The Health Benefits of Biophilia Plants in Interiors

Whether used in commercial biophilic interiors, such as offices, hotels, and gyms or as part of residential biophilic design, plants add personality to any space and come with various health and wellness benefits to supercharge any interior with Vitamin Nature.

The biophilic design leverages the innate tendency of humans to seek connections with nature, connecting human beings with our evolutionary history by reintroducing living systems and plant life into soulless, polluted urban contexts in some unfortunate locations.

How Does the Biophilia Hypothesis Help Interior Designers Create Healthy Spaces?

The biophilia hypothesis, developed by biologist Edward O. Wilson in the 1980s, suggests that humans have an innate and instinctive connection to nature and other living organisms.

It posits that our well-being, physical, and mental health are intricately linked to our interaction with the natural world and living systems. This hypothesis has significant implications for interior designers striving to create healthy indoor spaces. Urban designers can also benefit from understanding and applying biophilic design principles to improve health and well-being in urban environments.

Incorporate Natural Elements

Interior designers can incorporate natural materials such as wood, stone, and water features to evoke a sense of nature. These natural elements help create a more inviting and calming environment.

Maximize Natural Light

Designers should prioritize maximizing natural light in indoor spaces. Large windows, skylights, and strategically placed mirrors can help bring more natural light into the interior, enhancing the connection to the outdoors.

Use Biophilic Patterns

Biophilic design includes patterns, shapes, and textures that mimic those found in nature, such as fractals and organic forms. These patterns can be incorporated into interior finishes, fabrics, and furnishings.

Create Views of Nature

Designers can strategically position seating and workspaces to offer views of nature, whether it's through windows overlooking greenery, water features, or natural landscapes.

Integrate Indoor Plants

Incorporating indoor plants, living walls, or green roofs can help bring nature indoors. These improve air quality and enhance the overall aesthetic and well-being of occupants.

Provide Opportunities for Interaction

Interior spaces can be designed to encourage interaction with nature, such as creating outdoor seating areas, rooftop gardens, or indoor atriums where people can relax and connect with the natural environment.

Use Natural Colors

Choosing color palettes inspired by nature, such as earth tones, greens, and blues, can contribute to a calming and biophilic interior atmosphere.

Selecting building materials and finishes from natural, sustainable sources, like reclaimed wood and stone, aligns with the biophilic design principle and creates a tactile connection to nature.

Provide Water Features

The sound and sight of water through indoor fountains or aquariums can be soothing and evoke a sense of connection to natural environments.

Create Multi-Sensory Experiences

Biophilic design can engage multiple senses, including touch, smell, and sound. Incorporating elements like textured materials, natural scents, and ambient nature sounds can enhance the overall experience.

Leveraging the biophilia hypothesis in interior design creates healthier and more aesthetically pleasing spaces and contributes to improved mental well-being, reduced stress, increased productivity, and a stronger connection to the environment.

It aligns with the growing interest in designing spaces that prioritize occupant mental health issues and comfort in a sustainable and holistic manner

Plants in Interior Spaces

Plants play a central and integral role in biophilic design. This design philosophy recognizes the innate human connection to nature, also known as nature biophilia, and seeks to connect people with nature in the built environment.

Biophilic design incorporates natural elements into interior and architectural spaces, including plants.

Here’s how plants contribute to biophilic design:

Strengthening the Connection to Nature

Biophilic design aims to create spaces that evoke a sense of nature and bring the outdoors indoors. Plants through potted greenery, living walls, or indoor gardens serve as a direct link to the natural world, enhancing this connection.

Enhancing Visual and Aesthetic Appeal

Plants add beauty and visual interest to interior spaces. Their various shapes, colors, and textures create a visually stimulating environment that can reduce stress and enhance overall aesthetics.

Improving Air Quality

Many indoor plants purify the air by removing common pollutants. Incorporating air-purifying plants into a biophilic design enhances the visual appeal and contributes to a healthier indoor environment.

Promoting Well-Being

The presence of plants has been shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and increase feelings of well-being. Additionally, the presence of plants has been shown to reduce blood pressure, contributing to overall well-being. The biophilic design leverages these psychological benefits by strategically placing plants in areas where people spend time, such as offices, homes, and healthcare facilities.

Supporting Biophilic Patterns

Biophilic design principles often incorporate elements like fractal patterns found in nature and can be mirrored in plant arrangements. These patterns have been associated with relaxation and reduced stress.

Enhancing Acoustic Comfort

Some larger plants can help absorb sound, reduce noise levels in interior spaces, and contribute to acoustic comfort.

Providing Opportunities for Interaction

Biophilic design encourages interaction with nature through indoor gardens. Indoor gardens and living walls offer opportunities for people to engage with plants, whether through caring for them or simply enjoying their presence.

Creating Restorative Environments

Natural settings, including plant-filled spaces, have a restorative effect on mental fatigue and cognitive function. Biophilic design incorporates plants to help occupants relax and recharge.

Adapting to Seasonal Changes

Biophilic design can incorporate seasonal variations in plant selection, allowing occupants to experience different aspects of nature throughout the year, which adds interest and variety to the environment.

Supporting Sustainable Practices

Biophilic design often aligns with sustainability goals by promoting indoor plants that require minimal water and maintenance. This reinforces the connection between human well-being and environmental stewardship.

Plants in biophilic design are not merely decorative elements but essential components that foster a stronger connection to nature, enhance well-being, and contribute to a more sustainable and visually appealing built environment.

They create spaces that promote physical and psychological health while aligning with our innate affinity for the natural world.

Scientific Research on Indoor Plants' Wellness Effects

Scientific research has consistently demonstrated the positive impact of plants on health in interior spaces. Numerous studies have explored the physical and psychological benefits of indoor plants, and the following is a summary of key findings:

1. Air Flow and Improvement:

• In 1989, the NASA Clean Air Study found that the power of plants went far beyond absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen; many can also filter harmful chemicals from the air, such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene—all commonly found in everyday objects that surround us all the time in cities such as furniture and building material.

1. Stress Reduction and Well-Being:

• Research published in the Journal of Physiological Anthropology found that interaction with indoor plants can reduce physiological and psychological stress responses.

• A study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology showed that the presence of indoor plants can improve overall well-being, including feelings of comfort and relaxation.

1. Enhanced Cognitive Function:

• Studies conducted at the University of Exeter found that introducing indoor plants in office environments led to a 15% increase in productivity and improved cognitive function.

• Research published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that introducing indoor plants in a workspace can increase creativity and problem-solving abilities.

1. Mood Enhancement:

• A study in the Journal of Environmental Psychology reported that indoor plants positively influenced mood, with participants feeling happier and more comfortable in plant-filled spaces.

1. Reduced Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) Symptoms:

• Research conducted by the Agricultural University of Norway showed that introducing indoor plants reduced symptoms associated with SBS, such as dry throat, dry skin, and fatigue.

1. Faster Recovery and Reduced Pain:

• The American Society of Horticultural Science published a study indicating that patients recovering from surgery in rooms with indoor plants required less pain medication and had shorter hospital stays.

1. Improved Humidity and Comfort:

• Studies have shown that indoor plants release moisture through transpiration, which can help increase humidity levels, improve respiratory comfort, and reduce the incidence of conditions like dry skin and sore throats.

1. Noise Reduction:

• Research in the journal HortScience demonstrated that large, leafy indoor plants can help absorb and diffuse sound, reducing noise levels in interior spaces.

1. Positive Biophilic Effects:

• The concept of biophilia suggests that humans have an innate connection to nature. Studies have consistently shown that indoor plants can strengthen this connection, reducing stress and increasing feelings of well-being.

These studies collectively provide strong scientific evidence for the positive impact of indoor plants on health, well-being, and indoor environmental quality. Incorporating plants into interior spaces is a practical and effective way to create healthier and more comfortable living and working environments.

Can Ikigai, Barcelona - biophilic interiors by Biofilico

Mental Benefits of Plants in Interior Spaces

1. Stress Reduction and Mental Health: Interacting with indoor plants can help reduce stress and anxiety. Caring for plants, such as watering and pruning, can be meditative and calming.

2. Improved Mood: Indoor plants have been shown to boost mood and promote well-being. Their presence can create a more pleasant and positive atmosphere.

3. Enhanced Creativity: Some studies suggest indoor plants stimulate creativity and problem-solving, making them valuable in workspaces and creative environments.

4. Increased Productivity: Indoor workplace plants have been associated with increased productivity and concentration. They can help reduce mental fatigue and improve focus.

5. Improved Air Quality: The quality of the air is better, resulting from plants’ oxygen production, and air filtration capabilities can lead to improved mental clarity and alertness.

Physical Health Benefits of Plants in Interior Spaces

1. Air Purification: Many indoor plants can remove pollutants and toxins from the air, such as formaldehyde, benzene, and xylene, contributing to improved indoor airflow.

2. Humidity Regulation: Plants release water vapor through transpiration, which can help increase humidity levels in indoor spaces. This is particularly beneficial in dry environments and can help alleviate issues like dry skin and improve respiratory comfort.

3. Noise Reduction: Some large, leafy plants can absorb sound, reducing noise levels in interior spaces. This can create a more peaceful and comfortable environment.

4. Faster Healing: Studies have suggested that indoor plants can accelerate the healing process for individuals recovering from illness or surgery. Patients with access to greenery tend to require less pain medication and experience shorter hospital stays.

5. Eye Comfort: Indoor plants can help reduce eye strain and discomfort associated with prolonged screen time by providing a soothing natural element to focus on.

6. Biophilia Benefits: Biophilia, the innate human connection to nature, is nurtured by indoor plants. This connection can lead to reduced stress and an overall sense of well-being.

It’s important to note that while indoor plants offer these benefits, they also require proper care and maintenance. Overwatering or neglect can lead to mold growth and poor air circulation, which can have negative health consequences.

Therefore, it’s essential to choose plants that match your commitment and care for them accordingly to maximize the physical and mental health advantages they offer in indoor spaces.

