The Biophilic Design: Reconnecting with Nature through Interior Spaces
Have you heard of biophilic design? This interior design style is all about bringing the outdoors in to create a home that is both restorative and invigorating.
The core principle
The word “biophilia” was coined by Erich Fromm around 1973. A social psychologist, he was concerned with how the transition to urbanisation had caused people to tune out from nature. He defined this new term as the “passionate love of life and all that is alive... whether in a person, a plant, an idea or a social group”.
This concept is the heart of biophilic design.
How it works in interior design
Successful biophilic design makes nature’s presence in the building strongly felt. Plants, natural light and spaciousness are all important elements.
For famous examples of public spaces that rock the biophilic look, you need look no further than the Barbican Centre in London or Singapore’s Changi Airport.
The Barbican Centre is packed with indoor lakes. It has a beautiful conservatory where more than 1,500 varieties of plants and trees grow. All this is held within a Grade II listed building!
The Jewel Terminal at Changi Airport is an impressive spectacle that really is a tourist attraction in its own right. It it complete with the world’s tallest waterfall, mazes and a network of vertical gardens.
How to bring biophilic design into your home
So how can you take inspiration from great examples like these and bring biophilic design into the humble home?
The first step is to introduce as much greenery as you feel comfortable with. If you feel confident with the upkeep, you could even install a plant wall. These can work well either indoors or outdoors.
Opt for furniture and surfaces made from wood and keep your pieces true to their original colour. Fitted wardrobes for bedrooms are easy to find in beautiful original woods like oak and maple.
Introduce fabrics that feel natural like hessian and wool to your home as much as possible.
Open your home up to more sunlight with skylights and windowed doors. French doors or glass bifold glass doors can give you a beautiful panoramic view of your garden.
And if you really want to go the extra mile and delight all the senses, what about a water feature? The sound of tinkling water goes a long way to create an ambiance.
Harnessing it for mental wellbeing
Place more natural features in areas where you need to be productive, reduce stress and rest. Home offices and bedrooms should be high on the priority list!
Surrounding yourself in nature is a fundamental part of wellbeing. After all, the brain itself is a product of nature, no matter how much technology we throw at it on a daily basis!
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Mia's passion for travel extends beyond the pages of their writing. They are also an advocate for responsible and sustainable travel, believing that exploring the world should leave a positive impact on both the environment and the communities visited.
