What is biophilic design?
There is a beautiful, quiet, sustainable revolution happening in the design world. People around the globe are benefiting from increased health and happiness in their homes, at work and in public spaces due to the integration of design principles inspired by our human connection to nature. The theory is elegant in its simplicity and aspects can easily be implemented by anyone, anywhere.
What is this promising movement? It’s called biophilic design, which seeks to connect our inherent need to commune with nature through our modern built environment. An extension of the theory of biophilia, a term first coined by Harvard University researcher Edward O. Wilson in 1984, biophilic design recognizes that our species has evolved for more than 99% of our history in adaptive response to the natural world that has sustained us.
Wilson hypothesized that our way of thinking and being remains rooted in the natural world and yet today we spend 90% of our time in an artificial built environment - much of which is sensory deprived and inorganic such as office buildings, schools and shopping centers with little or no natural light or materials, ventilation, views, or natural shapes or forms. Have you ever noticed how you feel sitting in an office for hours at a time with windows that don't open and lit by florescent lights? Or what about after spending hours at the shopping mall?
Biophilic design relies on nature-based systems, engineering principles and design cues to improve environmental quality, human health, and systems efficiency. Research shows that biophilic design can directly support health and resilience in humans on all levels - mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.
At the end of the day we are biological organisms and need a healthy habitat not only to survive but to thrive. The fundamental goal of biophilic design is to infuse our built environments with the beneficial aspects of nature. When you are designing your own space, try to include as many of the following to create a complementary ecosystem for yourself and your loved ones.
Direct Experience of Nature:
- Light
- Air
- Water
- Plants
- Animals
- Natural Landscapes and Ecosystems
- Weather
Indirect Experience of Nature:
- Images of Nature
- Natural Materials
- Natural Colors
- Mobility and Wayfinding
- Cultural and Ecological Attachment to Place
- Simulating Natural Light and Air
- Naturalistic Shapes and Forms
- Evoking Nature
- Information Richness
- Age, Change, and the Patina of Time
- Natural Geometries
- Biomimicry
The focus of our site www.biophilia.art is to provide beautiful and inspirational representations of nature through Jaime Kowal’s photographic artworks so you can easily integrate the powerful practice of biophilic design into your space - whether that is at home or at work. Jaime’s pieces incorporate many of the above principles including images of nature, natural materials and colors, ecological attachment to place, biomimicry, and representations of water, plants and animals. Browse the collection here.
