Biophilic Design Research Articles

People-environment relations following COVID-19 pandemic lifestyle restrictions: a multinational, explorative analysis of intended biophilic design changes

The study analyzes the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions for the human–environment relations through the lenses of biophilic design. The mixed-method quantitative and qualitative explanatory research combines contextual and personal variables, such as, among others, country, age group, gender, overcrowding, time spent outside, access to nature/food and the exposure to biophilic elements, during and after the lockdown. The results indicate that psychological pressure on individuals caused by pandemic restrictions imposed early 2020, triggered changes in human-environmental relation. More precisely, our comparative analysis of six European countries (Italy, Germany, Poland, Spain, Denmark and Sweden) indicates that people-environment relations do not depend on the objective severity of country-wise restrictions, but rather on the individual perceptions of these restrictions. The results complement the lack of the research for the role of biophilic design in understanding and enhancing human–environment relations during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and thereafter.

Innovative Sustainable Design Approaches in Urban Architecture: Balancing Aesthetics and Environmental Impact

Innovative sustainable design approaches in urban architecture play a crucial role in addressing the growing challenges of urbanization, environmental degradation, and the need for aesthetically pleasing living spaces. This study explores various sustainable design strategies, such as biophilic design, Net-Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs), green roofs, vertical gardens, adaptive reuse, and circular economy principles, highlighting their ability to balance environmental impact with aesthetic appeal. Biophilic design integrates natural elements into urban environments, enhancing mental and physical well-being, while NZEBs focus on energy efficiency and reducing carbon footprints through renewable energy sources. Green roofs and vertical gardens provide ecological benefits, including air purification and biodiversity, while also creating visually engaging urban landscapes. Adaptive reuse and the circular economy emphasize the repurposing of existing structures and materials, promoting sustainability while preserving cultural heritage. Through a qualitative literature review, this research identifies the benefits and challenges associated with these design approaches and discusses their potential to transform urban architecture into more sustainable and livable spaces. The findings suggest that a holistic approach, integrating aesthetics and sustainability, is essential for creating urban environments that are resilient, environmentally responsible, and socially inclusive. This study provides valuable insights for architects, urban planners, and policymakers seeking to implement sustainable design principles in contemporary urban settings.

Biophilic Architecture: A Sustainable Healing Strategy in Rehabilitation Centers in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

This research analyzes the potential of Biophilic design as a sustainable healing technique in rehabilitation centers situated in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Drawing from the rich biodiversity and cultural past of the region, Biophilic design concepts are investigated as a technique to boost the physical and mental well-being of patients undergoing rehabilitation. By integrating natural components and patterns into the constructed environment, rehabilitation institutions can provide therapeutic places favorable to healing and recovery. In the context of rehabilitation institutions, adopting Biophilic design concepts can provide several benefits to patients, including stress reduction, enhanced mood, and speedier recovery. This paper presents strategies for applying Biophilic design in the Niger Delta’s rehabilitation centers and examines the socio-environmental benefits of such an approach.

Exploring the opportunities for biophilic design application in urban pedestrian environments in China under the context of climate change: a perspective of affective experience

Exploring the opportunities for biophilic design application in urban pedestrian environments in China under the context of climate change: a perspective of affective experience

Embracing Biophilic Design in Primary School’s Learning Environment to Improve Children’s Well-Being

Embracing Biophilic Design in Primary School’s Learning Environment to Improve Children’s Well-Being

Exploring the Facilitators of the Gerotranscendence Theory: Correlations among Sustainable Behaviors, Biophilic Design, and Nature Connectedness.

Aim: This study aims to shift views away from negative perceptions towards aging by exploring the following research question: How are the multiple levels of the gerotranscendence theory influenced by the sustainable behavior and attitude toward the biophilic design of older adults? Background: Improving perceptions of aging is vital for positively impacting both the biological and societal aspects of the global aging phenomenon. Methods: The study utilized a mixed-method design. Initially, 300 older Turkish adults completed self-reported measures including the Gerotranscendence Scale (GS), Pro-environmental Behavior (PB), Environmental Identity Scale (EID), Biophilic Design Importance Level (BDI), and Inclusion of Nature in the Self Scale (INS). Subsequently, the second phase involved diary logs from 30 participants who volunteered during the initial phase. Results: Results indicated that a higher importance level placed on biophilic design was linked to a greater inclusion of nature in the self. Moreover, a stronger interest in nature correlated positively with the gerotranscendence experience. Conclusions: The results bring significant attention to biophilic design, especially its relevance in supporting sustainable environmental behaviors and positive aging.

