Benefits of Biophilic Design on Cognitive Performance in the workplace
Biofilico healthy building consultants explore the multi-sensory benefits of biophilic design for cognitive performance in the workplace through the lens of sound, plants, light, water and other interior design features inspired by nature.
HERO natural foods, Swiss headquarters - biophilic design by Biofilico
Firstly, what is biophilic design anyway?
Biophilic design is a way to integrate nature into the built environment, at building and interiors level. By combining elements of both sustainability and wellbeing, biophilic design is aligned with People and Planet, with green building standards as well as healthy building standards.
By bringing the outside world in, we can create spaces that are aligned with our evolutionary past, while respecting and protecting the environment and promoting human health and happiness.
Biophilic design in offices
Utilizing biophilic design in office and working environments can have tangible benefits on the mental wellbeing of all personnel by increasing productivity, creativity and overall morale. The basic idea of biophilic design centers around the physical, emotional, and cognitive wellbeing benefits of multi-sensory connections with nature.
The main idea behind bringing biophilic design into an indoor environment, (whether it be work or residential) is applying architectural and interior concepts that recall or reflect the natural world. This design strategy brings us in touch with human biology and our deep connection to nature that is often neglected in dense urban contexts today.
leveraging The elements in biophilic design - light
One possible interpretation of this concept when designing a biophilic design space comes from harnessing the four elements: fire, earth, air and water. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6491965/#B69 )
The idea of using fire can be seen through UV light and heat therapy. The right amount of lighting can help align the body’s circadian rhythm by mediating shifts in light exposure that modify duration of nocturnal melatonin production (the hormone that promotes sleep).
This is important because by pushing melatonin production to sleeping hours, people are more awake and energized throughout the day. Light exposure also has important implications for serotonin production: the happy hormone.
Activation of serotonergic neurons helps regulate brain development and function. Irregularities in these neurons are associated with many psychiatric disorders (such as depression and anxiety) that are often seen developing amongst individuals working typical 9-5 jobs. (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6405415/ )
A general increase in alertness can be attributed to a light source that mimics the sun because of the hormonal production it promotes in the brain so for environments where performance and efficiency are required, it would be of use to have lighting that most resembles nature and can support these biological processes.
leveraging The elements in biophilic design - plants & earth
The next element, earth, really relies on innate biological processes and connecting us to nature. Getting people away from urbanized workspaces by including plants, natural lighting and other natural elements has been proven to increase positive feelings, manage heart rate and control stress.
Forest bathing is a practice of “taking in the forest” to inspire a reconnection to the earth (see our article on this subject here). Practices like forest bathing that involve multi-sensory immersion in deep nature have been shown to significantly increase scores of positive feelings while significantly decreasing scores of negative feelings after stimuli compared with the urban stimuli. (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0033350610003203 ).
Also, heart rate analysis indicated that the forest environment significantly increased parasympathetic (restores body’s sense of calm) nervous activity and significantly suppressed sympathetic (activates fight or flight) activity of participants compared with the urban environment.
Alongside this decrease of nervous energy throughout the body there is an important decrease in cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone that plays an important role in; helping respond to stress, fighting infection, regulating blood sugar, maintaining blood pressure, regulating metabolism.
Elevated cortisol levels are associated with less perceived control which means, more difficulty paying attention to the task at hand. Hypothesized disturbance in circadian rhythm (relating to cortisol production) needs further investigation but is linked to a change. (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8882096/ ).
Air goes along with the idea of using plants in a working environment because of the clean air benefits they provide. The importance of this element relies on a lack of pollution in the surrounding environment (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13181-011-0203-1 ).
Emerging preclinical evidence suggests that air pollution may induce oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, microglial activation, and cerebrovascular dysfunction, while potentially altering the blood–brain barrier.
Oxidative stress (https://www.healthline.com/health/oxidative-stress#:~:text=Oxidative%20stress%20is%20an%20imbalance,easily%20react%20with%20other%20molecules. ) is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants that can have a chain reaction in the body. This can cause large chemical reactions in your body that can either be beneficial of harmful.
Neuroinflammation refers to the process of the brain’s immune system response. This is important to keep in check because too much inflammation, like among most things, means brain disease.
Microglia are the macrophages of the central nervous system that play a keep role in brain development so microglial activation are important in coordinating “a plan of attack” when disease is sensed in the brain. But if this are activated when not needed, they can potentially cause more harm than good.
Cerebrovascular dysfunction just refers to insufficiencies of blood supply to the brain that result in a multitude of issues. The importance of having fresh, clean air helps to prevent from many diseases and can be utilized in a working environment with the inclusion of plants or air filters or things alike.
leveraging The elements in biophilic design - water
The last element, water, is one that can prove a little more difficult to incorporate into an everyday workspace. The main therapies involving water are things like hydrotherapy and balneotherapy. Hydrotherapy is just using water in any form as a form of noninvasive treatment while balneotherapy is the practice of bathing in minerals and other additives and is used more particularly in spas and pools for arthritis support.
Hydrotherapy reduces pain/stress through easing muscle tension with water support and also promoting the release of endorphins. (https://connecthealth.org.au/enews/why-water-works-4-hydrotherapy-health-benefits/#:~:text=Warm%20water%20hydrotherapy%20has%20been,to%20further%20reduce%20muscle%20soreness ) Endorphins are the hormones released when your body feels pain or stress.
They act as messengers from the brain to the rest of the body to let it know something isn’t right and to reduce pain, relieve stress therefore, improving mood. Hydrotherapy also helps boost immunity by increasing circulation of white blood cells that allows lymph (immune system fluid that helps get rid of waste) to better work and move around body.