Natural daylight and indoor plants

Light Requirements for Indoor Plants and Natural Daylight

The amount of light required for indoor plants varies depending on the type of plant. Different plant species have different light requirements, which are typically categorized into three main categories:

1. High Light: These plants require direct or bright indirect sunlight for several hours each day. Examples include succulents, cacti, and many flowering plants.

2. Medium Light: These plants thrive in indirect sunlight or in areas with filtered or dappled light. They can typically tolerate lower light conditions than high-light plants. Examples include pothos, spider plants, and peace lilies.

3. Low Light: These plants can thrive in areas with minimal daylight, such as rooms with small or shaded windows. They can adapt to artificial lighting. Examples include snake plants, ZZ plants, and cast iron plants.

For interior designers looking to maximize available natural light and supplement with artificial lighting for plants, here are some strategies:

Maximizing Natural Light

1. Use Reflective Surfaces: Incorporate light-colored and reflective surfaces, such as mirrors and light-colored paint or furnishings, to bounce natural light deeper into interior spaces.

2. Optimize Window Placement: Position furniture and shelving to allow natural light to reach as many plants as possible. Avoid blocking windows with large obstructions.

3. Choose Light-Friendly Window Treatments: Select window treatments like sheer curtains or blinds that allow natural light to filter through while maintaining privacy and controlling glare.

4. Keep Windows Clean: Regularly clean windows to ensure maximum light transmission.

5. Consider Skylights: If feasible, incorporate skylights or light tubes to bring natural light into interior spaces with limited windows.

Supplemental Artificial Lighting to support bringing the natural world inside

1. LED Grow Lights: LED grow lights are energy-efficient and come in various spectra to cater to different plant needs. You can use these LED grow lights in areas with insufficient natural light or as a supplement to extend the daily light duration for plants.

2. Position Lights Strategically: Place grow lights above or beside plants to mimic natural sunlight. Adjustable fixtures allow you to fine-tune the light intensity and direction.

3. Use Timers: Install timers or smart plugs to automate the lighting schedule for your plants, ensuring they receive the right amount of light each day.

4. Choose Full-Spectrum Lights: Full-spectrum LED grow lights closely mimic natural sunlight and provide a balanced spectrum for photosynthesis.

5. Consider Light Reflectors: Reflective materials around plants can help maximize the use of artificial light by directing it back toward the plants.

6. Adjust Light Duration: The duration of artificial lighting should match the specific needs of your plants. Most indoor plants require 12-16 hours of light per day.

By combining these strategies and selecting plants from the natural world that match the available light conditions, interior designers can create indoor environments that support healthy and thriving greenery while enhancing the overall aesthetic and functionality of the space.

Choosing the Right Plants for your Biophilic Interior

When choosing plant species to use in your next eco office interior or biophilic home, you should consider a few things to ensure your plant plan is sustainable and practical; let’s face it, nobody benefits from dead foliage.

Here are three questions to consider:

1. What kind of light is available? Low light doesn’t necessarily present a problem, but it does mean you must choose plants that can thrive in dimmer conditions, such as Spider plants and Pothos plants.

2. How much time can you commit to maintenance? A good biophilic design should enhance your life, not disrupt it. Plants that require less watering, like Snake plants and Aloe, tend to be hardier and won’t put a damper on your schedule.

3. Which plants like or dislike each other? Placing your plants beside the wrong neighbours can be the difference between thriving greenery and stunted stems. Ensure you know who likes to bring out the best from your sprouts.

Best Indoor Air purifying Plants

Best Indoor Air-Purifying Plants

Indoor air-purifying plants are a natural and aesthetically pleasing way to improve indoor airflow and air levels by removing certain pollutants and toxins.

Here are some of the top air-purifying plants suitable for indoor use:

1. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata): Snake plants are known for their air-purifying abilities. They effectively remove formaldehyde, benzene, and other common indoor pollutants. They are also low-maintenance and can thrive in low-light conditions.

2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum): Spider plants greatly remove pollutants like formaldehyde and xylene. They are easy to care for and can adapt to various indoor environments.

3. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum): Peace lilies are excellent at removing indoor air pollutants, including ammonia, benzene, and formaldehyde. They also add a touch of elegance to indoor spaces.

4. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata): Boston ferns effectively remove pollutants like formaldehyde and xylene. They require regular moisture and indirect light to thrive.

5. Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis miller): Aloe vera not only purifies the air by removing formaldehyde and benzene but also has healing properties for minor burns and skin irritations.

6. Dracaena (Dracaena spp.): Dracaenas come in various varieties and are known for their air-purifying capabilities. They can help remove pollutants like xylene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde.

7. Bamboo Palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii): Bamboo palms effectively remove indoor air pollutants, including formaldehyde and benzene. They also thrive in low-light conditions.

8. Rubber Plant (Ficus elastica): Rubber tree can remove indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde. They have attractive dark green leaves and can grow into a statement piece in your space.

9. Gerbera Daisy (Gerbera jamesonii): Gerbera daisies are known for removing trichloroethylene, a common indoor pollutant. They also add vibrant color to your indoor environment.

10. Pothos (Epipremnum aureum): Pothos is a hardy plant that can help remove indoor pollutants like formaldehyde and benzene. It’s a great choice for beginners due to its low maintenance requirements.

11. Chinese Evergreen (Aglaonema): Chinese evergreens purify indoor air effectively. They’re also low-maintenance and thrive in low light.

12. ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia): ZZ plants, like snake plants, purify the air by absorbing toxins. Their succulent-like structure withstands drought and missed waterings, making them low-maintenance with gorgeous foliage.

13. Areca Palm (Dypsis): Areca palms are effective air purifiers, removing toxins like formaldehyde and xylene. They also add humidity to the air, enhancing overall indoor air quality.

14. Philodendron: Philodendrons purify the air by removing toxins like formaldehyde and benzene. Their beautiful foliage adds aesthetic appeal while improving indoor air quality.

15. English Ivy (Hedera helix): English ivy purifies the air by effectively removing mold spores and common toxins like formaldehyde and benzene. Its attractive, cascading foliage also enhances the visual appeal of indoor spaces.

Remember that while these plants can help improve indoor airflow, they should not be relied upon as the sole method of air purification in environments with high pollution levels. Proper ventilation and other airflow measures may also be necessary for more effective results.

What are the best case studies showing the benefits of indoor plants in creating a healthy workplace?

While numerous case studies and research findings demonstrate how indoor plants contribute to creating a healthy office environment, a few notable examples are frequently cited to illustrate the positive impact of plants on workplace well-being. Here are some of the most commonly referenced case studies:

1. NASA Clean Air Study: While not specifically an office environment, this seminal study conducted by NASA in the late 1980s identified a range of houseplants that effectively remove indoor air pollutants. It laid the foundation for using indoor plants to improve air quality in various settings, including offices.

2. Texas A&M University Study (2010): Researchers at Texas A&M University conducted a study examining indoor plants’ effects on employee well-being and productivity in a controlled office environment. The findings indicated that the presence of plants significantly increased productivity and reduced stress levels among employees.

3. Ambius “The Power of Plants in the Workplace” (2014): Ambius, a leading provider of interior landscaping services, conducted a comprehensive study that surveyed over 7,600 office workers across 16 countries. The research found that office plants positively impacted airflow, reduced stress, and improved overall well-being and productivity.

4. University of Exeter Study (2014): Researchers at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom conducted a study investigating the effects of office plants on worker productivity. They found that introducing plants into the office environment led to a 15% increase in productivity.

5. The WELL Building Standard Case Studies: The WELL Building Standard, a performance-based system for measuring and certifying building features that impact health and well-being, includes numerous case studies highlighting the benefits of incorporating plants into office designs. These case studies showcase how plants contribute to improved ventilation, reduced stress, and enhanced workplace employee satisfaction.

6. IKEA’s “The Green Cube” (2016): IKEA created a temporary office space in Milan, Italy, known as “The Green Cube.” The office was filled with indoor plants designed to demonstrate greenery’s positive effects on employee well-being and productivity. The project received significant attention and is a practical example of biophilic design in the workplace.

These case studies, among others, provide valuable evidence of the positive impact of indoor plants on ventilation, employee health, and workplace productivity.

They demonstrate the potential benefits of incorporating greenery into office environments and offer practical insights for interior designers and employers seeking to create healthier and more productive workspaces.

Top Case Studies on Indoor Plants for a Healthy Home

University of Technology Sydney Study (2015)

Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney conducted a study investigating indoor plants’ impact on perceived air quality and well-being in residential settings. The results showed that indoor plants can effectively reduce pollutants and improve perceived air quality.

University of Reading and Royal Horticultural Society Study (2015)

This research examined the impact of indoor plants on well-being and airflow in homes. The study found that houseplants can remove significant indoor air pollutants and contribute to a sense of well-being and happiness among residents.

RMIT University Study (2016)

Researchers at RMIT University in Australia studied the benefits of indoor plants in residential environments. The findings suggested that indoor plants can improve airflow, reduce stress, and enhance home cognitive function.

Ambius “Global Impact of Biophilic Design in the Home” (2016)

This study conducted by Ambius, a provider of interior landscaping services, explored the impact of biophilic design elements, including indoor plants, in residential settings. It found that plants contribute to improved air quality and home well-being.

Bayer Environmental Science Study (2020)

Bayer’s “Global Green Spaces” research initiative examined the role of green spaces, including indoor plants, in urban environments. The study emphasized the importance of indoor plants in enhancing air quality and well-being within homes.

Active design - definition and perspective

The concept of ‘active design’ comes up a lot in contemporary debate around how to design interiors, buildings and communities that prioritise human health and wellbeing, and therefore - how to get healthy by active design.

Active design strategies exist to aid a healthy lifestyle and can include dedicated bicycle pathways, bike sharing schemes, and micro-parks designed to reduce air pollution levels. 

Here is a short introduction to this innovative new approach that combines elements of fitness, design and architecture in one.

Active design definition and why do we need it?

Unless you have been living under a duvet for the last decade you’ll have heard mention of the lifestyle disease epidemic affecting the western world. 