The Architectural Design Strategies That Promote Attention to Foster Mindfulness: A Systematic Review, Content Analysis and Meta-Analysis

Attention is a pivotal component and a central vehicle of mindfulness, a psychological factor improving mental health. Despite architecture’s potential to encourage attention and mindfulness, there is still a research gap. This study aimed to investigate architectural design strategies that promotes attention in order to foster mindfulness. The research was carried out in three primary stages. The first step entailed conducting a systematic review by searching publications related to architecture that promotes attention from Scopus in February 2024. After considering the suitability and accessibility, 32 articles were included. No studies were found to have investigated the field of enhancing mindfulness. The second step utilized content analysis to decode the selected articles using a framework developed from literature reviews. All three coders decoded the data independently, allowing the main researcher to compile it into the final dataset. Finally, the data underwent Python meta-analysis for word frequency and association. The result revealed certain qualities that help achieve attention through architecture. The architectural atmosphere is most effective when it features natural forms and spaces that evoke a sense of enclosure. The lighting should emphasize natural light and uniformity, whereas the sound designs primarily concern acoustics, ambient, and noises, with controlled weather emphasizing air aspects. The building should utilize natural materials and incorporate object elements; the facade and entrance are particularly crucial components. Moreover, the colors of brick and green and views encompassing gardens and vegetation are among the qualities mentioned. Based on the analysis, the material, view, and color features were most congruent with the biophilic design concept. All these factors are expected to foster mindfulness, thereby improving mental health.

Traffic sounds in office spaces: PLS-SEM study on audio-visual perception with open or closed windows and biophilic design

Herein, we investigated the audio–visual perception of indoor greenery and intruding traffic sounds through open or closed windows in a shared office context that accommodates two people. A set of 32 audio–visual stimuli was used, featuring combinations of greenery dosages (0 %, 7 %, 10 % and 13 %) and traffic sound levels (50 dBA, 55 dBA, 60 dBA and 65 dBA), for both open and closed windows. These stimuli were presented to 42 participants in an indoor office environment using two-dimensional screens and over-ear headphones. We employed a partial least squares structural equation model to integrate greenery dosages, traffic sound levels and perceptual attributes such as pleasantness, eventfulness, appropriateness, preference and visual aesthetics. The findings demonstrate the impact of traffic sound levels on visual perception, highlighting a bidirectional interaction between auditory and visual perceptions. Indoor greenery indirectly enhances the pleasantness of the auditory environment, supporting the implementation of biophilic design in office spaces that are visually appealing and acoustically pleasant. Furthermore, the study contributes to discussions on adaptive acoustic comfort in naturally ventilated spaces, providing evidence of how visual perception impacts the acoustic environment. While the research results highlight the positive impact of open windows on the appropriateness ratings of traffic sounds, it is important to consider the limitation of assessing outdoor-recorded traffic sounds at high sound pressure levels (50–65 dBA) without the filtering effect of the facade. This limitation reduces the realism and ecological validity of the experiment, which should be considered when interpreting these results.