While not all office spaces are equipped to have saunas or pools clearly(!), having water accessible in an office yields similar results. (https://solaramentalhealth.com/can-drinking-enough-water-help-my-depression-and-anxiety/#:~:text=Water%20has%20been%20shown%20to,can%20create%20feelings%20of%20relaxation. )
Not only is it important to provide employees with a drinkable water source for hydration, it may also be of use to implement water features within the interior design of a workplace too. (https://www.workdesign.com/2012/12/pros-and-cons-of-workplace-water-features/ )
The steady movement of a water feature provides for a natural and calming sound source as well as a soothing visual that keeps people in tune with nature. The flow of water can also help to mask the noise of a busy office environment while providing visual respite from screens.
Something such as a water fountain or a water cooler often becomes a place of interaction among workers and can increase personal relationships through the act of gathering. Something important to keep in mind, however, is that water features could be distracting for some because of the same beneficial reasons laid out above: too noisy, easy to stare at for hours or prompting people to gather and chat rather than work.
The benefits of water in an office space go far passed the obvious necessities and can spark an important conversation about how to incorporate this element to improve employee performance.
One of the most important concepts when creating an optimal working environment is connecting back to nature. An easy way to do this can be through using techniques outlined by the four elements: fire, earth, air and water.
Further reading:
Best Examples of Biophilic Design in Schools: Student Learning Environments — biofilico wellness interiors
A review of 5 best school, education and learning environments that leverage biophilic design to create healthy and sustainable places of study for students in Mexico, USA, China, New Zealand and Sweden. By Biofilico sustainable healthy building consultants. Matt Morley. London, Barcelona.
Ecokid Kindergarten, Vietnam
This nature-inspired kindergarten was designed by LAVA, an architecture studio with offices in Sydney, Stuttgart and Berlin. The client was the Hoo Goong Education Development & Investment with a 6300m2 site in Vinh, near Hanoi in northern Vietnam.
Incorporating biophilic design principles, this kindergarten aims to uplift students and staff, improve mood, reduce stress, and enhance well-being by integrating natural elements into educational environments.
Three semi-circular buildings with three floors each are connected by a series of bridges with multiple outdoor play spaces scattered in between to ensure nature is never far from view, whether indoors in a classroom or outside.
The stripped back building envelopes are characterised by curves, circular glazing and an irregular format with primary colour detailing.
Inside structural pillars and ceilings are masked in yet more curvilear forms, minimizing the presence of right-angles and bringing the play areas in, making them feel safer, less formal and playful.
Everything from the sofas to the indoor swimming pool has been created in the same organic, non linear forms.
LAVA won Gold in the 2019 Sydney Design Awards for the Kindergarten under “Architecture - Public or Institutional”.
Kakapo Creek Early Learning Centre in New Zealand
Located in Auckland, New Zealand, the Kakapo Creek early learning center was built with the best interest for children and the planet alike, making it a prime example of biophilic design in an educational environment.
The center was effectively embedded within the existing natural environment with just three small trees removed during its construction in 2021. A circular-shaped building has an open roofed central courtyard with a playground space for the children, creating an opportunity for biophilia - contact with nature - connecting the indoor and outdoor areas. The design also incorporates ample natural light, enhancing student performance, well-being, and productivity.
A series of spacious, open-air rooms allow for natural ventilation of the structure, reducing the need for heating and cooling, thereby decreasing carbon impact, through an eco friendly sustainable building design. The center’s shape was built around a small stream that passes by the building. Incorporating natural elements like plants and water further benefits the environment and the children's well-being.
Some of the building materials used within the structure were upcycled from existing houses and native plant roof tops cap the build. The green roof reduces stormwater run-off by over 50%, filtering the water and allowing it to flow back into the stream.
This biophilic learning space of the future provides a nourishing environment for children to grow alongside their natural environment.
The Paul Chevallier School in Lyon, France
Located in Lyon, France, the Paul Chevallier School stands out for its exceptional biophilic design, evident across its elementary and nursery sections. The layout, characterized by v-shaped structures enveloping an outdoor area, seamlessly integrates with natural landscapes. Additionally, green roofs extend outdoor spaces and provide additional exploration areas, fostering better educational outcomes.
Including a vegetable garden and proximity to a woodland park ensures classrooms offer scenic views, embedding nature into the learning environment. Furthermore, strategically placed floor-to-ceiling windows flood spacious corridors with natural light, promoting mental well-being among young students and enhancing sensory elements for improved educational outcomes.
Karolinska Institutet Health Promotion Unit, Sweden - biophilic design example
Designed by Biofit and officially opened in January 2018, the Karolinska Institutet’s eco gym was created for the Health Promotion Unit of the university. Located in Stockholm Sweden, the gym was built to enable students and staff to stay active and de-stress throughout the study day, or night!
Using organic interior design elements such as sustainable materials, air-purifying plants, forest aromatherapy, natural colours, greenery, and natural materials like wood and stone, biophilic design is present from floor to ceiling.
The facility has recycled material, moss-like carpets, bamboo camouflaged speakers, Japanese style kokedama moss balls, acoustic moss ceiling panels, a giant Swedish forest wall mural, and wellness lighting.
Natural fitness equipment occupies the gym including eco-friendly sandbags, natural fibre climbing ropes, sustainable wood wall bars, handmade push-up bars and lifting logs, vintage leather medicine balls, sustainable cork foot massage balls, wood gymnastics rings and various other ‘workout toys’ to encourage movement based training.
Biophilic design positively impacts emotional well-being by reducing stress levels and enhancing overall mental health.
The Biofit designed Karolinska Institutet eco gym is a natural space where students and staff can build their physical and mental wellness, connecting with and supporting the other spaces nearby for students such as functional training gym, a white light room and yoga studio.
University of Chicago Student Wellness Centre, USA
In a building project completed in 2022, University of Chicago brought together their Student Health Service, Student Counseling Service, and Health Promotion and Wellness group into a single biophilic structure.