Physical inactivity, poor diet and smoking are one side of the coin while obesity, Type 2 diabetes and chronic heart disease the other. 

Together they are putting unprecedented pressure on state healthcare systems that are already close to buckling with limited resources.

As governments have sought for ways to improve the situation, active design has become a rallying cry for health conscious city planners, architects and interior designers aiming to prevent ‘rather’ than ‘cure’.

Active design definition

As a set of building and planning principles, active design exists to aid healthy lifestyle - the principles of active design exist to promote physical activity, by immersing them into everyday activities.

Healthy placemaking through active building design

Examples of creating a healthy community or healthy city include dedicated bicycle pathways and bike sharing schemes to reduce car use and lower pollution levels while encouraging physical activity. 

The difference between passive and active design can be clearly seen in strategic use of landscaping that helps create attractive walkways that encourage walking and interaction outdoors - New York’s now legendary  Highline being one obvious example, unlike passive design that is mainly focused on building orientation in a way that takes advantage of the climate the most.

Active design building encourages physical activity

One of the significant benefits of active designs is that it encourages physical activity.

Stairwell prompts in office and residential buildings can make the difference between using an elevator 20 times per day to go from ground to first floor vs burning an additional 200 total calories taking the stairs. 

Something as simple as a notice adjacent to a stairwell entrance can be enough to encourage greater stair use, such prompts need to be easily visible and graphically engaging.

Incorporating showers, changing rooms, lockers and bike racks in office buildings for workers also encourages cycling to work as well as lunchtime jogs or workouts.

Nature contact thanks to active building design

Active building design mainly refers to public landscaping, city centre micro-parks designed to reduce air pollution levels and other opportunities to connect with nature in an urban environment have all been shown to help reduce anxiety, promote a sense of vitality and restore nature-connectedness for improved mental wellbeing even in relatively short periods of time.

A series of micro-parks in London UK were designed to offer small doses of nature in a densely urban context surrounded by office high-rises, but also to encourage active sustainable design in natural surroundings.

How did we get here?

In the last half-century, the nature of work has fundamentally shifted. No longer are the majority of people toiling in fields, or doing manual labour in factories, the new normal is to be in an office all day, at a desk, in front of a screen, with or without a natural light source nearby.

From a meta history perspective, this is a long way from an evolutionary correct norm that our bodies were built for. ‘Active design’ is a way to incorporate activity prompts and hacks into the built environment as a way to combat the risk of endless hours of sitting.

Active design & ‘the sitting problem

A ‘nature knows best’ health philosophy gives a clear set of guidelines when addressing lifestyle issues such as whether sitting is truly the new smoking, as the media have dubbed it. 

Here we combine evolution-based thinking with active design principles to explore the topic of 21st century sedentary living.

Less physical activity at work

Physical activity, once so intimately connected with our daily lives going all the way back to hunter gatherer times, is no longer a fundamental part of work for many of us, let alone home life, which is something the rise of active design is about to change.

One recent study shows that this equates to a reduction in calorie consumption of around 100 calories / day  in the US and can therefore be linked to a ‘significant portion’ of the increase in mean body mass across the US population in the past 50 years. In other words, the US population is getting more obese because it spends less time moving.

Physical inactivity at home

The dominance of televisions and computers during free time at home is another contributing factor to the total amount of time the average person spends sitting down, not expending any energy each day.

Overall this equates to a massive problem of physical inactivity in both junior and adult populations in the western world and that, put simply, is bad news for obesity levels, diabetes and heart disease.

Lower back pain in office workers

Prolonged periods of sitting have a direct impact on hip mobility while also being a major cause of lower back pain, which is why active design perspective has introduced sit- stand desks in offices, to help with the pain. Even sitting for shorter stretches of time is an improvement, which is where ‘active design’ tactics that encourage small movement snacks during the day can provide a solution.

Sit-stand desks in healthy offices - products of active design

Sit-stand desks are the real example of what active design perspective can do for your health, especially in the workplace. Products such as the Human Scale desk converter help encourage a combination of sitting and standing at work, giving the desk owner the option to adjust desk height at will throughout the day. 

Most people will find the afternoons tiring after a full morning on their feet, so a mobility ball under the desk can help, as can the option to move elsewhere in the office to change position for a while. It is all about mixing things up according to the type of work taking place.

A Cochrane review of existing research showed that the main benefit of investing in one of these desks, or an extension for an existing desk, is to reduce the total amount of time an office worker spends sitting down during their work day as well as to reduce the number of sitting bouts over 30 minutes in duration. 

Our own anecdotal evidence of using them for the past six years or so is that they make a massive difference for lower back pain sufferers, quite literally removing the issue from the equation for as long as one can stay off the chair. Mix that with a program of core strength and mobility exercises and it is a winning formula. We’ve tried it, changed our habits and will never go back!

Lifestyle exercise at work - more active design applications

Lifestyle exercise is also part of active design perspective, and it encourages office workers to integrate short periods of low to moderate activity into their day, the idea being to cumulatively piece together a meaningful amount of movement through a combination of trips to the water cooler, up and down stairs, for a walk around the block, and so on over the course of the day. Think of the often quoted “10,000 steps” concept.

Signage prompts in office active  design

Simple signage prompts are a seemingly obvious yet remarkably effective way of encouraging office workers to stay active, use the stairs and say no to the elevator, assuming a reasonable number of floors are required!

We hope that by learning more active design, you’ll manage to garner a clearer insight and wish to incorporate it into your lifestyle or your workplace. Active design concepts have numerous positive effects not just on your body, but your overall health, not to mention the productivity and focus felt positive effects.

To Conclude

Active Design Strategies to Promote Physical Activity and Wellness

In today's sedentary world, active design has become increasingly relevant in promoting physical activity and healthy lifestyles.

Active design strategies aim to integrate fitness and wellness into the built environment, including buildings, interiors, and communities.

By incorporating active design principles such as bike paths, stair prompts, and sit-stand desks, designers and architects can encourage physical activity and combat the risk of lifestyle diseases such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and chronic heart disease.

By promoting more active and healthier lifestyles, active design is an essential step towards improving public health and well-being.

The Importance of Active Design in All Design Projects

Active design is not limited to fitness and wellness-oriented projects, but should be considered in all design projects. It's important for designers and architects to recognize the impact that the built environment has on human health and well-being.

Incorporating active decoration and design principles such as natural light, ventilation, and access to green spaces can improve mental and physical health, productivity, and overall well-being.

As we continue to face challenges with sedentary lifestyles and lifestyle diseases, active design is a vital aspect of modern design practices, and should be a fundamental consideration in all projects.

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If you would like to know more about how we can help you design a healthier, more active office, contact us via email on design @biofilico.com.

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Aromatherapy as part of a biophilic natural lifestyle

Aromatherapy is a common medicinal technique that deploys aromatic plant oils, including essential oils, either inhaled or applied to the skin through massage, to positively influence our mood, mindset, pain sensitivity and sleep. 

Sadly, it has become all too easy to label something, be it a diffuser, soap or shower gel, as ‘relaxing’, ‘energizing’ or ‘refreshing’; such adjectives are so loosely thrown around nowadays that they have become near vacuous terms. 

biophilic bio-hacking

The inquisitive bio-hacker intent on living a more Biophilic lifestyle that brings them closer to nature  can and should demand more from the products he or she purchases, and aromatherapy still has a role to play in that process.

Ancient Chinese, Indian, Roman and Greek populations all appear to have made ready use of essential oils, both in religious or ritual practices and more practical applications such as cosmetics and perfumes. 

More recently, scientific studies have provided considerable evidence to back up aromatherapy’s claims to aid with reducing anxiety, improving sleep and enhancing cognitive performance; here we will address each in turn.

essential oils and anxiety reduction

One study focused on women undergoing an image-guided breast biopsy, exploring the use of aromatherapy scents compared to a placebo in a randomized, controlled study.

Anxiety was self-reported before and after the biopsy by 87 women using the Spielberger State Anxiety Inventory Scale. A statistically significant reduction in anxiety was shown through the use of lavender-sandalwood aromatherapy compared with the placebo group. 

aromatherapy for improved sleep

A meta-analysis of 12 studies using a random-effects model revealed that the use of aromatherapy was effective in improving sleep quality in 95% of cases with inhalation proving more effective as an application than massage therapy.

The study concluded that readily available aromatherapy treatments do indeed appear to be effective and promote sleep. More research may need to be done to develop specific guidelines for how to use aromatherapy to achieve the desired effect.

a natural solution to enhanced mental performance 

A sample of 42 administrative university workers performed a computer task in a university classroom while assigned into an aromatherapy group and a control group. Oil diffusers were is use during the session, one with petitgrain essential oil (orange tree leaf extract) and one with almost oil as the control.

Before and after the intervention, participants completed anxiety and mood state questionnaires (the Stait-Trait Anxiety Inventory and the Profile of Mood States). Heart-rate variability (HRV) was also measured before, during (20-25 min), and after the intervention to analyze autonomic nervous system regulation. 

The aromatherapy group performed the task 2.28 min faster than the control group suggesting that inhaling petitgrain essential oil specifically and aromatherapy more generally can help to improve cognitive performance in the workplace by reducing stress levels and increasing attentiveness and alertness. 

if you would like to know how we can help you create a biophilic gym, wellness space or design a more natural lifestyle, simply contact using the email icon below.

Organic Form Interior Design: Biofilico Wellness Interiors

Selecting an interior design style for a home, office or gym can be an exhausting and time-consuming process.

Unlike many other options, organic design quite simply translates the aesthetics of nature and combines it with the latest in wellness design strategies to deliver an interior style that is cohesive and enveloping. Organic design emphasizes the use of curved lines and round shapes, adding flow, movement, and balance to interiors.

This combination of nature, wellness and science delivers a sense of balance, both energizing and restorative. Generally more rounded shapes evoke a feeling of calm and relaxation, softening the environment and creating a sanctuary for de-stressing.

Organic forms contribute to a cohesive and enveloping interior style, reflecting the post-pandemic societal realignment of values towards comfort, wellbeing, and nature.

