Biophilic Design: A Way to Reconnect with Nature

For thousands of years, humans have evolved to adapt to the natural world. However, we now live in a man-made world, a world that is so far away from the natural world. There is an innate desire for humans to be one with nature again. Thus, biophilic design is created to fulfill such desire.

What is Biophlic Design?

Biophilic design is an architectural design that aims to make a building that is one with nature. Nowadays, it has become a very important design choice due to a clear separation between nature and humanity.

Buildings nowadays are designed without nature in mind. Especially in buildings like offices or hospitals, there are often no natural lights, natural ventilation, vegetation, etc. It makes people feel isolated from nature.

There are many ways to apply biophilic design. Using ponds, fountains, greenery, open-air spaces, and natural materials such as wood and stone can greatly connect the building, and people within it, to nature.

Biophilic design can also be implemented in an indirect way. Using natural color for walls and floors or natural ambient sounds such as chirping birds or waterfall sound as a background sound can also help people feel the nature back inside them.

What is important in biophilic design is that it has to focus on the aspects of the natural world that contribute to human life and survival. Therefore, using natural elements of a desert or a dark underwater biome is not considered as a biophilic design since they don’t contribute much to our evolution process.

Another thing that has to be considered in biophilic design is its engagement with us. Just putting one plant in the office is not enough to be considered biophilic. People have to be able to see and feel nature in a biophilic design.

Photo: Unsplash

Why Do We Need Biophilic Design?

While biophilic design sounds good and all, are there any benefits to this kind of design? Well, of course! Firstly, biophilic design can increase people’s wellbeing, both mental and physical.

As explained previously, biophilic design includes open-air spaces, natural ventilation, natural light, and vegetation. Open-air spaces and natural ventilation are good for lungs, while natural light is good for the body and mind. Green vegetation is easy on the eyes, and some plants can even freshen the air.

Another benefit of biophilic design is increased productivity. Multiple studies have been conducted for 35 years to determine the values of biophilic design. One of the findings said that biophilic design increased the productivity of offices by 8% and increased creativity of the employees.

Last of the major benefits of biophilic design is reduced stress. Man-made construction can make people feel stressed because they feel isolated from nature. Biophilic design saves people from such stress because it incorporates nature into man-made architecture.

Photo: Microlibrary Warak Kayu, Semarang. Prefabricated by KLI

This is especially true for homes with biophilic design. Research shows that homes that apply biophilic design are more calming and restorative.

Biophilic design prefers the usage of natural materials, such as stone and wood. As an integrated wood company with the highest standards and constant innovation, Kayu Lapis Indonesia (KLI) is open for a range of collaborations with architects and contractors who aim to build a better future with biophilic design. We fully support your future project by providing high-quality wood with FSC®️ and SLVK certification. Feel free to contact us on Instagram for more information.

References: Metropolis Mag