The building also acts as a tranquil, restorative space for students to relax and work on their studies. The quality of healthy furniture was a high priority of thebiophilic interior design project.
The Student Wellness Center was adorned with sustainable interior furniture to provide nookes of solidarity to encourage collaboration. The quality of healthy furniture was a high priority of the biophilic interior design project.
All pieces were ensured to be clean air certified, minimizing the risk of Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs being emitted from furniture that would end up polluting the indoor air.
These harmful chemicals (don’t be fooled by the friendly ‘organic’ in their name!) have been proven to decrease cognitive functioning, among a slew of other health effects - see here for more on the health risks of VOCs.
By procuring such healthy and sustainable furniture, the interior designers contributed to the cognitive performance and indeed physical health of students and faculty, while minimizing their environmental impact. It’s a win-win!
Many of the internal corridors of the building are softly-lit providing tranquil spaces of relaxation with warm, yellow light and areas designed for productivity are illuminated in full by white light.
The base structure of the Student Wellness Center is a historic, gothic hospital. The new structure engages with the old building’s architecture bringing the natural elements of stone walls and arches within the walls of the center contributing to its biophilic design.
Plants are placed throughout the building to provide green spaces and boost mental health. With a focus on biophilic design, the University of Chicago sought to give students a calm and relaxing space to boost student wellness and productivity.
The Benenden School in Kent, UK
Biophilic design is embraced at the Benenden School in Kent, UK, to enrich the learning experience. The classroom, constructed from sustainably harvested timber, incorporates natural textures for a stimulating interior. A sedum roof provides insulation while offering views of the surrounding Victorian Water garden through a large doorway.
A wooden bridge extends over a pond, facilitating the exploration of the natural elements. This eco-friendly classroom encourages outdoor learning year-round, fostering an appreciation for nature's seasonal changes and providing an inspiring alternative to traditional indoor settings.
Green School, Mexico - Example of Biophilic Design
Opening in 2023 within a new residential development, the Green School in Tulum follows on from similar successes in Bali and South Africa under the same name and represents what looks to be a truly striking biophilic design for educational spaces.
This early childhood education center will become Mexico’s first truly sustainable school as it is being built from healthy building materials aiming to become as close to carbon neutral as possible upon launch. The design emphasizes a strong connection to the natural world, incorporating elements like plants, light, and water.
Currently under construction, the early visuals show organic structures that curve and bend, avoiding the rectilinear structures of a more urban environment in favor of something entirely more in tune with the verdant surroundings on the Mexican coast.
Sustainable materials include locally sourced wood and moulding stone alongside bamboo. Bamboo is one of the best materials in terms of sustainability as it is a fast growing grass that regenerates each time it is cut and does not need to be replanted. This allows repeated, plentiful harvests from the same crop.
This is the type of knowledge that will be taught in the future green school of Tulum as classes will encourage a green community, lifestyle, and future.
Sustainability classes are among many others that stand out from the school’s projected curriculum. Humanities, Spanish, and Mayan will also be taught to preserve culture alongside the Earth.
Eastern Bay Area Experimental School - example of biophilic design
The Eastern Greater Bay Area Experimental School by CMAD Architects lies in the heart of Shenzhen, China where the surging demand for education and an increasing shortage of land has prompted a trend towards school buildings that build up vertically instead of spreading out laterally.
To increase students’ spatial bond with the environment, to ensure they are in contact with biophilic design and nature during their study days in other words, the CMAD architectural team created terraced or stacked roof space to achieve optimal use of a limited area. Natural light plays a crucial role in this design, enhancing well-being and fostering creativity among students.
Open-air learning spaces provides students an increased connection to natural biophilic spaces while also offering venues for recreation and activity such as sports fields, a track, and outdoor seating.
Not only does this terraced roof design create increased space, it also allows the building to shape to the land it is built upon as the terraces reflect the natural terrain around them, integrating a sense of place into the architecture.
Best Examples of Biophilic Design Office: Sustainable Interior — Biofilico Wellness Interiors
When designing an office or workspace, as biophilic design consultants it is fundamental to create an interior in which occupant wellbeing is maximized while minimizing environmental impact - a magic combination made possible by biophilic design. Here we review some recently completed or soon-to-be-completed examples of biophilic design and sustainable interior design in offices!
best examples of Biophilic design in offices
Benefits of biophilia in a sustainable office interior
Biophilia is deep rooted within the human consciousness. A positive psychological affiliation with nature is a key element of human happiness that is all too often neglected in buildings and interiors today but the recent boom in biophilic design, sustainable interiorswellbeing design is redressing the situation.
Biophilic design elements can have a positive impact on employees’ physical and mental health. Incorporating biophilic design into the office environment can significantly enhance employee well-being and productivity. The use of natural elements, natural lighting, and greenery improves air quality, reduces stress, boosts happiness, and increases relaxation, ultimately leading to higher levels of productivity and job satisfaction.
When designing an office space or workspace, from our perspective as biophilic design consultants it is fundamental to create an interior in which occupant wellbeing is maximized while also minimizing environmental impact - a magic combination made possible by biophilic design.
Why is this important? The best office designs provide a way to increase employee happiness and productivity, reduce anxiety in the workplace and attract then retain top talent while respecting the planet around us - it should not be ‘people first, planet later’, or vice versa.
Here we review some recently completed or soon-to-be-completed examples of biophilic design and sustainable interior design offices from around the world that have caught our attention for their aesthetics, creativity and evidence-based approach that pushes the boundaries well beyond a plant wall and some desk plants…! Read on for more office design ideas.