Eco-friendly design with natural materials

Sustainable and eco-friendly buildings are a concept that has been introduced into mainstream design over the past 20 years but the historical movement of its predecessor, organic design, started long before. Natural elements have been a part of eco-friendly design for decades, emphasizing the connection between nature and built environments.

With organic architecture and organic design stretching back as far as the 30’s there is a rich history of architects and designers deploying this philosophy in a poignant way, long before talk of biophilia and biophilic design. Indeed the creations birthed from this branch of design went on to heavily influence the trajectory of the design sector as a whole. Organic design incorporates organic shapes to create a harmonious and sustainable environment, using elements inspired by nature to add flow, movement, and balance to interiors.

Frank Lloyd Wright: The Biophilia Pioneer

Frank Lloyd Wright (1867–1959) was an American architect, interior designer, writer, and educator that not only coined the term organic architecture but also believed in and abided by the concept. Wright's philosophy emphasized the use of natural forms in his designs, incorporating organic shapes to promote harmony between man-made elements and the natural world. After a full career that involved designing over 1,000 structures—532 of which were completed—he published “The New Architecture: Principles”, an essay that laid out nine principles of architecture reflecting his philosophy of organic architecture and design.

What is organic design architecture & organic forms in interiors?

Organic architecture is best described as harmonizing the man-made world with nature. Or more abstractly put, “form follows function”, a statement coined by Wright’s mentor and fellow architect, Louis Sullivan.

A structure built using the principles of organic architecture, and organic design style as a whole, can be said to display the following characteristics:

• Closely resembles nature, blending in and utilizing its natural surroundings

• Incorporating organic shapes into home interiors can create a sense of softness and movement

• Creates things from the inside out, mirroring natural shapes found in the environment

• Uses materials and shapes found in the natural world

The derivative term, organic design, extends the philosophy of the architecture of the same name to smaller projects like furniture, accessories, and art.

Biophilic building case study: Wright's Fallingwater (1935)

Use of natural materials, skylights, and irregular forms can all be seen in the construction of the Viipuri Library, all stylistically typical of the architect Alvar Aalto. The inclusion of natural light is crucial in creating a peaceful and nurturing workspace. It is this organic design interior approach used in Aalto’s architecture, furniture, textiles, glassware, sculptures and paintings that are attributed to his success as a highly recognized, modern architect and designer in the 1930’s. Notice too how this wave-like form repeats itself in the glorious Aalto-designed vase that proudly sits on our showroom table.

Specifically designed for the Organic Design in Home Furnishings competition organized by the Museum of Modern Art, the organic chair was revolutionary. Up until this point, comfortable chairs were constructed with expensive springs and heavy bolsters of upholstery padding. The lightweight, molded plywood seat was a game changer.

After the competition the developers, Charles Eames and Eero Saarinen, discovered that the technology to mass-produce molded plywood chairs didn’t exist, so not many were produced. However, this did pave the way for a chair that Charles would go on to create with his wife, Ray Eames. An iconic chair known as the Eames Lounge Chair, which also incorporates geometric shapes to promote certain attitudes and behaviors in its design.

The Eames Organic Chair (1941)

Aesthetics inspired by natural elements

This unique approach, a balance between scientific research and inspiration from nature, is both form and function rolled into one. Soft organic shapes add flow, movement, and balance to spaces, enhancing the overall aesthetic. Rounded corners in furniture contribute to a calming and relaxing effect. Soft smooth forms evoke a feeling of calm and relaxation, resembling nature and contributing to a sense of wellbeing. For more information on how Biofilico’s designers can help you create a biophilic, organic interior space with a view to improved connections to nature, simply email us

Nootropics - learn all about natural performance enhancers

What are natural nootropics, a.k.a. “smart drugs”?

In short, nootropic supplements are cognition enhancers originally intended to help improve cognitive function in aging individuals and/or those with age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. 

Aside from that, they are used by bio-hackers, entrepreneurs, and other early-adopters looking for natural ways to boost physical and mental performance in everyday life.

Are nootropics for you if you are generally healthy?

To place this trend in perspective, it is the ability of nootropics to improve the prognosis (expected development of a disease) in patients that led to the hypothesis that they could also improve levels of attention/cognition in those who do not have a cognitive disease or have not yet been diagnosed with one.

How do nootropic supplements affect productivity?

Natural nootropics in the form of nootropic drinks or supplements are a great way to maintain productivity levels high, as these supplements are known for their influence on cognition. These sorts of cognitive enhancers can help optimize mental concentration and motivation, by reducing levels of stress and anxiety at the same time. 

Anyone who is out to change the culture in some way by making a contribution, be it small or large, to the world around them has got to be interested in productivity, especially those working in highly strategic, mentally engaging professions, be it start-ups, tech, legal, medicine or finance. 

Making an impact on the world is not going to happen all by itself, especially as a solo entrepreneur. Instead, it will almost invariably require blood, sweat, tears, moments of existential self-doubt, and a break-up or two. There will likely be caffeine too, lots of caffeine.

Nootropic drugs - the smart drug solution

Enter smart drugs, stage left. Nootropic drugs claim to offer a cognitive edge; even a 5% boost in productivity and concentration can make a big difference over the course of a workday, especially when the number of work hours is limited by another job, relationships, fitness commitments, and so on.

A list of common and best nootropics

Here is a list of common nootropic supplements that we will investigate in a series of forthcoming articles to address their effects as part of a functional health and mental performance program based on natural ingredients only: 

1. L-theanine 

2. Bacopa Monnieri

3. Ashwagandha

4. Choline

5. Gingko Biloba

6. Lion’s Mane Mushroom

7. Rhodiola Rosea

Some of these are the best nootropics for energy, some produce the best results when it comes to memory, while some are the best choice when it comes to improving focus and concentration whilst studying. Either way, what all of these nootropics have in common, is that they boost productivity following bio-mechanisms.

Biophilic living and the pervasive effect of nootropics

As we’ve made an introduction to the subject of nootropics, now we will dig deeper into the subject with a look at the more commonly available organic nootropics ingredients. Why should this be of interest to you? 

Firstly, these natural ingredients are small bio-hacks to help you live a healthier life and therefore represent a way to integrate nature back into our lives, creating a biophilic lifestyle (earth-friendly, connected to nature, with a focus on improved mental and physical health).

Secondly, anyone with a family history of degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s’ may find some inspiration in the concept of bolstering their brainpower early on in life. It certainly won’t do any harm.

What follows is an explanation of the main and the best nootropics, their history, and traditions, as well as the scientific evidence backing up their claims to enhanced mental and/or physical performance.

The best all-in-one nootropics

Before we dive into our list of the leading nootropics contenders, a short note on how to get started. Various options exist today for easily accessible, online purchases that give you a generalist, quick win nootropic. These all-in-one nootropic supplements cover, to a greater or lesser extent, most bases and are in our opinion a great starting position, and arguably some of the most effective nootropics. Examples include products by the likes of Form for example, or GoPrimal to name but two.

How to build your own nootropic supplements  ‘stack“

For newbies to the subject, a simple all-in-one nootropic may be enough to get you started. It requires minimal time and even less thinking. As you start to dig deeper into the subject, however, you may wish to go big on certain doses, doubling down on some ingredients and that will require buying individual, high-dose, and premium quality nootropics. Place several of these together and you have your first ‘stack’, a term borrowed from the tech community, as in a ‘full-stack developer’.

l-theanine - a natural nootropic found in green tea

L-theanine is an amino acid found most commonly in green tea leaves (Camellia Sinensis) and in small amounts in Bay Bolete mushrooms. Reassuringly, it is readily available in both pill and tablet form in your average health food stores.

Research indicates that L-theanine promotes relaxation without drowsiness, reducing stress, and taking the edge off the famous caffeine jitters.

In a 2018 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of 46 participants diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), results showed significant improvements in self-reported sleep satisfaction as a result of daily 450-900mg doses of L-theanine over a 10-week period.

Improvements to brain serotonin, dopamine, and GABA levels (neurotransmitters associated with pleasure and concentration) have only been shown in animal neurochemistry trials to date, as far as we can see, which is primarily where L-theanine’s reputation for cognitive enhancement comes from.

Bacopa flower brought to us by Ayurvedic medicine

Bacopa monnieri is a perennial herb native to India with a long history in Ayurvedic medicine linked to cognitive abilities. Ayurveda never set out to be a scientific tradition but we would be amiss to discount this philosophy entirely. Studies have shown that this herb has both antioxidant and cell-protective qualities as well as stimulating long-term increased hippocampus activity, which could equate to overall learning abilities.

Ashwagandha - another natural nootropic introduces by Ayurvedic tradition

Another big gun in the Ayurvedic tradition, also known as Indian Ginseng Ashwagandha is said to have similar properties to Bacopa monnieri. In one double-blind, placebo-controlled study, 50 adults with mild cognitive impairment were treated with 300 mg twice daily or a placebo for eight weeks with significant improvements in both immediate recall and general memory in those treated with the root.

Choline - nootropic brain booster

Essential for the proper functioning of the brain, Choline is thought to improve cognition and is considered to be one of the best nootropics for memory. Studies have shown that ingesting Choline during gestation and early postnatal development in mice helps to protect the brain from neuropathological changes associated with Alzheimer’s Disease.

Ginkgo biloba - the ancient cure

Gingko leaves are an ancient and isolated species, making them something of an anomaly in modern day biology. One double-blind, placebo-controlled study showed 24 participants with improved executive functioning in females especially. Another study on patients with dementia or cognitive impairment showed that a dose of over 200mg per day over a period of at least 22 weeks had potential benefits on cognitive performance.

Lion’s mane mushroom with medicinal properties

Hericium Erinaceus is an edible mushroom with medicinal qualities that belongs to the tooth fungus group. Studies have shown that it can have significant improvements in novelty-seeking behaviors, general locomotor functions, and enhanced recognition memory. The exact mechanism through which it achieves this, however, is not yet fully understood.

Contact us if you wish to know more about biophilic living in conjunction with nootropics

For more information on how we create Biophilic spaces designed to maximize the mental and physical health benefits of connecting with nature, or If you would like to talk to us about how to live a more biophilic life, inspired by natural health principles, be it in diet, fitness training, gyms or lifestyle, simply email us.”

