“Biophilic design can reduce stress, enhance creativity and clarity of thought, improve our well-being and expedite healing; as the world population continues to urbanize these qualities are ever more important. Theorists, research scientists, and design practitioners have been working for decades to define aspects of nature that most impact our satisfaction with the built environment.” -Terrapin Bright Green (1)

Taking a human-centred approach towards designing built environments allows us to articulate the relationships between nature and human biology so that we humans may alter how we experience spaces and perform tasks. Through strengthening the human connection with nature, we may experience the benefits of biophilia in our design applications and foster an environment that has a positive impact on not only the health and wellbeing of occupants but the environment and natural surroundings. (2)

Traditionally humans have had constant interactions with their natural surroundings. From the hanging gardens of Babylon to the homes of Ancient Egyptian nobility, our innate attraction to natural surroundings and other living organisms has not left us despite urbanization. (3)

The World Health Organization (WHO) expects poor mental health and stress related illness to be one of the largest contributors to disease by 2020 (4). Research has shown that even small human interaction with nature throughout the day can reduce stress, blood pressure levels and heart rates, whilst increasing productivity (in offices by 8%), creativity and self-reported rates of well-being (13%) (5), (8). In addition, greenery has also been proven to boost our immune response to a range of diseases, including diabetes, obesity, cancer, as well as others (6). Biophilic elements further better indoor spaces by limiting VOC’s (volatile organic compounds which are generally quite a bit higher indoors) from recirculating (7).