Citibank Wealth Management offices, Singapore
Shui On WorkX,* Shanghai by M Moser & Associates*
Welcome, Milano* by Kengo Kuma Architects for real estate developer Europa Risorse*
Fosbury & Sons Harmony Coworking, Antwerp, Belgium
CitiBank Wealth Hub, Private Wealth Management Offices, Singapore
Designed by Singapore-based Ministry of Design, the increasingly famous biophilic interior designers, the CitiBank Wealth Hub looks more akin to a Silicon Valley tech giant’s headquarters than a banking space… but then this is Singapore, the garden city, and CitiBank clearly wanted to make a statement.
The result is a rare blend of banking and biophilia, with dense indoor landscaping that breaks up the double-height loft-like space with expansive views of the city skyline and abundant natural light to keep the indoor forest flourishing.
Rather than creating internal walls, the main space is peppered with separate meeting pods for one-on-one client meetings, each surrounded by an individual soil bed packed with lush foliage that both purifies the air and provides additional privacy, whilst also helping to boost mood and reduce anxiety. For more on the benefits of biophilia, see here.
A deliberately sumptuous range of materials choices from reception through to the ‘feature’ bar’ and office areas ensures that the private banking clients feel at ease. We see plenty of prestigious marbles, wood cladding, ergonomic furniture, subtle overhead lighting and yet more indoor planter boxes loaded with greenery.
Shui On WorkX - biophilic offices by M Moser associates, Shanghai
As you walk through the front doors of the Shui On WorkX realistate office located in Shanghai, the presence of biophilia is immediately prominent.
Plants line a welcoming corridor and the large design of a sun illuminates an otherwise drab sidewalk.
Biophilic design fills each and every corner of the large building located deep within the industrialized, busy urban environment of Shanghai.
The reception protrudes down from the ceiling with diverse plants falling from a curvilinear, organic form. Living walls are incorporated to bring nature into the workspace, enhancing well-being and encouraging interaction among employees.
A natural color scheme fills each room with a pallet of greens, tan-browns, and stone-grays. It’s illuminated by walls of large windows filling the space with natural light. This light gives the vegetation a perfect place to flourish. The office is not only lined with small house plants, but entire living trees and moss floors.
Biophilic interior design elements embellish the office with leaf shaped lamps, stump shaped stools, large boulders, and a digital waterfall cascading down from a high ceiling. The elements of nature are brought into the interior space with sophistication and intention creating a masterful, biophilic space.
Welcome, Milano by kengo kuma associates - the biophilic office of the future
We have watched the development of this ambitious biophilic office park development by the Milano-based real estate developer Seagreen with great interest, not just for its commitment to nature but also for the role of the lead architects, Kengo Kuma Associates, without doubt one of the most consistently impressive design firms in operation today and increasingly famous sustainable interior designers. This project aims to seamlessly integrate the natural world into the built environment, creating a harmonious and sustainable office space.
Made up of 43,500m2 of healthybiophilic offices, 2700m2 of co-working space, 1100m2 of meeting spaces, 2000m2 of food & beverage spaces and 1800m2 of commercial spaces, it looks set to make a tangible impact on Milano’s office landscape.
Solar panels on the rooftop, pocket parks and open-air courtyards, terrace greenery and a 360m2 bioclimatic greenhouse will all ensure a constant connection between the office-worker and nature within the built environment.
Where the Welcome project truly distinguishes itself is in making the connection between biophilia, sustainability and real estate ESG objectives - it may seem obvious but a building that goes out of its way to integrate nature through its architecture and interiors, only to harm nature by using materials that harm the planet in their extraction, manufacturing or transportation to the site would make very little sense at all.
As such, the project espouses both ‘organic architecture’ and people-centric design.
Biophilic interiors with natural elements at Fosbury & Sons Harmony Coworking, Antwerp, Belgium
In Antwerp, Belgium, a modernist cathedral was stripped down to its concrete bones and rebirthed into what we believe to be an aesthetic marvel of an office that displays subtle influences from the world of biophilic design.
Is it 100%, declaredly nature-inspired? Probably not but it perhaps represents how such organic interior design cues have become a part of our interior design canon in recent years.
Towering six meter high windows line the building illuminating the main, open workspace. Outside of these windows, there is a natural view of King Albert Park - in green and healthy building standards such as the WELL certification and LEED green building standard such views onto nature are rewarded with credits in the final scorecard for their restorative powers on potentially anxious, stressed out office workers.
Areas designed for different settings of productivity, relaxation, and collaboration are incorporated to make the space a healthy office design that is versatile for its patrons. Most furniture is wooden and wooden artworks suspended from the ceiling bring natural elements into the space, helping to frame the experience from floor to ceiling.
The use of natural materials, including sustainable wood and indoor plant walls, further enhances the biophilic design of the Fosbury & Sons Harmony Coworking space.
A large amount of the furniture is vintage making it inherently sustainable. Biophilic elements such as lush greenery, oval shaped windows, and leafless branches adorn the environment.
Overall this a prime example of how an existing building can be diligently restored and converted into a design-oriented coworking environment that gently, almost imperceptibly brings the outdoor space in to create a calm, uplifting environment for productivity. Chapeaux Fosbury & Sons!
Biophilia at Uncommon Coworking Holborn, London, UK
Uncommon adopted biophilic design into their DNA early on and have consistently delivered interior spaces that overflow with organic design details and living plants - their forthcoming site in central London’s Holborn district looks set to push the boundaries even further in that direction.
We previously interviewed Uncommon’s CEO for our Green & Healthy Places podcast -listen to that episode here.
Scheduled to open in 2023. Located just outside the city bustle of London, the center is sustainably designed for its members to work and thrive within.
The green building, sustainable design has declared three main objectives: Reduce their emissions, achieve net zero, and be carbon negative.
If these objectives are achieved, the coworking space would be one of the first of its kind to achieve a positive environmental impact.