In the meantime, if you are looking for a one-stop-shop to get into them, rather than trying to build your own bespoke ‘stack’ of smart nootropic supplements, check out Earthly Biotics for an innovative, all-in-one solution we have had our eye on for a few months now.

This article will be followed by a series of others addressing each nootropic in turn. Stay tuned!

Healthy Interior Design at the Innovation Centre Co-working

For the past decade, there has been much progress made in the field of planet-focused buildings, one ‘P’ from the so-called Triple Bottom Line of People, Planet and Profit.

Green Architecture and Interiors

Buildings and interiors that respect the planet, doing no harm to the environment and in some cases even giving back, are also described with terminology such as green buildings or sustainable interiors, for example.

Certification systems such as the US Green Building Council’s LEED have given architects and interior designers a clear structure and format to follow, as well as increasingly prestigious ratings that add tangible value for building owners and their occupants.

Healthy Offices

Only more recently however has the emphasis turned from Plant to People in terms of our built environment.

Current thinking posits that buildings and interiors should not only be green but also healthy, actively contributing to the mental and physical wellness of its users, be they residents, office workers, patients or students, for example.

Tivat Co-working

When we designed the Innovation Centre co-working office in Porto Montenegro, Tivat, Montenegro on the Adriatic Coast, we applied a number of these healthy and biophilic design principles to the interiors as a way to ensure the space promotes productivity, concentration and positive mood.

Any entrepreneur knows how important such things are, especially when working alone, to a deadline when every second counts.

Healthy, Biophilic Interiors 

Specific examples include a plethora of air-purifying plants, a large-format photo mural of the nearby Bay to create a calm breakout space, maximized natural light by strategic positioning of work desks, the addition of bicycle storage racks to encourage active travel to and from the office, an outdoor workspace for those all-important fresh-air breaks, ergonomic desk chairs to ensure maximum comfort while seating and finally a number of standing desks to relive the lower back and boost circulation during the work day.

www.ic.portomontenegro.com 

Memberships from Eur 10/day, Eur 40/week and Eur 100/month

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Further Reading:

• Ergonomic furniture in a healthy workplace strategy

How to improve air quality in home using biophilic design principles

Indoor air quality and biophilic design

Indoor air quality is a key component of the healthy building / healthy design movement and forms a central part in all the big certification programs such as WELL, Fitwel and the International Living Future Institute.

It is also a component of biophilic design as it is returns the indoor built environment to a more natural state, similar to the type of air we were breathing for millions of years while evolving on the planet, i.e. fresh, clean and pollution-free.

This in turn opens the door to several bio-hacks designed to improve overall health, sleep and mental acuity, so if you were wondering how you can improve indoor quality in home, these next 5 tips will be more than useful with helping you in the matter.

5 tips for maintaining healthy indoor air at home:

Take your shoes off!

1. One of the most useful, and probably obvious ways to improve air quality in your home is taking your shoes off. Remove outdoor shoes at the entrance religiously, switching to dedicated indoor only shoes such as slippers, sandals or simply go barefoot, depending on the climate. This is non negotiable and half the world’s population think nothing of doing it so adopt the habit or you’ll face an uphill struggle from the start. Your shoes drag in toxins and all manner of dirt from the streets outside, just look at the soles of a well-worn pair of white trains to remind yourself of what is out there. So, if you were wondering how to improve indoor air quality instantly - leave your shoes at the door. Invest in a shoe rack and place it by your entrance. Set your feet free and breathe deep.

Air purifying fans

2. One of the most useful ways to improve air quality in home is to invest in an air purifying fan such as the Dyson Pure. Not only does it have the trademark Dyson aesthetic, meaning it will happily sit in the corner of your bedroom or living area without being a visual eyesore, it also comes with an impressive smartphone app that allows you to set on/off timers, view air quality data in real time and generally get the most out of the hardware. All you’d need do is set the fan to turn on automatically around 5pm each evening and then switch it to night mode when you go to sleep. This would ensure you have clean indoor air in your bedroom for +/-8 hours while sleeping. If you then set up something similar in your office, where you likely spend another +/-8 hours every day, you’re winning.

3. Air purifying plants

The great answer to how to improve the air quality in your home are air purifying plants. Go big on air purifying indoor plants, yes they have been over-hyped since Instagram gave us plant-stylists but there is plenty of substance to work with here so stick with it. NASA famously did a seminal study on the top air-purifying plants (see below) but the key is not just the species, but the quantity too. Research has shown that between 6-8 such plants are needed per person per room to have any meaningful impact. In any case, plants look and perform best when carefully clustered in groups, like mini forests or jungles, so this is a win-win. Pick up a selection of different height Palms, Ficus, Chinese Evergreens, Garden Ivy, Boston Ferns and a Pothos or two and you’ll be ready to breath clean once you’ve spread them around your home.

eco-friendly cleaning

4. Adopt an eco-friendly cleaning protocol in the house; rather than lining up endless plastic bottles of chemical-heavy products, step back a minute to consider the alternatives. Recent years have seen a proliferation of environmentally-friendly cleaning products with names like Ecover, GreenWorks and so on. They are not hard to find even in mainstream supermarkets as consumer consciousness slowly edges in this direction. Buy in bulk and decant into a smaller, re-usable bottle to reduce plastic waste. When it comes to ways to improve air quality at your home with eco-friendly cleaning products, consider the most basic of options such as using diluted white wine vinegar as a kitchen or window cleaner. Source eco sponges made from sustainable materials as you’ll likely burn through one a fortnight, once it discolours, it is time for a new one.

Use natural ventilation

5. Natural ventilation is a great way to improve air quality, but you need to use it wisely. If you live on a quiet street, in a small town near a park, forest or sea, you will likely have enviably good air quality, one would hope.Open the windows and let the fresh air in whenever you can, especially in the early mornings. This is a natural instinct in many of us anyway, especially in certain cultures where open windows are a way of life.

The issue clearly is when the outside air is of conspicuously poor quality in a dense urban environment; in such instances the best solution may be to open windows at the rear of the home away from the street, or to open them at times of day when there is less traffic outside.

By consciously taking stock of the air quality outside in other words, one can take steps to protect and with these ways to improve the air quality inside your home as well.

If you would like to know more about how we can design indoor spaces that are biophilic, healthy and earth-friendly, simply email us at design @ biofilico . com

Smart circadian lighting

smart circadian rhythm lighting

The potential benefits of circadian lighting are vast, which is why this type of lighting is now explored in various real estate and interior design sectors around the world. Circadian rhythm lighting systems are strategically designed to positively affect our health, alertness and productivity, which is why this particular concept is getting much deserved attention lately. Read on to find out more..

What is circadian lighting?

Circadian lighting is an innovative new trend within the world of biophilic design and its near cousin, healthy design, especially in the home and workplace where we now spend the vast majority of our lives.

So what is it all about and how is smart technology helping us live urban lives that are more closely aligned with our evolutionary past?

A circadian lighting system is created in way that follows the human so called circadian rhythm - something like a 24-hour internal clock.

It is controlled by hypothalamus that works by receiving signals from the eyes that report when it’s day or nighttime. In turn, hypothalamus can control the amount of melatonin released to correlate sleepiness with darkness and alertness with light.

Circadian rhythm

The body’s circadian rhythm is essentially our 24-hr body clock; we’re not the only ones to have one either - plants, animals and even funghi share their own version too. It’s literally a part of our DNA, evolving over millions of years as a way of connecting us to the daily ebb and flow of sun and moon.

Certain research has shown that light affects both our visual and non-visual systems, while artificial lighting can well impact our circadian rhythm.

While each one of us is different, with some experiencing sleepy mornings and others hitting a wall of drowsiness in the afternoon for example, standard hours of activity and rest for the vast majority of people are fairly regulated.

However, circadian lighting is the concept that artificial lighting can be used to support human health by minimizing the effect of electric light on human circadian rhythm.

How? Well, scientists have discovered that a long-term exposure to certain wavelengths of blue light, at specific intensity, can have a negative impact on circadian rhythm.

circadian light therapy for increased productivity

Circadian rhythm and light are closely connected, meaning  this natural flow in each 24hr cycle also influences our day-to-day productivity.

Mental productivity during the hours of work is therefore crucial, as is, conversely, ensuring a solid night’s sleep.

Twenty-first century urban lives full of technology and an always on culture however can mean that, if we are not careful, we can all too easily expose ourselves to disrupting factors, especially as the body does not distinguish between natural and artificial light.

This is where a circadian lamp, or a circadian lighting system comes in. By implementing a circadian lighting design into your working space, you can increase productivity at your office. Since circadian lighting is imitating natural lighting, employees who are exposed more to it have a better recollection of memories and mental function.

Wellness lighting & circadian rhythm light therapy

Enter circadian or wellness lighting is specifically designed to reflect nature’s daily light cycle, prompting periods of mental alertness in the morning and afternoon with light from the blue-white end of the spectrum, before slowly fading into amber hues in the evenings and again in the early mornings.

In practical terms this means you wake up to a soft, gentle light of white-amber, spend your days working in energising white-blue light and relax before bed in the evenings in amber light. Avoiding sources of blue-white light an hour before going to sleep is also recommended, meaning no TV, smartphone or other screen activity!

Circadian rhythm lighting is also great for the purpose of therapy - allowing you to reset your mind and body, and have a better night sleep. When used like a treatment, circadian rhythm lighting can really improve mood and boost your energy levels throughout the day.

Smart circadian rhythm lighting systems

A number of smart circadian rhythm light systems are now readily available in the market making this technology accessible to the general public.

Our favourite is the Philips HUE that involves one ‘bridge’ box between your wifi router and the lightbulbs in your home (up to 50), plus a simple remote control and an app. We used this set-up in our Biofit nature gyms in Calgary and Stockholm, to great effect.

The two main benefits of introducing this kind of light therapy for circadian rhythm are improved mental focus by day and sleep quality at night.

