Rock walls, house plants, reclaimed wood—health experts say natural design elements may help calm nerves and increase feelings of wellness. In response, architects and designers seek ways to bring more of the outside in.
For centuries, most people experienced the outdoors without trying. They performed farm chores, walked to school or work, tended gardens, and hung laundry in the fresh air. But today’s society is increasingly urban. Due to time demands and proximity to open land or park space, spending time alfresco has become a rarity for some.
Biophilia means literally “love of life.” Biophilic design embraces connecting to nature in a positive way. Designers seeks to create living and working spaces that feature natural materials.
Humans’ enjoyment of nature should be no surprise. Rocks, trees, flowers, sunshine, animals, and humans all came from God’s hands. At creation, He placed the man and woman He made together in a garden. Think about it: Could the desire to interact with and subdue nature be an outgrowth of Genesis 1?
Designer Eilyn Jimenez “love[s] adding aged wood” for “character” and “warmth.” She says today’s clients request spaces that offer a sense of calm and of “connecting to nature through design.”
In a home, biophilia can include potted plants (or a plant wall!) in the den or an herb garden in the kitchen. Skylights, large windows, and sliding glass doors allow in natural light. Wood furniture and stone accents imbue an outdoor ambiance.
Large, living trees are often part of biophilic design too. They appear in tree-filled shopping center atriums, an airport in Japan with acres of indoor forest, and apartment complexes with trees planted all over their facades. Architects today even choose to build around existing trees and rock formations.
But experts in the field say biophilic design goes beyond plants, rocks, and trees. At its best, biophilic design involves “deep connection [among] people, place, climate, and culture” and even “hands-on engagement” with natural objects, says Amanda Sturgeon, former CEO of International Living Future Institute.
An elementary school built by Living Future engages students through biophilic design. A plant wall filters water and purifies air. An indoor greenhouse provides food and materials for student projects. A water feature snakes through a classroom. This “runnel” (river + tunnel) has a glass top. Students can watch as rainwater completes part of the water cycle.
In a video on the company website, Sturgeon asks: “What if we could experience the same physical, [mental], and emotional benefits moving through an urban landscape that we experience walking through a forest?”
It’s a striking question that seems worth exploring.
Why? God placed the very first humans in a garden. Might the early exposure to God’s creation be imprinted on His image-bearers?