The execution of these plans to realistically obtain their goals is a holistic strategy of the reduction of waste, use, and purchase. Waste reduction includes proper and safe disposal alongside the maximization of reuse and recycling. Use reduction will be executed through regulated energy and water usage.
Finally, purchase reduction will be minimized through expending fewer consumables and purchasing sustainable consumables to ensure a reduction of single use items.
The Holborn coworking environment will be a biophillic space filled with an abundance of plants from floor to ceiling that is created with organic, environmentally friendly materials, and filled with sustainable items. It is the sustainable, biophillic coworking space of the future. The biophilic design also aims to improve air quality by purifying the air, reducing indoor pollutants, and controlling humidity, which contributes to better physical health and mental well-being for its members.
Andyrahman Architect Office, Indonesia - an example of biophilic office design
In Sidoarjo, Indonesia an architecture office was created with the wellness of their employees as the top priority. The biophilic office design was brought to life with nature around every corner.
The Andyrahman Architect Office also features green walls, adding a dynamic and inviting element to the workspace.
A living garden filled with plants ranging from grasses to hard wood trees is centered within the first floor of the structure creating a view of greenery for all.
Alongside this, a koi pond gurgles with the natural sounds of flowing water. On the second floor of the building resides a movable, breathing wall.
Using a local weaving technique, the bamboo walls allows for the transparency of light and air. It can be opened completely to the outside world.
This truly biophilic office gives workers nooks of relaxation and community such as the rooftop social area for employees to engage in conversation and relaxation in the open air.
Summary
Through these diverse examples of office biophilic design, we can see the tangible aspects of biophilia at work, visually, but we have also tried to highlight the intangible psycho-emotional responses these environments evoke in building occupants. the intangible is paramount.
The nature of biophillic office design is founded within the happiness and wellbeing of those who spend time there, while also respecting the environment with sustainable materials. Ultimately, such tangible connections with nature boost quality of life and work.
Further Reading
The Best New Green & Healthy Office Buildings In Barcelona, Spain
Sustainable Office Space - Make Your Office More Eco-Friendly
Coworking Space Design - A Secret To Productive Coworking Space
Benefits Of Biophilic Design On Cognitive Performance In The Workplace
Free E-Book: Benefits Of Biophilic Design In Offices & Coworking Spaces
An Introduction To Biophilic Design - Nature, Wellbeing And Sustainability
How To Know If Your Workplace Fits The Wellness Office Concept
An Introduction To Biophilic Design In Sustainable Buildings
design for mental wellbeing - university of chicago student wellness centre
Sustainable furniture: LifeCycle Analysis / Healthy Materials / low-VOCs
Lighting : Natural light / Window walls and corridors / Soft warm light - relaxation / Blue-white light productivity
Biophilic Design: Stone from a gothic hospital / Birch tree windows / Biophilia - boost mental health
Mental health: wellness design / wellbeing interiors
university of chicago student wellness centre - exterior
Summary of topics covered:
Sustainable furniture: LifeCycle Analysis / Healthy Materials / low-VOCs
Lighting : Natural light / Window walls and corridors / Soft warm light - relaxation / Blue-white light productivity
Biophilic Design: Stone from a gothic hospital / Birch tree windows / Biophilia - boost mental health
Mental health: wellness design / wellbeing interiors
Sustainable interiors and biophilic design for mental health
With an aim to boost student’s campus life, the University of Chicago recently built their first all encompassing Student Wellness Center. In the past, each department of the center was housed within different locations on campus.
The new building, finished in 2020, brought together their Student Health Service, Student Counseling Service, and Health Promotion and Wellness group into a single building.
Not only does the Student Wellness Center act as a building for health services, it is also a tranquil, restorative space for students to relax and work on their studies. The interior design choices made as part of that process reveal a lot about wellness design today, so read on to find out more.
Biophilic design and sustainable interiors for student wellness
The Student Wellness Center was adorned with sustainable interior furniture to provide nookes of solidarity to encourage collaboration. The quality of healthy furniture was a high priority of the biophilic interior design project. All pieces were ensured to be clean air certified, minimizing the risk of Volatile Organic Compounds or VOCs being emitted from furniture that would end up polluting the indoor air.
These harmful chemicals (don’t be fooled by the friendly ‘organic’ in their name!) have been proven to decrease cognitive functioning, among a slew of other health effects - see here for more on the health risks of VOCs.
By procuring such healthy and sustainable furniture, the interior designers contributed to the cognitive performance and indeed physical health of students and faculty, while minimizing their environmental impact. It’s a win-win!
sustainable furniture for wellbeing
Furniture was procured from a range of green, sustainable designers that track the lifecycle impact of their products from manufacturing and procurement, to distribution and sale, even into end of life to recycling.
A number of furniture products by Muuto are made with eighty percent recycled material and Allermuir has their very own 15,000 square foot recycling center. This sustainable interior design not only helps people, but helps the planet too, it combines the concepts of wellbeing interiors with sustainability - increasingly, these go hand in hand.
wellness lighting strategies
The natural and artificial light strategies of the Student Wellness Center are a key element of its wellness design. Many of the internal corridors of the building are softly-lit providing tranquil spaces of relaxation with warm, yellow light.
Areas designed for productivity are illuminated in full by blu-white spectrum light giving students and faculty greater wakefulness during the day. This boosts focus and productivity.
Long halls of natural light are incorporated within many of the outskirts of the structure, these halls surround you with nature giving the building's occupants consistent exposure to full natural light during the daytime.
wellness architecture
The base structure of the Student Wellness Center is a historic, gothic hospital. The new structure engages with the old building’s architecture bringing the natural elements of stone walls and arches within the walls of the center. The incorporation of the history of the building also brings nature's elements inside contributing to its biophilic design.