For more information on how we can help you integrate this type of healthy design solution into your office or home, contact us via the Contact page.

Biofilico & Blipoint visit Elisava Design School (Barcelona)

Biophilia exhibition

We recently visited the Elisava Design School in Barcelona to talk to Masters students about the Blipoint Festival 2019 and, more specifically, the Bioconexion exhibition that we are collaborating with Blipoint on over the next 12 months, exploring the human-nature connection and ‘biophilia’ (that also gives us the concept of ‘biophilic design’).

The students will create an art installation inspired by the theme of the festival, with guidance from Blipoint and Biofilico. Watch this space for more news on this exciting collabo very soon!

El pasado 15 noviembre Blipoint realizó una charla a los estudiantes de la escuela Elisava. ¿El objetivo? Mostrarles el concepto del próximo Blipoint Festival e invitarlos a colaborar diseñando nuestra instalación artística.

Con la colaboración de Matt Aspiotis Morley desarrollamos todo el concepto. Matt es fundador de la consultoría de diseño Biofilico, él y su equipo aconsejan de la necesidad de crear espacios biofílicos, saludables y amigables con el medio ambiente. Ya sean en una oficina, hogar, hotel o gimnasio, la conexión debería ser innata con la naturaleza. Un concepto que se le conoce como biofilia.

El diseño biofílico es una forma de reunir mundos interiores y exteriores mediante la integración de materiales naturales, formas, colores, aromas y sonidos en la arquitectura urbana e interiores. Esta filosofía también es inherentemente amigable con la Tierra. Prioriza las prácticas de diseño conscientes del medio ambiente que no dañan al planeta.

Los estudiantes de la escuela Elisava realizarán una instalación artística abordando el concepto del festival junto con la intervención de Matt.

nature in the office workplace

Biophiic architecture

It’s hard to over-estimate the influence of tech giants such as Apple, Facebook, Google and Amazon on society today. Their meteoric rise has been well charted, their market valuations scrutinized, their founders’ stories narrated ad infinitum. Until recently however, they were better known for their innovative stance on green energy than their architecture.

Sustainable interiors

Now though, a new wave of sustainably designed, eco-friendly headquarters is on the horizon, as the tech giants aim to establish an architectural identity for themselves and their home town of Silicon Valley, giving giant-sized physical expression to their belief in responsible business practices.

According to David Radcliffe, Vice President of Real Estate at Google, its new Californian campus in Mountain View will have “trees, landscaping, cafes, and bike paths weaving through its structures… to blur the distinction between our buildings and nature”. If Google has its way, this new type of connection with nature will re-define our approach to workplace wellness forever.

Green buildings

Never short of a grandiose claim or two, when Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke at the Climate Week conference in New York back in 2014 he stated that the company’s new 176-acre Californian headquarters would become “the greenest building on the planet”.

Known simply as Apple Campus 2 and expected to open some time in 2017, the futuristic, circular-shaped building is projected to be 100% powered by renewable energy and has understandably attracted a lot of attention. After all, where Apple leads, others follow.

Productivity and talent

Scratch the surface though and there is more to this new trend than first meets the eye. When dealing in billions of dollars of annual revenues and tens of thousands of highly qualified, highly sought-after employees, employee satisfaction and office productivity are crucial in maintaining a competitive edge. Yes, these tech companies are intent on using responsible architecture and renewable energy sources but they are also exploiting the latest research that explores the intersection between neuroscience and biology. The key to it all is something known as ‘biophilia’.

Connection to nature

The last 60 years have seen a massive process of urbanization in populations around the world marking an unprecedented shift away from natural to heavily built environments with limited exposure to greenery, open spaces and wildlife. Yet humans have millions of years of evolutionary history that is intimately intertwined with nature, an experience that has left us with an innate connection with other living organisms.

biophilia

The concept of biophilia then, literally ‘a love of nature’, builds upon this relationship and attempts to reunite indoor and outdoor worlds through the sensitive use of natural materials, shapes, breezes, colours, scents and sounds in contemporary architecture and interiors.

healthy interiors

“These new corporate campuses in California are an interesting type of human-centric live-work space” states London-based biophilia expert and landscape architect Lily Jencks, “it’s about creating a healthy, happy and green environment that fosters innovation”.

office gyms

On-site gyms, games and sports facilities all promote friendly competition and physical activity amongst the workforce while reducing stress levels and making sure valuable employees think twice before leaving for a competitor business.

“Cross-pollination of ideas between different departments is encouraged via casual break-out spaces while informal garden areas are ideal for chance encounters and natural views to stimulate fresh thinking”, adds Jencks, who often bridges the gap between garden and art in her own projects.

biophilic design in the workplace

Hard evidence for this comes from a recent study undertaken by Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health Sir Cary Cooper entitled ‘Biophilic Design in the Workplace’ that surveyed a sample of 3600 office workers across Europe and the Middle-East. The results showed that office environments incorporating natural elements such as internal green spaces, natural light and an abundance of plants ensure higher levels of employee creativity, motivation and wellbeing.

workplace wellbeing

 “The work environment has always been recognised as essential to employee wellbeing and performance but often as an element which can only have a negative impact if organisations get it wrong” Professor Cooper points out.

“Most modern employers now take a different view, designing environments to help people thrive, collaborate and be creative. Being connected to nature and the outside world is a big part of that”, he concludes.

Elina Grigoriou of Grigoriou Interiors in London was involved in creating the UK’s SKA rating system, an environmental assessment tool for sustainable interiors. For her this shift towards sustainable design is not just about delivering financial returns, although it does that too, “it’s about the health and wellbeing of employees and enhancing the company’s brand value”.

Silicon Valley’s technology companies have a well defined internal culture and a generally young workforce operating in a sector that thrives on innovative thinking, all of which is reflected in the type of work environment now emerging in California.

“Every organization is different however, each has its own distinct culture that can change from sector to sector and according to the age / gender mix of the workforce”, points out Grigoriou. 

biophilic design in retail

US-based consultancy Terrapin Bright Green specialize in helping businesses harness the positive effects of biophilic design. In their report ‘The Economics of Biophilia’ they illustrate that the biophilic approach doesn’t end at workplace design, it can also be applied effectively to retail areas to boost visitor spend and educational facilities to boost students’ learning speed.

biophilic healthcare

Arguably the most powerful illustration of how a man-made environment infused with nature can proactively improve human wellbeing however comes from the world of health care facility design. Lily Jencks and her family are behind the Maggies care homes in the UK and Hong Kong, collaborating with architectural giants such as Frank Gehry, Zaha Hadid and Richard Rogers.

What more poignant illustration of the role nature can play in uplifting the human spirit than in these indoor-outdoor healing spaces? The tech corporations may be focused on creating the future but even they seem to understand the power of nature.

The 1 Hotels biophilic design concept

The 1 Hotels group has completely redefined the limits of sustainable luxury in hospitality and they did it by leveraging the health benefits and aesthetic appeal of biophilic design.

Nature-inspired hotel interiors

We've had our eye on the 1 Hotels group for some time now as they look to have taken the concept of a nature-inspired hotel concept and knocked it clean out of the ballpark. Having spent a couple of days soaking up the atmosphere in their Miami Beach property we're bigger fans than ever.

sustainable luxury hotel design

Founder Barry Sternlicht, previously Chairman and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, has pushed the sustainable luxury theme to its limits here, breaking new ground in the process. There's just nothing else quite like this out there at the moment. 

living walls in a hotel

The South Beach property is overflowing with living walls and pearlescent white Teslas outside, while the double-height main lobby area is a symphony of tonal neutrals from beach shell white through to coffee table oak and terrarium green. It somehow manages to tick all the boxes of a five-star hotel while sticking by its sustainable mantra and avoiding any signs of overt snobbery.

healthy design features in a hotel

All bedrooms have high-grade water filters on every tap, hemp-blend mattresses, eco-friendly toiletries, lots of natural light, living plants, aromatherapy and reclaimed wood. The restaurant uses organic ingredients and there is a brilliant little health cafe on the ground floor selling juices, smoothies, salads and gluten-free pastries.

organic design concepts for a hotel

All around lie petrified wood tables, linen drapes, hanging plants, whitewashed timber and soft beige carpets, helping unify concept, design and product in one cohesive whole. 

Pop in to a 1 hotel in Manhattan, Brooklyn or Miami Beach to see what all the fuss is about: https://1hotels.com/

See here for our 9-point guide to creating healthy buildings

A dose of nature - NHS report

A short report by the NHS Forest Organization pulls together some of the increasingly compelling evidence on the physiological and psychological benefits of what's known as a Green Prescription, or in our terminology a hit of Vitamin N(ature).

A precise explanation for the science behind this phenomena remains largely out of the realm of most medical doctors yet one only has to look at it from an evolutionary perspective to understand that over 2.5 million years of history living in a natural context isn't something that evaporates in just a few hundred years of industrial society. 

Our ancestors survived day by day thanks to their ability to relate to and work with, not against, the seasons, animals and vegetation. 

The Japanese, Koreans and Taiwanese all have programs of so-called forest bathing in place, as the report mentions:

There is clinical evidence in Asia, published in the Journal of Cardiology, that spending time in a forest has therapeutic effects on hypertension...

Something similar is happening in New Zealand too where studies have shown that

..a green prescription increases activity levels and improves quality of life over 12 months without evidence of adverse effects.

Hospitals have also discovered the benefits of nature for patients:

Nature also reduces the experience of pain... A picture of a nature scene by the bed and an audio tape of nature sounds have been shown via an RCT to significantly reduce pain in patients

It's with the psychological benefits that things start to get really interesting however, especially for a project like Biofit where we are essentially dealing with healthy students looking for a more natural solution to keeping fit in the city.

Exercising in natural environments, as opposed to the usual indoor urban gym, have been shown to stimulate feelings of revitalization, restore attention and improve both mood and self-esteem.

Other nature hacks are to spend time close to water, the coast and animals. 

