Biophilic Design: Part I
The urbanization of the world has disconnected us from our genetic connection to the natural world. As humans, we have an innate desire and tendency to commune with nature that is slowly being deprived in our society. This is where Biophilic Design, “a concept used within the building industry to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions” comes into the picture. Because of our natural love of nature, biophilic design is essential to our holistic health. It is good for you and here is why.
Improves Cognitive Functionality and Performance
Our cognitive functionality and performance have to do with our mental agility and memory, and our ability to think, learn and produce either logically or creatively. For example, many tasks that require constant repetition such as performing calculations, reading, or working in highly stimulating environments are energy-intensive and with time can result in mental fatigue and decreased cognitive assets. Nature helps balance all of this out. Strong or routine connections with nature can provide moments for mental restoration. As a result, our performance of day-to-day tasks will be greater and more consistent. Research has shown that biophilic design in offices can increase productivity by 8%, rates of well-being by 13%, and creativity. In schools, biophilic design has increased rates of learning by 20-25%, improved test results, concentration levels and attendance, and reduced impacts of ADHD. The presence of nature allows us to perform to the best of our ability by providing our minds with active rest, restoration of energy, and increased mental capacity.
Improves Psychological Health and Well-being
Our adaptability, alertness, attention, concentration, and emotion, and mood are all a part of our psychological responses. This includes responses to nature that impact restoration and stress management. Verifiable studies have reported that experiences of natural environments provide greater emotional restoration, with lower occurrences of tension, anxiety, anger, fatigue, confusion, and total mood disturbance than urban environments with limited to no characteristics of nature. Especially in our homes, plants and representations of nature are instrumental in making our spaces more calming and restorative. When we think of vacations or getaways, we often think of the beach or a cabin in the mountains. When we long for rest, our natural tendency is to seek out nature because we need that connection. The presence of nature evokes in us feelings of peace, keeps us grounded, and creates mental and emotional space for growth.
Improves Physiological Health and Well-being
Physiological responses encompass our audible, musculoskeletal, respiratory, circadian systems or biological rhythm, and overall physical comfort. Studies have shown that physiological responses sparked by connections with nature include relaxation of muscles, as well as lowering of diastolic blood pressure and stress hormone levels in the bloodstream. Our physiological systems need to be tested regularly, but only enough for the body to remain resilient and adaptive. LIke working out a muscle our physiological systems need to experience stress and tension to know how to handle it and grow in strength. These physiological responses to environmental stressors can be softened or balanced through biophilic design, allowing for the restoration of bodily resources before system damage occurs. The presence of nature balances our physiological responses to stress and other environmental factors by provoking natural responses that allow our bodies to naturally relax.
Biophilic Design is simply the incorporation of our natural environment into our urbanized lifestyles for the sake of our holistic well-being and innate love of nature. As humans, we need balance in our lives and nature provides us with that balance. With a diminished connection to nature, the increasing pressure on urban space, and the worldwide technological presence, we have less opportunity to recuperate our mental, emotional and physical energy. Incorporating direct or indirect elements of nature into our built environments has been demonstrated through research to reduce stress, blood pressure levels, and heart rates, while increasing productivity, creativity, and self-reported rates of well-being.
For tips on how to incorporate aspects of nature into your space, check out our next post where we will dive into how nature positively affects our environment and ways we can include aspects of nature into our spaces.