Bringing the Outside In: A Look at Biophilic Design

When you close your eyes and imagine a setting that is tranquil and restorative, chances are you conjure a scene in nature. Perhaps a vast forest, the sea, mountain tops or open fields? Whatever your vision, it isn’t likely to be a bustling, dense, noisy urban environment!

The simple fact is that our natural habitat is the great outdoors, and for the majority of human history, humans have lived close to nature. It’s only in modern days, thanks in large part to the industrial and technological revolutions, that we have shifted into spending the majority of our time indoors. This trend  has resulted in fostering a sense of disconnection that many of us experience.

Today, as we absorb some of the most relevant changes brought about by the pandemic, we see an insatiable demand for access to nature. This has given rise to a renewed interest in the principles of biophilic design, which allow us to maintain the harmony and balance that nature intrinsically provides.

The essence of this harmony and balance can be found in the tangible health benefits of biophilic design, including improved physical health and sense of wellbeing, reduced stress and depression, and greater creativity.

There are endless ways to incorporate a biophilic design approach into our interiors — from our homes to our offices to public spaces. The design approach can begin by introducing natural elements like plants, water features and abundant natural light, coupled with features like skylights, floor-to-ceiling windows, indoor reflection pools, fountains, fish ponds and water or plant walls.

Biophilic design emphasizes the relationship between light and shadow, which can be played out with natural materials, like wood and stone, and celebrates the hues and tones found outdoors. It also downplays angularity in favor of organic shapes as a way to soften the edges between humans and nature.

At @DG, we have always had our fingers on the pulse of powerful design trends and movements. And as the principles of biophilic design continue to resonate and inspire, we make sure they are very much in today’s conversations with developer clients and their buyers as we help navigate the endless shifts in our behaviors and priorities as a society.