BIOPHILIC DESIGN ELEMENTS AND NATURAL MATERIALS IN HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENTS

ABSTRACT Biophilic design elements in healthcare environments increase the connection between the built environment and its local natural environment and have been shown to improve the psychological and physiological well-being of patients and medical staff. Similarly, natural materials, which are part of the biophilic paradigm, have been shown to enhance the indoor qualities of habitable spaces. Despite these advantages, existing research on biophilia and natural materials in healthcare design has been mostly focused on specific case studies and thus requires further synthesis into practical design guidelines. To address this need, this paper uses case studies and evidence from the literature to enumerate predictable outcomes and develop visual guidelines related to biophilic design—daylight, views, gardens—with a final focus on materials. The implications of key design parameters are analyzed to their potential impact on patients and medical staff, including recovery rates, hospitalization days, pain medication intake, stress levels, active behavior, and task performance. The provided guidelines include biophilic light design specifications that can reduce hospital stays by 3.67 days and biophilic views that may reduce pain medication intake by up to 61%. Natural materials, including living garden vegetation, were shown to be most impactful on stress and behavioral well-being. An additional focus on natural materials for biophilic design is defined by developing a toolkit for analyzing effective locations for views of materials within a patient's room. The guidelines developed in this further support the transition into simulation and computational analysis tools that assess the health outcomes of various biophilic design strategies from a range of design characteristics and interventions to produce correlations to health and productivity metrics.

Greening the Gray: Determining Plant Preferences for Indoor Fitness Gyms in the Philippines

Abstract Biophilia is known as the innate connection people have with nature and how green spaces can positively affect basic cognition, mood and health. Mostly applied in urban areas where outdoor green spaces are scarce, designed facilities that incorporate this concept have been observed to be more beneficial to users. Interestingly, one indoor space visited by urban dwellers that have yet to be studied in terms of biophilic design application is fitness gyms. To determine gym members’ preference of planting materials if these were placed in gyms, surveys were distributed online over two weeks. 239 participants composed of actual and potential gym members selected appropriate plants as detailed in the surveys. Site planting considerations or constraints were also identified if these were used indoors. Additionally, their familiarity with biophilia and its advantages were investigated. After the responses were analysed, participants selected Dracaena fragrans, Spathiphyllum wallisii and Epipremnum aureum as top choices of plants for a gym with major considerations on plants’ aesthetic qualities, ecological and psychological benefits, and maintenance. Moreover, more than 50 percent respondents were at least slightly familiar with biophilia. They believed that having plants can improve indoor air quality, make the interiors more aesthetically pleasing and can enhance mood. As per results, it can be said that the respondents supported the idea of designing indoor fitness gyms as biophilic environments although its level of familiarity needs to be increased. This is where professionals come in, by designing facilities such as fitness gyms with plants to optimize biophilia’s benefits.

Evaluation and Development of Healing Garden Based on Biophilic Design Approach in Harapan Kita Cardiovascular Hospital

Abstract The need for gardens in health facilities became the concern of Harapan Kita Cardiovascular Center Hospital (RSJPDHK). Landscape architecture research has identified the importance of therapeutic green space as a rehabilitation strategy on the physical and psychological resilience that can affect health and work performance. Therefore, the possibility to develop green space need to be designed in conjunction with the restorative function through the healing garden concept with biophilic approach. This research aims to identify the potentials and constraints of 3 chosen sites on RSJPDHK building; evaluate the healing garden value on site 1, which is an existing roof garden; and develop a biophilic-based healing garden design on sites 2 and 3, which are undeveloped roof and corridor yard. The research stages were carried out with reference to modified Booth (1984). The results showed that site 1 is suitable as a healing garden with standard criteria. Meanwhile, design development was carried out on sites 2 and 3 with the concept of healing garden and biophilic approach, entitled ‘rejuvenate’ which produced the output of design recommendations for RSJPDHK.

The Effect of Biophilic Design in Interior Spaces to Reduce the Stress of Patients in Medical Centers

Architecture can play a very important role for the return of man to nature, among which biophilic architecture and design seeks to reconnect man with nature. Relying on biophilic design in order to increase environmental quality and psychologically affect patients can be necessary in therapeutic environments, because as the design of these spaces is very important in terms of functionality, it has always been studied by researchers in terms of spatial quality, psychological dimensions and physical impact on the process of treatment and recovery of patients. This study was carried out aimed to determine the effective components of biophilic design in therapeutic environments in order to improve the health of patients, and according to the results, communication with nature, which includes things such as sunlight, water, vegetation, etc., can have a significant impact on human health and reduce the duration of the patient's recovery and reduce the duration of treatment.

Strategies for Implementing Biophilic Design to Improve Academic Performance Among Students in Existing Primary Schools in Egypt.

Strategies for Implementing Biophilic Design to Improve Academic Performance Among Students in Existing Primary Schools in Egypt.

