletter will be addressing a subject each week. Knowledge that is easily accessible, and up-levels your skillset.

On the first Monday of 2025, we will talk about Biophilic Design in conjunction with Wellbeing. There is plenty below, so much so that I think you ought to bookmark this article for future reference...

Biophilic design, which incorporates natural elements into built environments, has a wide range of positive impacts on occupant well-being across various settings. These benefits span psychological, physiological, and cognitive domains, with effects observed in healthcare, workplaces, and schools.

General Well-being Benefits:

• Stress Reduction: Biophilic design is consistently linked to reduced stress levels. This is achieved through elements like views of nature, natural light, and the presence of plants, which promote a more relaxed state. Physiological markers of stress, such as blood pressure and heart rate, are also lowered through biophilic design.
• Improved Mood and Emotional State: Exposure to biophilic elements can elevate mood and enhance overall happiness. Natural environments, or elements that mimic nature, can improve mental health and create a more tranquil feeling.
• Enhanced Cognitive Function: Biophilic design can improve cognitive performance, including attention, focus, and mental engagement. For example, exposure to fractal patterns can increase alpha power in the frontal lobes of the brain, which is associated with relaxation and interest.
• Restoration and Sense of Coherence: Biophilic design promotes restoration, helping individuals recover from mental fatigue and stress. It can also create a greater sense of coherence and connection to the environment, fostering a feeling of well-being and belonging.

Specific Settings:

Healthcare:

• Faster Recovery: Biophilic design in hospitals is associated with reduced hospitalization times, lower pain levels and faster recovery for patients. Access to nature and natural light can improve both physical and mental health outcomes in healthcare settings.
• Reduced Stress for Patients and Staff: Biophilic elements lower stress and anxiety levels for both patients and healthcare providers. These designs can create a more supportive and less sterile environment which leads to greater well-being for all users of the space.
• Therapeutic Gardens: These gardens offer opportunities for physical, mental, and social rehabilitation. They also encourage motor skill and cognitive function improvement.

Workplaces:

• Increased Productivity: Biophilic design in the workplace is linked to increased productivity, job satisfaction, and reduced absenteeism. This is due to reduced stress levels and improved cognitive function resulting from biophilic elements.
• Enhanced Well-being: The inclusion of greenery, natural light, and views of nature can foster a more comfortable and less stressful work environment, promoting employee health and overall well-being.

Schools:

• Improved Learning Outcomes: Biophilic design in schools has been shown to positively impact student mood, calmness, and standardised test scores. These spaces have been found to enhance students' engagement with their learning environment.
• Reduced Stress and Improved Behavior: Exposure to natural elements can reduce stress and improve behaviour in students. By promoting a more positive and calming environment, biophilic design can decrease negative behaviours in the classroom.
• Enhanced Teacher Retention: Biophilic design has also been shown to improve teacher retention and reduce absenteeism in school settings.

Key Biophilic Design Elements and Their Impact

• Visual Connection with Nature: Views of nature, such as landscapes or plants, are directly linked to positive impacts on attitude, mental engagement, and overall happiness. Access to natural views also reduces boredom and irritation.
• Non-Visual Connection with Nature: Natural sounds, airflow, and scents are also associated with improved cognitive performance, decreased stress hormones, and improved mental health and tranquility.
• Natural Light: Access to natural daylight has a substantial positive impact on well-being across settings.
• Presence of Water: Water features can create a more welcoming and relaxing environment for both employees and visitors.
• Plants and Greenery: The presence of greenery and plants is linked to a reduction in stress, enhancement of cognitive function, and improvement of mood.
• Natural Materials: The incorporation of natural materials, such as wood, bamboo, cork, and stone, can reduce stress and increase productivity.
• Spatial Configurations of Nature: Elements like prospect and refuge, organized complexity, and transitional spaces can also contribute to feelings of comfort, security, and safety.

Neurophysiological Effects

Exposure to biophilic design can impact brain activity, specifically decreasing relative delta power, which is associated with a more relaxed state, indicating a reduction in neuroinflammatory activity. There is also evidence to suggest that other frequency bands, such as theta, alpha, beta and gamma, can be affected by biophilic design, although to a lesser degree than the delta band.

Implementation Considerations

• Dose-Response: Both the duration and the level of immersion in biophilic elements are important factors when designing for therapeutic outcomes.
• Holistic Approach: Biophilic elements should work together to create an interconnected ecosystem rather than existing as isolated occurrences within a space.
• Contextual Design: The effectiveness of biophilic design can vary based on factors like personal preferences, cultural context, and type of space. Designers should consider these factors to create effective biophilic spaces.
• Balance with Functionality: While incorporating biophilic elements, it is important to maintain the functionality of the space. Integrating biophilic design can be a cost-effective way to improve occupant well-being, rather than something that adds extra expense.

Overall, biophilic design offers a powerful approach to enhancing occupant well-being across diverse settings by fostering connections with nature that have been shown to reduce stress, improve cognitive function, and elevate mood.

So, a great compiled chunk of knowledge here. If you feel you can digest better over audio i.e. podcast way, here is the link to what is uploaded to the HAP:

https://youtu.be/e2aTgpEebV4