The arches create large organic shapes giving the building biophilic design in structure. The glass interior and exterior walls are common-place around the Student Wellness Center allowing for a greater visual perception of space and natural light.
Some of these walls are accented with birch tree forest graphics to create visual privacy while still pulling light further through the building. This design grounds the space back to its natural elements. Additionally, plants are placed throughout the building to provide green spaces and boost mental health via biophilia.
Biophilic design for student wellbeing
With a focus on biophilic design, the University of Chicago sought to give students a calm and relaxing space to boost student wellness and productivity. From the placement of windows to the furnishings inside, the building was founded with the importance of student health and wellness in mind. Through biophilic design, students at the University of Chicago are given healthy, restorative spaces where they can flourish.
Biophilic design for cities with Dr Jana Soderlund
origins of the biophilic design concept. the biophilia hypothesis, applying biophilia at an architectural and even urban planning scale; how biophilic design incorporates benefits for people and planet, wellbeing and sustainability; the multiple benefits of installing green roofs
Welcome to episode 52 of the Green & Healthy Places podcast in which we discuss the themes of wellbeing and sustainability in real estate and hospitality today.
I’m your host, Matt Morley, founder of Biofilico healthy buildings and this time around I’m in Perth, Western Australia talking biophilic urbanism and biophilic cities with Dr. Jana Söderlund.
Jana did her PhD on biophilic design as an emergent social movement. She has an honours degree in environmental science and has spent her career as a sustainability consultant, environmental educator, tutor, lecturer, and presenter.
She is a member of the global Biophilic Cities steering committee, Chair of Biophilic Cities Australia, Director of Biophilic Solutions and a Curtin University associate. Currently, she is a tutor for Oxford University in partnership with Pearson.
We discuss the history and origins of the biophilic design concept. the biophilia hypothesis, applying biophilia at an architectural and even urban planning scale; how biophilic design incorporates benefits for people and planet, wellbeing and sustainability; the benefits of biophilic design in schools and prisons, as well as the importance of beauty in biophilic design.
Matt Morley
Welcome to the Green & Healthy Places podcast. Thanks for joining us today.
Dr. Jana Soderlund
Yeah, thank you, Matt, thanks for the opportunity to join you in this conversation.
Matt Morley
I’d like to understand how your concept of biophilic design has evolved over the years and how you currently define it. There are various models out there from multiple theorists who have attempted to pin it down and put it into 14 categories or what have you. What’s your take on it?
Dr. Jana Soderlund
OK best if I start from how it emerged, a little bit of the history of biophilic design, because that really frames how I view it now.
So it started with Erich Fromm, a psychoanalyst in the 60s, who wrote a book called ‘The Heart of Man’, he posited that as humans, we suffer an anxiety about a separation from nature. And in seeking to overcome this anxiety, we go down two pathways - we have a choice regressive or progressive response.
The regressive is where there's necrophilia, and you controlled by religion and rules, you suppress that anxiety while the progress path is what he calls the Buddha path about altruism and overcoming this anxiety, and connecting with nature. And that's where Biophilia sits as a love of life.
Then E.O. Wilson went in, and he spent a period, immersed deeply in nature then wrote a book called Biophilia talking about that connection he felt with nature.
Then he and Stephen Kellert got together and came up with the ‘Biophilia hypothesis’ that as human beings, we are innately connected to nature, it's evolutionary, we respond to nature and all the patterns, forms, shapes, materials, smells, sights, sounds of nature.
Kellert gather a diverse group of academics , to discuss how can we bring biophilia into our cities and biophilic design emerged from that!
Those ‘14 patterns of biophilic design’ by Bill Browning at Terrapinn live in three categories but it’s not just greenery, but you know, the materials and the shapes and the forms and, and the patterns. all count too, even birdsong, places offering prospect and refuge.
So biophilic design to me is about integration and connection, you know, so integrating all of this aspects of nature as much as we can to create a connection with the place we inhabit.
You know, it's like in zoos where we used to keep animals in concrete cages with bars - they didn't do well there. So zoos now go to great lengths to recreate a more natural habitat, and animals do far better! If you you extend that thinking for us as humans living in cities.. well, it would be nice to live in something a bit more natural.
Matt Morley
So you've introduced that idea of the Biophilia hypothesis, and specifically biophilic design being applied at scale, at an urban planning level - yet I think it often gets picked up in the media as photos of lots of plants in someone's house, and you call that biophilic design, or, frankly, the same in an office building.
What's fascinating about your work is how you're applying it. Not just architectural, but almost city planning or urbanism level. So talk to us about how biophilic design can translate to not just buildings, but neighbourhoods or cities.
Dr. Jana Soderlund
Ah, look, there's some great examples of this globally too. One thing I like is the use of colonnades, there's a hotel in Singapore, the Pickering Park Royal Hotel, and that has this beautiful space in the CBD, beautiful streetscape of colonnades going down that evokes walking through a forest, it's a real biophilic experience, it's got strip layered wood and different greenery.
So I think that's the thing with biophilic design is that, there does tend to be this tendency to just think it's greenery, but it's just so much more, you can create a really biophilic place without any nature, you know, green nature, you know, plants and so forth in there.
As far as taking it beyond the building to scale. I really like the example of Malmo in Sweden that have created rain gardens. So all trapped stormwater is funnelled into canals, people can walk by for a real connection to nature, and enhanced biodiversity.
Kampung Admiralty in Singapore is a mixed use facility. So it's got transit right there. You can walk in and it's right from the start. It's got rain gardens and greenery and filtration ponds. it's all one big open air meeting place. They've got a pharmacy and supermarkets and medical centre and a big hawkers market with food stalls. And it's about eight storeys and on each floor, they've put in rain gardens and filtration ponds to manage the water.
Then there's sort of connecting walkways there to go over to aged care units.So when you go across into these aged care units, and look back at this eight story mixed use development, you just see a wall of green, it's just growing!