Strategies for the Design and Construction of Nature-Inspired & Living Laboratory (NILL 1.0)TM Buildings.

This article explores the growing prominence of nature-inspired design philosophies in the context of sustainability and human well-being within the built environment and focuses on their application within laboratory buildings. Biomimicry and biophilic design are highlighted as key nature-inspired design approaches, with biomimicry drawing inspiration from nature for innovations and biophilic design promoting human health through enhancing the connection with the surrounding natural elements. This paper further discusses living building strategy as an emerging method for creating dynamic and adaptable spaces by prioritizing user experience through co-creation and focusing on sustainable and regenerative structures. The potential of integrating these approaches is emphasized using laboratory buildings as an example, with nature-inspired and living laboratories serving as models for future built environments that promote both environmental responsibility and a positive human experience. Accordingly, this work aims to investigate the design and construction of laboratory buildings based on nature-inspired design strategies and the living building concept. Moreover, the paper discusses the application of biomimicry and living building concepts within laboratory buildings as a novel contribution to the body of knowledge, and concludes by proposing the Nature-inspired & Living Laboratory (NILL 1.0)TM Building Assessment index to serve as a guideline for the design and construction of laboratory buildings using nature as an inspiration and the analogy of human body systems.

Outcomes of Biophilic Design for Schools

Biophilia is the theory that humans are innately connected to nature. As a basis for forming built space, biophilic design has been proven to reduce stress, improve cognition and enhance mood—it makes us happier. In the last 20 years, research in learning spaces has shown an association between biophilic design and student mood, calmness and improved standardized test scores. In 2019, a group of architects, scientists and educators led an experiment involving 6th-grade Math students at the Green Street Academy, which found that student stress was significantly reduced and learning significantly improved in a classroom enriched with biophilic strategies. The architects applied these strategies to the design of Bethel Hanberry Elementary School, and after a year of occupancy, an independent assessment found positive perceptions of the biophilic design, fewer behavior referrals, better teacher retention, lower absenteeism and improved test scores. In both a controlled research experiment and real-world application, the design of learning space, using biophilic strategies, has a significant impact.

Exploring the impact of green wall and its size on restoration effect and stress recovery using immersive virtual environments

The study investigated the influence of a green wall and its size on stress and restoration within the biophilic design integrating natural objects into environments. Despite its benefits in enhancing access to nature and stress reduction, visual stimuli properties may affect design outcomes. This research employed Immersive Virtual Environments (IVEs) combined with a climate chamber for thermally controlled conditions, where sixty participants experienced different virtual settings with and without green walls after performing a stressor task. The evaluation of stress involved recording physiological responses, including heart rate (HR), heart rate variability (HRV), and electrodermal activity (EDA) along with eye movements. Participants also completed a restoration state survey. Comparing physiological responses found no significant stress recovery in settings with green walls compared to baseline. Stress recovery was similar regardless of green wall size, indicating size may not affect stress. Restoration votes did not vary significantly across settings. These results were discussed focusing on the perceived lack of “naturalness” and “engagement” in virtual environments, as fixation time analysis indicated limited engagement: participants spent 18.63 % and 19.65 % of their time fixated on the green wall in small and large settings, respectively. The authors suggest design solutions to enhance the realism and engagement of virtual natural objects. Although this study did not find the impact of size, the minimum size of natural objects required for restoration is still unknown, suggesting a need for future research on different natural coverages to develop design guidelines for the successful integration of biophilic design into the built environments.

Multisensory nature exposure in the workplace: Exploring the restorative benefits of smell experiences

