The connection between humans and nature can influence our health and well-being. For example, fresh air and sunlight can affect physical health, while time spent in green and blue spaces is shown to improve mental health.
However, these days people hardly go outside. Most people stay at home because the weather is not that nice, the air pollution, or because they work indoors. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average American spends about 90% of their time indoors.
The prolonged time spent indoors in homes, offices, and schools raises concerns about air quality. It potentially damages both psychological and physical health.
That’s why we need biophilic design, which is inspired by nature. According to some research, biophilic design leads to numerous positive health benefits.
Catie Ryan, Director of Projects at Terrapin and biophilic design leader, said that 37% improvement in mental health is coming from audible stimuli such as sounds of nature.
Looking at how not many people have access to nature (living in urban areas, cities etc), biophilic architectural design seems to be one of the way out to reconnect humans with nature. Instead of pushing humans to go outside (we still need to go outside after all) this design brings nature into their own home.
“Biophilic design means incorporating natural materials, views, vegetation, or indirect representations of nature like photographs, art, or color and pattern into the design of a space to simulate feelings of being outdoors,” said Jaclyn Whitaker, Senior Vice President of the International WELL Building Institute (WBI).
So, how can we incorporate biophilic design into our home? There’s some suggestions for integrating biophilic design into our home so the homeowner can virtually bring nature into their homes in any setting. Here’s the list.
Plants (and more Plants)
Quoted from Build with Rise’s blog, plants account for around 80 percent of the total biomass on Earth. This is about 1,000 times greater than the biomass of animals (including humans).
One way to reconnect with nature is to bring plants into your home. As well as adding colour and life to stale and musty home interiors, plants can also provide tangible benefits such as improved air quality.
For a smaller home, a blooming table (a desk with a glass top that allows for growing plants underneath) is one of the example. It offers a practical way to incorporate “plant furniture” that serves multiple purposes.
Or, for some ambitious homeowners, they can create a “jungle-like” ambiance in their homes. Living walls for both interiors and exteriors, or creating an outdoor living space to create a natural oasis of biodiversity.
Allow for the Presence of Water
Water is one of the most fundamental aspects of the natural world. Sadly, it’s also one of the elements most absent from buildings. This biophilic design highlights our dependence on water by incorporating water features into the home.
Flowing water has a physiological effect on the human body. We usually find it in streams, rivers and waterfalls creates negative ionization.
Integrating moving water into our homes through features like fountains, sprays, and innovative designs is an easy yet essential aspect of biophilic design. It can bring the soothing sound of water into your home, reducing stress and improving air humidity.
Large Windows to Connect with Natural Areas
Try to make the most of natural light through windows, skylights and French windows. Natural light has positive effects on mood, productivity and circadian rhythm. Consider using transparent curtains and optimising space to allow light to flow freely.
Incorporating large, floor-to-ceiling windows is also a great way to allow the natural world to “invade” your home. Forest settings, bodies of water, and open prairies; these natural views should be encouraged to fill your home through large windows.