There's lots more here so click through to read the full report online.

http://nhsforest.org/sites/default/files/Dose_of_Nature_evidence_report_0.pdf

the nature connection

The last two centuries have seen a massive process of urbanization as entire populations transition from natural to heavily built environments with limited access to greenery, open spaces and wildlife. This represents a fundamental disconnect with our evolutionary history.

Man's innate connection with nature is known as biophilia which in turn gives us biophilic design - an attempt to reunite indoor and outdoor worlds through the sensitive use of natural materials, shapes, breezes, colours, scents and sounds in urban architecture and interiors. Biofit leverages this same approach for an inner city fitness studio concept. Why?

Biophilic architecture has been enthusiastically adopted by the tech giants of Silicon Valley such as Apple, Amazon and Facebook for their new Californian headquarters. According to David Radcliffe, Vice President of Real Estate at Google, its new campus will have “trees & landscaping weaving through its structures to blur the distinction between the buildings and nature”.

Such environments are not just sustainable, a recent study by Professor of Organizational Psychology and Health Sir Cary Cooper entitled ‘Biophilic Design in the Workplace’ surveyed 3600 office workers across Europe and the Middle-East. The results showed how internal green space, natural light and foliage boost the mood, productivity and job satisfaction of employees while also reducing stress.

A recent report published by US-based consultancy Terrapin Bright Green entitled ‘The Economics of Biophilia’ highlights how this approach can also be applied to retail areas to boost visitor spend as well as educational facilities to increase students’ learning speed.

In the world of health care facility design, a seminal study by Professor Roger Ulrich at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden showed that patients whose windows looked out onto nature required 8.5% less recovery time than those who faced brick walls.

Such research eventually led to the type of healing garden created by the Lily Jencks design team for the Maggies cancer care homes spread across the UK and Hong Kong. 

Biophilic design has proven beneficial for workplace, retail, educational and healthcare interior design, it's what we do and it's what we want to give back to the urban environment in our own small way...

Healthy communities movement for more environmentally conscious future

The ‘healthy buildings’/ ‘healthy communities’ movement is being driven by a number of US organizations such as Delos and the Living Future Institute as a way to promote a positive, healthy and environmentally conscious future to corporations, architects and designers.

Delos raised US$128 million across two equity rounds (2015-2016), partnering with Deepak Chopra on a STAY WELL hotel room concept and tying up with the Clinton Global Initiative. They came out of the blocks racing with a clear mission and a team of New York-based, ex-private equity gurus around the Balinese petrified wood boardroom table.

How do we define a healthy community?

A healthy community can be described as an environmentally conscious community, willing to follow sustainable construction practices, taking natural resources into the account. A healthy community now has a broader meaning and it no longer refers just to the physical health of individuals, but also to the building practices, concentrated on finding the most natural solutions possible, whenever possible.

Health promotion in the community using WELL guidelines

Their WELL Building Standard has laid out a detailed set of guidelines on how to ensure indoor spaces are designed with a healthy community at their core. It is divided into the following categories: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort and Mind.

Biofilico's trademark biophilic design is a central part of the WELL Standard, as are our attention to air quality, VOC reduction, air filtration, cleaning protocol, increased ventilation, circadian lighting design, active design, physical activity spaces, fitness equipment, thermal comfort, olfactory comfort, sound reducing surfaces, thermal comfort, health & wellness awareness, beauty & design. So we're very much a part of this industry-wide development, we merely apply the principles to a gym environment with an emphasis on finding natural solutions wherever possible.

WELL vs LEED

How does the WELL Standard relate to the pre-existing LEED certification for buildings? The two are designed to work side by side although LEED focuses more closely on sustainability and green credentials, i.e. the environment, while WELL advocates wellness features for the users of an indoor space.”

So LEED looks at reducing water and electricity use by integrating natural light and ventilation into a building for example with view to minimizing the harm we do to the planet and for the health of those using the building, while WELL is oriented more towards the human element looking at air quality as well as availability of fresh fruit, filtered drinking water, the promotion of stair use, on-site bicycle parking and so on.

Healthy communities movement for raising awareness

Whether developers will opt to pursue both forms of certification combined or just one of them remains to be seen (estimated costs are around 1-2% of build costs per certification) but the initial signs are that Delos and WELL have won first mover advantage, creating and in many respects owning this new niche while doing immeasurable good in raising awareness amongst corporate office, residential developers, retail brands and healthcare centres of how we can design health into the bricks and mortar around us, creating healthy communities - at the same time.

If you'd like to know more about how we integrate these same healthy building principles into our interior designs for a healthy experience, don’t hesitate to email us!

Forest bathing - what is it and how can it benefit your health?

The Japanese have been digging into the benefits of what they call "shinrin yoku" (forest bathing) for a fair while now and scientific research into the benefits of breathing in the essential oils that dense forests release into the air in particular continues to mount up. Shinrin yoku, also known as forest bathing, literally means bathing in the forest atmosphere - taking it in through all of our senses. This unique feeling is supposed to make us feel calm and comforted, through the means of the sounds, scents and fresh clean air from the forest.

What is forest bathing and how does it work?

Forest bathing therapy doesn’t entail any kind of exercise, even though it might seem like so. Having that in mind, how can you start practising forest therapy?

Namely, forest therapy refers to connecting with nature by using the forest bathing therapy (or shinrin yoku) as a bridge that will make an interrelation between yourself and the nature surrounding you.

The key of forest bathing success lies in the simple fact - in this modern world we have never been more disconnected from nature, so “divorced” from it. We have grown so accustomed to technology, became so dependent on it, that we no longer know how to reset and slow down. Forest therapy is one of means to do so - it can help you step back into the present moment, relax you and, at the same time, have an infinite positive effect on your health.

Forest bathing and the science behind it

By now, you have probably gathered that our senses are the key of invoking the power and potency of forest bathing. However, if our five senses are the mediums, something must stimulate them, and that something is called phytoncides.

What are phytoncides?

Phytoncides are airborne anti-microbial substances that trees release as a way to fight off disease and harmful substances, If you've ever wandered through a remote pine forest you'll no doubt recall the distinct scent of that experience but there is a tangible, self-defence rationale behind it all too from the forest's perspective.

Studies have shown that breathing in phytoncides while walking in a forest has beneficial effects on human Natural Killer (NK) blood cells that help fight virus-infected cells, a tangible immune system boost that can last for up to 30 days. 

Cedar, oak and pine are all examples of trees that give off plenty of this type of essential oil, the latter in particular has attracted our attention as we used pine wood for our balance beams and pull-up bars in the Biofit Calgary fitness studio. We now gently diffuse 100% natural pine oil during class as a way to borrow some of the plant's positive health benefits for our clients. Biophilia and natural health in action right there people!

Forest bathing benefits - health benefits of forest bathing

When it comes to forest bathing benefits - there are plenty, both for mental and physical wellbeing. With that in mind, here are some of the greatest benefits of forest bathing.

Stress and anxiety reduction

It has been scientifically proven that leisure walks through the forest can decrease as much as 12.4 percent of cortisol, the stress hormone, which is more than an urban walk could ever provide.

Creativity boost

Certain studies have shown that participants who have utilized forest bathing therapy, have experienced as much as 50% of improvement in the domain of creative problem solving, solely after three days of being separated from any kind of technology.

Mood improvement

When it comes to some of the most obvious forest bathing health benefits, it was shown that a connection with nature helps with mood improvement, by releasing hormones relating to joy, happiness and calmness.

Forest bathing immune system benefits

The aforementioned phytoncides are what enforces the key benefits for the human immune system, through forest bathing. These airborne particles enhance the activity of our defence mechanism and help us fight diseases.

Speeds up illness recovery

Forest bathing therapy is powerful when it comes to accelerating our recovery from illness, with the explanation being in nature acting as a catalyst of the recovery process.

Reduction of high blood pressure

Unfortunately, we are all too aware of the dangers of high blood pressure and what consequences it can cause. Taking this into account, recent studies have shown the sudden drops in blood pressure in forest surroundings, in comparison to more civic encirclement.

How to start forest bathing?

If you were wondering is there a forest therapy guide or could it be just as easy as walking through the woods, here is how you can start.

Find a spot and tune in all your senses

You don’t have to travel deep into the woods in order to start forest bathing therapy. It is sufficient to find a spot in some green area, relax, and allow your senses to be overwhelmed by sensations surrounding you.

Try out some different activities and appreciate the silence around you

Once you’ve mastered slow walking, you can start including some more complex activities, such as yoga, meditation, writing something, exploring and so on. However, never forget that you’ve started the therapy in order to appreciate silence again.

Noise pollution has become the inseparable part of our urban lives, which is why silence has become restorative. Learn to appreciate it again, the sound of the forest, so different than the invasive sounds we grew accustomed to, and, if nothing else, remember that you are part of the larger whole, and become more appreciative of others, as well as yourself.

Forest bathing science

If you are interested to know more about forest bathing benefits, explained through the binoculars of science, read the full research report from Japan online here and find out more the grateful effects of forest therapy.

Uncivilized Genes

"Uncivilised Genes" is one of the first truly academic books that we have found on the subject of the urban paradox - our genetic mismatch with modern life. While the likes of Mark Sisson of the primal / paleo movement have done fine work in raising awareness amongst the general public, a lot of the rationale behind it is left up to secondary sources or stated in fairly generic terms.

The basic premise that we did not evolve for city life makes complete sense for existing sympathizers who have already made up their own minds but breaking the argument down piece by piece into a bulletproof argument is the work of an academic, be it anthropologist or archaeologist.

Gustav Milne is an example of the latter, currently teaching at University College London (UCL). What sets him apart is that he previously spent 20 years at the Museum of London, giving him a unique perspective on evolutionary history within the context of an urban metropolis.

His basic premise is that "wellbeing and good health are dependent on us following evolutionary concordant behaviors". This appears to be a similar starting point to the ancestral health community in California, however Milne adopts more of a macro view that helps set him apart.

When he states that "our uncivilised past is many, many millenia longer than the history of our civilisations", we have the sense of a writer who has spent decades of his own life mulling over this complex theme, attempting to coax it into a series of rules for 21st century living. This book is the fruit of that labour.