Previous research has extensively documented several benefits of interacting with nature. Biophilic design applications aimed at connecting the built environment back to nature have been shown to improve employee health, well-being, and productivity at workplaces. However, most research regarding restorative environments has prioritized the visual qualities of nature experiences, neglecting other sensory modalities. The significance of the sense of smell in the restoration process has been largely ignored. This research investigates the combined effects of multi-domain nature experiences within workplace contexts. Specifically, the restorative benefits of combined multisensory elements, including visual, olfactory, and auditory, and the relative contributions of each sensory cue to the restoration process were examined. A pretest-posttest experimental approach was employed to compare the restorative outcomes of workplaces under two conditions, one lacking natural elements vs another offering multi-domain experiences of nature. Thirty-two participants engaged in a multisensory virtual reality simulation replicating the environmental conditions of an actual workplace in Sydney, Australia. The results revealed that the multisensory biophilic workplace significantly improved cognitive performance, reduced stress levels, and enhanced mood states compared to the non-biophilic one. There was a statistically significant association between the sense of smell and restorative benefits. Although visual elements emerged as the primary means of creating restorative workplace environments, our results suggest that the sense of smell plays a significant role in the restoration process. This paper provides empirical evidence on the paramount importance of olfactory cues in nature-based experiences, contributing to the knowledge within the realms of biophilia and architectural discourse.

Leisure reimagined: mapping the enablers of restorative servicescapes

ABSTRACT Servicescapes play a crucial role in the marketing strategies of contact-based service businesses, significantly influencing consumer experiences and well-being. Researchers have explored their potential impact on stress levels and attention restoration from various perspectives, including environmental psychology, perceived sensory dimensions and evidence-based design. This study builds upon existing knowledge by employing Interpretive Structural Modelling and MICMAC Analysis to identify the enablers that contribute to the restorative quality of a leisure servicescape. The current research reveals that enhancing servicescape restorativeness involves integrating elements such as refuge, culture, complexity, typicality, accessibility, familiarity, hygiene, space, calmness, legibility, biophilic designs and social dimension. Additionally, the investigation into the interrelationships among these factors highlights the pivotal roles of refuge and culture, influencing the efficacy of most other enablers. Servicescape typicality, however, relies heavily on the operationalization of other enablers. Notably, none of these enablers operates independently in promoting a restorative servicescape. Their interconnected associations underscore the importance for marketers in the leisure service industry to comprehend and leverage the interplay of these factors to achieve optimal results in enhancing the restorative property of their servicescapes. The study concludes by offering recommendations for marketers and policymakers to improve consumer and citizen well-being in a sustainable manner.

Sonic Gathering Place: implementation of a biophilic soundscape design and its evaluation

The Sonic Gathering Place (SGP) is a prototype urban furniture installation that uses sound design to enhance the biophilic effects of plants. It uses field recordings from four different biomes in South-Eastern Australia mixed with plants that are representative of those biomes. The SGP has a circular seating structure comprising four integrated planter boxes, each with a single speaker. Nature-based field recordings play through the four-speaker array to create an immersive audio playback experience, though without masking the existing acoustic environment of the installation site. This paper focuses, as practice-led research, on the design process of the installation that encompasses four disciplinary approaches: soundscape design, biophilic design, field recording and urban furniture. Innovatively, it then reports a quantitative survey of the user’s experience of the SGP that hones understanding of human response to the design. Measured user-responses to the SGP, collected through a smartphone-based questionnaire, were overwhelmingly affirmative of the design, including a positive change in self-reported mood resulting from the visit to the SGP. These responses were observed with introduced sound levels set only marginally louder than sound levels that existed before the installation. The results signal a wider role that biophilic sound installations might play in urban landscape design.

Psychological Effects of a Living Wall System on Office Occupants: A Comparative Study Based on Physiological Responses

A Living wall system (LWS) is a biophilic design element that has been introduced into indoor environments in recent years. Previous studies have demonstrated that the LWS improves indoor visual comfort and air quality. However, studies on its psychological effects on occupants are still scarce. In this paper, the psychological effects were investigated by recording and analyzing the parameters of occupants’ physiological responses including an electroencephalogram (EEG) and heart rate variability (HRV). A cross-over experiment was conducted among 43 participants under three different desk work environments based on various materials involving an LWS, a fake LWS, and a bare white wall. The results conclude that LWSs effectively reduce the accumulation speed of negative psychological states caused by desk work to about 1/3, compared with a regular office environment without an LWS. However, occupants tend to be less excited and focused after resting in the LWS environment. Therefore, it is recommended to place LWSs in the rest area rather than close to the desk area in an office building, considering the balance between mental health and work efficiency.