If you have never heard the term biophilia before, you might be wondering what biophilic design is. Biophilia means love of life or living things and is used to describe the affinity that humans have with nature. The folk at Triple Heart Design tell us that biophilic design therefore means design that incorporates the use of natural elements. But why is it important?
The Benefits of Biophilic Design
So biophilic design is the use of natural materials, and while this is aesthetically pleasing, it is also hugely beneficial. Human beings instinctively love to be surrounded by nature, so incorporating elements of the natural world into our design benefits not only our mind but also our body.
Whether in the home or the work environment, biophilic design has the ability reduce stress, improve cognitive performance, increase productivity and creativity, and boost mood. This has to be a good thing for everyone.
Why Is Biophilia Important?
Most of us are spending more time inside these days. It might be because we are working longer hours coupled with the commute to and front the office, and with many of us living in large urban areas, our connection with nature has somehow been lost.
When we are away from the natural world, we miss out. We don’t get to hear the relaxing sounds of bodies of water or breath the fresh mountain air. We do not get to see the magnificent mountains or enjoy the warmth of the sun on our skin.
Biophilic design can bring that connection to nature back, improving our lives in many ways.
How to Incorporate Biophilic Design in the Workplace?
Employers can take steps to introduce biophilia into the workplace with the intention of boosting productivity. This style of interior design will improve the health of workers and reduce levels of stress. This then leads to fewer employee absences, thus further increasing productivity.
The wonderful thing about biophilic design is that it is easy to implement. With the goal to bring the outside in, one of the simplest ways to achieve this is to allow more natural light into the building and open windows to get fresh air inside. The use of natural materials such as straw, wood, cork, leather, and clay work well, as do natural colors from an earthy palette.
Air quality is important too, so in high rise buildings where windows cannot be opened to allow fresh air inside, a good ventilation system can work well. Purifying the air will eliminate harmful bacteria and viruses, which will ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of staff.
To create a more natural environment that will reduce stress, you can introduce vegetation in the form of potted plants and trees, or even a living wall. Some companies will install small ponds or water features in communal areas as the sound of running water is relaxing and mood-boosting. Vegetation in the workplace is great for improving sound and air quality too.
Conclusion
There are so many benefits to incorporating biophilic design into the workplace, and the great thing about it is that it is extremely easy to accomplish. With the use of natural materials and colors, coupled with natural light, fresh air, and vegetation, your work environment can become a place where productivity increases and the health and wellbeing of employees improves dramatically.
To create a biophilic workplace, think materials such as straw, leather, cork, and wood and use earthy colors such as browns, beiges, and tans. You can also use plants and trees as well as water features for a relaxing environment. Finally, think about airflow and light and you will have a mood-boosting workplace.