Pages 111-112 of the first edition contain a contribution by biofit on evolutionary concordant fitness; Milne himself however is strongest when flipping between deep, evolutionary history and contemporary urban planning themes such as building active design into cities of the future to encourage more walking and cycling. 

Other topics include the importance of building social (semi-tribal) networks for mental wellbeing, the role of music and dance in conveying information, and biophilia (man's innate connection to nature) in urban greenspace. 

A selection of Milne's more punchy Urban Design Protocols looks like this:

• Put human locomotion at the heart of transport policy and street design
• Promote and develop participatory urban greenspace, e.g. city farms
• Promote the development of roof gardens
• Encourage street-based neighborhoods rather than enclosed estates

Overall this is an sparkling, challenging and highly engaging  book that will suit the newcomer to the subject just as well as the seasoned ancestral health aficionado. Highly recommended reading.

"Uncivilised Genes" by Gustav Milne is available now.

9 Tips for Biophilic Living

Here are our top tips for an evolution friendly 21st century lifestyle that is in tune with both ancestral and primal health principles, as well as biophilic and wellness-oriented design. 

Connect with nature outside

Spend time outside in nature whenever possible, be it in 'green spaces' (gardens, parks and forests) or 'blue' (near rivers, seas and lakes), whether for 20-minutes, two hours or two days. Reconnecting with the elements has a restorative affect and helps counterbalance the negative impact of high-stress urban routines as it allows our senses to kick in to overdrive and certain parts of our brain to switch off.

Leverage the health benefits of Biophilic Design

We spend 90% of our lives indoors so bring the outside in to maintain your levels of Vitamin Nature around the home, office and gym. Go big on air-purifying plants such as Mother-in-Law's tongue; incorporate wood, bamboo, leather, and marble into your home decor; prioritize natural daylight and ventilation via open windows and balconies; use large format images of natural landscapes on the walls and incorporate circadian lighting that energizes with blue-white tones by day and amber tones after dark to improve sleep patterns.

Eat a Real Food Diet

Base your diet around an abundance of organic, seasonal fruit and vegetables with meat and fish in moderation. Cut out processed foods with long ingredient lists and reduce your intake of bread, pasta and other high-carb 'plate fillers' with minimal nutrient value. Consider not just what you eat but where it came from and how it made the journey from farm to table.

Movement and physical activity

Move every darn day, no excuses! Whether it be walking or cycling to work, a simple morning stretch routine or a full-on biofit style gym session using sandbags, medicine balls, beams and ropes that encourages 100% mindful engagement rather than high-tech machinery that invites you to switch off from the task in hand. Our genetic code was written when we needed to hunt and forage in order to survive, creating a direct correlation between movement and sustenance; now that link has been broken and calories are so easy to come by, it is imperative we find other ways to keep active.

Mental and physical restoration

Respect your body's need for rest, typically 7-8 hours of sleep per night. Work out what you need personally to operate at 100% every day then protect those hours as doggedly as you can. Avoid all sources of blue light such as TV, phone or computer screens 1-2 hours before bed, use blackout blinds in the bedroom and install a light system with warm amber hues for use after dark to ensure a solid night's sleep. 

Practice Mindfulness

Train your mind like a muscle, it is your greatest asset. Learn a language, study for a qualification, practice meditation or try a dance class to mix things up. Our brain's capacity to develop new neurological pathways directly equates to skill development and nothing has been more instrumental in our rise to the top of the evolutionary tree; use it or lose it however so keep your mind active!

Go barefoot

Take your shoes off in the home, gym and even office (when appropriate!) allowing your feet time to connect with the ground while activating the 26 tiny bones in each foot that might otherwise remain dormant in thick-soled or high-heeled shoes all day long. As this sensation becomes steadily more comfortable, consider a pair of minimalist sports shoes with 'zero drop' (i.e. no raised heel) to replicate a more natural stance even when moving around outside.  

Build your tribe of social connections

Find and foster your tribe; we evolved in small groups making us inherently social animals with an innate psychological need to bond, connect and share with others yet modern technologies tend to encourage isolation. The biological need remains however so find your people, wherever they are.

Sit less / use active workstations

Static seated positions negatively affect the lower back, posture and hip mobility; break the habit of our adult lives by finding alternatives to endless hours at a desk or table. Consider periods working at a high table or standing desk, experiment with a Swiss ball and try to change position at least once each hour to give the body a chance to balance itself out over the day.

Bio Building: Biophilic Buildings - The Eco-Friendly Concept of the Future — Biofilico Wellness Interiors

The concept of sustainable, eco-friendly, green, and now - biophilic buildings has been around for the past 20 years, helped along by organizations such as the Green Building Council that have dutifully guided developers, architects and corporations with their star certification system and LEED recognition.

The concept of biophilic architecture revolves around the principles associated with human healthcare, aiming to reconnect us with nature again. Biophilic buildings can also improve the general landscape, tipping the scale towards “greener”, more natural scenery, that ultimately benefit every part of our being. Constructing buildings using bio-based materials, such as timber, straw, and clay, offers sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives to petrochemical and mineral-based materials, further enhancing the eco-friendly nature of these structures.

Sustainability movement with suitable rating systems for sustainable construction

Born of the massive recent upswing in urbanization and the resulting high-density cities that then put added strain on our planet, the green, biophilic building movement within the construction industry pushes an earth-friendly agenda onto our built environment by emphasizing sustainable practices and materials.

With over 92,000 projects using LEED in over 165 countries around the world and more than 2.2 million sq ft of built environment certified every single day, this is by far the most prominent rating system out there today.

LEED’s key tenets include energy, water, waste, location & transportation, sustainability of a site’s location and indoor environmental quality.

Moving beyond this green, eco philosophy though, more recently we have seen two concurrent trends that take the sustainability movement in a new direction.

Biophilic buildings & biophilic design in architecture using bio based materials

Like we said, there are a few trends that are currently directing the sustainability movement, including the use of bio based materials.

Firstly there is biophilic, nature-inspired design that adopts a similarly planet-oriented mindset yet zeroes in on how organic and evolution-friendly design principles can have a positive psychological and physiological health impact on humans. Plant based materials, such as timber, straw, reed, hemp, and engineered timber, play a crucial role in this by offering practical and sustainable options for construction. Engineered timber, in particular, stands out for its structural properties and sustainability, making it a key component in bio-based building technologies.

This planet + people mindset instantly gives biophilic design in architecture a more commercial edge, cutting through the externally oriented benefits of doing no harm to the planet with a more human-centric view of the built environment while also opening the door to overtly aesthetic choices that prioritize natural beauty.

When picturing or creating biophilic buildings in your mind - think vertical garden walls; air purifying plants; circadian lighting that follows the body’s daily rhythm; natural colors, patterns, textures and materials, all of which are designed to bring the outside world in, re-uniting city and countryside to create uplifting, restorative green spaces as closely aligned with our deep past as feasibly possible.

A holistic standard that advocates a healthy interrelationship with nature

Living Future is a holistic standard that has so far logged over 330 projects and 14.1 million square feet of built environment since 2008. Key concepts that it addresses include:

• Place: restoring a healthy interrelationship with nature by maximizing the use of natural resources;

• Water: creating developments that operate within the water balance of a given place and climate;

• Energy: relying solely on current solar income;

• Health + Happiness: creating environments that optimize physical and psychological health and wellbeing;

• Materials: endorsing products that are safe for all species through time, including plant-based insulation materials like hemp and wood, which offer benefits such as moisture regulation and sustainability;

• Equity: supporting a just, equitable world;

• Beauty: celebrating design that uplifts the human spirit.

Introducing key proponents of human oriented buildings

The final segment, after eco/green/sustainable and bio/natural/organic comprises explicitly human or people-oriented buildings designed for human health, wellness and fitness, whilst also doing no harm to the planet through sustainable construction. Sustainable materials, such as timber, straw, hemp, and cork, offer numerous benefits in human-oriented building design, including reducing environmental impact, improving indoor air quality, and promoting resource efficiency. The use of local materials in bio-architectural residences further enhances sustainability by reducing transportation emissions and supporting local economies.

Key proponents of this approach are the WELL Building Standard and the US government-backed Centre For Active Design FITWEL standard.

WELL standard - environmentally oriented standard addressing global carbon emissions

WELL focuses on best practices when it comes to biophilic design in architecture and construction, backed by evidence-based medical and scientific research. To date, it has over 700 projects under its belt in 32 countries equating to 139 million sq ft of built environment. The standard covers eight key categories.

An evolution of green building standards such as LEED, the increasingly popular WELL Building Standard from Delos identifies 100 performance metrics, design strategies and policies that can be implemented across a building to have a positive impact on the health and wellness of its occupants, and transform it into something that can be described as a biophilic building. By incorporating bio-based materials, WELL also aims to improve indoor air quality, reducing the presence of harmful chemicals and VOCs, thus creating a healthier environment for the occupants.

WELL is complementary to other, more environmentally-oriented standards and in many instances directly overlaps as a nature-first approach is also inherently healthy for humans; the emphasis however is simply skewed towards the occupants rather than the environment. By using such materials, including plant-based and biocompatible options like plant fibers, timber, and straw, WELL promotes sustainable cultivation practices that integrate with forestry, agriculture, and conservation. The standard is happy to roam far and wide, from homes to offices, healthcare facilities, schools and restaurants.

FITWELL standard with a heavy data approach for indoor air quality

FITWEL, standing for Facility Innovations Toward Wellness Environment Leadership, was launched in March 2017 and has currently impacted over 250,000 building occupants with over 380 projects around the world. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a significant concern in indoor air quality, and reducing VOCs through the use of green building materials can create a healthier environment for building occupants. They too take a heavily data-focused approach with a database of over 3000 academic studies backing up their efforts to inspire healthier workplaces and residential communities specifically.

Biophilic architecture concept

Biophilic buildings are supposed to represent something more other than sheer connection with nature. Biophilic design in architecture is here to bring necessary transformation in the field that is responsible for the greatest negative environmental impact, including reducing carbon emissions.

If you wish to know more about healthy building or green building certifications, please email us here.