There's greater community engagement, and, you know, increased wellbeing and mental health and so forth, where, you know, you get that whole neighbourhood is more livable. it helps stormwater management and reduces urban heat and increases biodiversity, you know, so you get these multiple benefits that flow from creating a whole neighbourhood, precinct or city..
Matt Morley
I think what you're doing there is, is showing how biophilic design is something I've always felt that it somehow bridges the worlds of sustainability, and wellbeing. So planet, people - bringing benefits to both and you've switched from talking about the human aspects of the wellbeing, and then at the same time we're doing this in terms of reducing the environmental impact in terms of reducing the urban heat island.
So do you see, in a sense, almost added benefits of working at scale beyond typically with both Biophilia or an interior project, it tends to be more about the human aspect, we can reduce the sustainable or that the environmental impact in terms of the materials and what have you, but it's always limited, right? Because there's only so much we can do. But you're suddenly able it seems to talk on a much wider scale, and to be able to talk about perhaps a city wide approach to reduce environmental impact and increase sustainability, right, that sort of opens up a whole other discussion.
Dr. Jana Soderlund
You were I think it's a really important part. And this is something when I present or meet with people I really try and push home is the multiple benefits. Because often, there will be, you know, something implemented like a green roof, right. And the initial driver will be stormwater management. And once it like an you're just download this has happened in Washington, and a lot of North America use green roofs to reduce their stormwater. So and once the green roof is in place, then all the other benefits are suddenly discovered, you know, of like the Chicago City Hall, the iconic green roof that was put in the mayor may, you know, built that had it installed because of excessive heatwave in Chicago, a lot of people died, so he wanted to call the city. So he built that. On the City Hall, it was next to the country Hall, like they share the same roof top Chicago County. And so they were able to study the benefits as far as you know, the cooling and reducing energy consumption, but by doing that, they also discovered what it meant for them to have access to this roof. And when I saw it, it looked it was like a sort of patch of dry weeds, you know, because it was heading into winter. But it was beautiful because you know, I think we can also see the seasons and that's really important.
As people discover these multiple benefits, but that's the really important thing for people to understand that by installing or utilising biophilic design, you're addressing a lot of social benefits, you know, you really help with mental health and wellbeing and that's a big thing at the moment, like, I know, in COVID, so many people found the place they they went to, they sought out green places, you know, because reduce stress, but also maybe help them feel a bit connected in a time of isolation.
So we have all the human aspects, increased community engagement, and walkability and, you know, you can do density better, like, by doing it well, and clever utilising biophilic, design like, like milma. So, you know, you have these multiple social, and then you have the multiple environmental benefits, like stormwater management and increase of biodiversity, and reducing urban heat, and, you know, helping with carbon reduction. And, you know, or all these other food security is also a big, big one, because we're able to grow food on green roofs or around.
So, you know, there's Yeah, I think it's really important to look at the multiple benefits, because in the business case gets made, you know, really strong, because that's a lot of the pushback, oh, it's going to cost more to do things, this is often with, you know, green roofs, and so forth, it's going to cost more and the maintenance burden, once the multiple benefits are understood, you know, then it does make a stronger business case, and, and it helps, you know, with general health, so reducing urban heat, so you get less people hospitalised with heat, stress and so forth, and it reduces crime. They've done studies to show that when, you know, there's nature or biophilic designed place, crime goes down, people feel more altruistic as well. You know, it's it's, yeah.
Matt Morley
And the successes that you're seeing around the world, have they typically led by private businesses? Or is it more of a top down approach where city planning needs to be engaged as well? Is it a combination of the two?
Dr. Jana Soderlund
It is a combination of the two, like, there's been by both both happen sometimes, I've seen that community driven, and but this is where they need to work with government, I guess, to have enabling policies, like, I know, places where community gardens have been started by people, you know, and, or they've wanted to, you know, design a house with a green roof or have it a bit more biophilic, or whatever, and they can be, you know, bureaucracy and, and supporting policies that that bump up against, it can be hard work.
So the idea is where government can help community by having enabling policies for them. You know, it's, it's also like, in some places like Chicago, to do the green roofs, they did theirs to show that it could be done for developers. And then they put it into policy. And developers,And sometimes he said that was spitting mad, but now they don't have to regulate it.
Now, everyone expects their green roof, and they've realised the multiple benefits that have come to them as developers. So there are places where yes, you do need that strong leader, you know, the local champion to go this is what we have to do, and now suffered the pushback.
But in other places, it's community wanting to do something different or have a better neighbourhood or you know, be able to create something where they can connect and community are great at self organising places and you know, we've got To give credence to the wisdom of the masses, you know, so yeah, that I think it you know, it varies from place to place, really, you know, and so But ideally, it's all working when you get it coming together, you've got great synergies
Matt Morley
and looking at where it's been applied the different sectors in which you can see the most benefits. We there are some great examples of hospitals around the world and particularly interested in elderly care homes, for example, and how they can integrate Biophilia for people with dementia or heavy there's there's some really interesting work around that.
But what about at the other end of the age spectrum around schools? It's perhaps not so common, but I do see some examples. Occasionally, they pop up on my radar of schools trying to do things in a more biophilic or sustainable ways. How do you see that particular sector? Has it got big opportunity there? Is there much more work to do? Or what could the challenges be of taking that into the world of education?
Dr. Jana Soderlund
Yes, I think there are challenges. And I think there's great opportunities, and I think it's a really vital area to be implementing biophilic design and because, you know, I see and hear a lot of stories with our young people in schools and the mental health challenges, you know, the and mental health is decreasing in schools. And, you know, to help like, to go have a place, which is not stressful, it's the other thing that they've done studies about you to understand this is sort of a little bit where the prison work i I've done comes from is that hard age architecture stresses us, you know, where, where it's, it's just very industrial, you know, actually stresses us as people.
So you wanting these children to often go into classrooms like this, some classrooms in the world that don't even have windows they can see out of, and I know a lot of the American ones are like that. So you can imagine the stress, especially if they have a school shooter, you know, they they're hearing noise that can't see it's Yeah. It can be pretty hard. But what they've found is even having a few potted plants, increases learning rate rates, you know, because it helps improve cognitive processing.
So, and I think when when you've got something, you know, again, triggering that sense of connection and well being, when students can walk into a classroom, and feel that they do they learn better, they're less stressed, because even it's an innate sort of stress that can happen. And also, I've been working with school groups, and there's one that a new school built in my city. And it was just very industrial, minimal, sort of but touted as the great new school, and an extension is being done. A
nd the kids there want to have a lot of greenery, they want to incorporate more patents, be able to better windows and and just softly you talk to them all about biophilic design. And that's what they're wanting. And they've actually got funding this group. It's called Millennium kids. And they're working on incorporating biophilic design for schools. And I'm also sort of a friend or colleague, is he's interested in getting biophilic soundscapes into schools. And so globally there there has been a lot done you know, in getting some of this happening in schools with great results, like they're just finding learning rates to improve that behaviour improves like they're less disruptive and happier to come to school. I don't know if you remember Sandy Hook it was side of the mass shooting in 2012.
And they demolish the school and rebuilt and the school that they built was all based on biophilic design and it's just it's stunning because and they did it because they wanted a sense of safety and security but connection and beauty in there and it's even like on the on the walls the you know the fabric they've created sort of trees patterns and like a leaf pattern on the floor and they have little Treehouse, breakout rooms, sort of knocks and lighting and you know, it's all and rain gardens out the front like it's quite a stunning school, that their happiest way
Matt Morley
you start to see how biophilic design really sits within perhaps a slightly wider concept around wellbeing, designing and creating spaces for physical and mental well being, you mentioned, prisons, well being designed biophilic design and prisons may not necessarily be two things we'd associate together, but that's why I wanted to ask you about it. So tell us, how does that work?
Dr. Jana Soderlund
Yeah, well, typically prisons, you know, the, and this is the pushback you get from prison people is that they're in there to be punished, right. So they go in, and their cells, you know, and prisons, they're pretty harsh places, and just all you know, brick and concrete and hardage. So there's some great work done by a woman, she started to work with gardens, but then she ended up doing some research. And it's called the Blue Room. And it works with supermax prisoners in prison in, in Oregon, and they just showed videos of nature.
So when a prisoner is getting agitated, or they have to transfer or something, they'll go and they'll watch videos, and they have the ones they prefer the prisoners have and they become more compliant stress rates go before also the guards, this the staff, their stress rates reduce, and all of that, and they've found it's just been quite amazing the difference in behaviour.
Now Scandinavia, they have learned to do prisons, they have a lot of biophilic design within their prisons, and make sure there's lighting and, and use colour, and the shapes and forms and you know, curved areas and artwork and all of that, and they have low recidivism rates, you know, less reoffending people and because what, ultimately, if you wanting to rehabilitate, and help someone, then don't put them in a stressful, you know, Cade box if you know, concrete and break, which is I've talked to prisoners, and they they're very stressed when they can't get a view or anything. So they're trying to, you know, to change teach new behaviours, or help with learning in while they're stressed. Same with schools, you know, you need to feel relaxed. And once you've stress read reduces your cognitive functioning improves.
Matt Morley
As I understand it, the issue around staff workers in prisons is it's really urgent in the US at the moment. And the idea that creating a space not just for the, for the prisoners, but for those employed within the prisons that is slightly more amenable to long shifts, stressful city incredibly stressful situations.
So it's there's there's almost the two sides to the argument, right? But also thinking about the staff who have to spend their days and they're dealing with what can only be a difficult, yeah, social context. So I think it's clear, there are many ways we can we can think about biophilic design within the context of a city. I just wanted to close with one question about your book, I downloaded the the teaser the other day. So read the first book. Tell us a little bit about that, and how you how you came to it. And it's obviously out there in the world. How's that been going with the book? Are you working on anything new in terms of publications,
Dr. Jana Soderlund
I have a few papers published and ones just about to be published more about the how to implement biophilic design based on my research. So the book came about, through my research for my PhD, and I looked into their history, that's where I looked into the history of biophilic design. But to do this, I went I travelled north America, and I interviewed a lot of the leaders in the field like Stephen Keller, and where biophilic design had been implemented to find out why, you know, what, what, what was the driver, the initial driver for us, and that that was really interesting, you know, talking to people I think I did 30 Odd interviews, but they're, they're written up as sort of stories, conversational stories, and I learned a lot and had some fabulous conversations.
But you know, out of that, you could see the see the evolution of it and how, you know, I got those initial drivers of whether it was stormwater management or urban heat, but the ripple effect And, and then discovering the multiple benefits and the from that I made a framework to how to mainstream it. So, you know, that's it's all in the book, but I've written it as a you know, so you learn a lot about biophilic design, but also as an easy read, you know, to hear the stories and their discussions and people's ideas about, you know, a bit about aesthetics, because I guess that's one of the big things about biophilic design, too, that I haven't mentioned is the beauty. That's very important to us. And we respond to beauty, you know, and aesthetic.
So I've seen lots of high rated LEED buildings or six star here, you know, energy efficient, but they leave out the biophilic design, they leave out that human connection, and they're not really sustainable because people don't, you know, defined. They might meet all their energy targets, but they don't meet the human targets and when people in a beautiful place or connecting to a building, then they're less likely to want to go to work.
Matt Morley
So that's an important point to close on. I think let's draw a line under it. Thank you so much for your time.