The word “biophilia” is derived from the Greek words for “life” and “love or affection,” respectively. Its original translation means “love of life,” which encapsulates the human propensity to form a connection with the natural world.
The American biologist Edward O. Wilson’s book Biophilia was responsible for bringing the term “biophilia” to the attention of the scientific community, as well as those interested in urban planning and the design of house interiors.
The natural world serves as inspiration for the ideas of biophilic design. According to some studies, we spend around 90 percent of our lives indoors, where the air quality is not nearly as clean as the air we breathe outside in the open. Ventilation is also lacking in indoor living spaces. Both of these factors have the potential to alter our mood as well as our general welfare significantly.
Biophilia: Characteristics
Biophilic design is all about bringing the outdoors in to improve one’s physical and mental health, particularly in built-up, urban regions that dominate the natural landscape. Getting in natural components to your house can help in several ways, including:
- Improving your state of mind.
- Raising the bar for your levels of productivity.
- Making you feel more creative and imaginative.
- Regaining your mental and physical strength and vitality.
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Not only does the use of biophilic design result in a stunning aesthetic, but it also has a multitude of positive effects on one’s health.
Biophilic architecture: Advantages
The advantages of having houseplants around might be proclaimed forever. A plant that is meant to live on a wall is no different.
It is biologically essential to have access to the outdoors, and bringing it indoors has a profoundly positive impact on our well-being. We somehow lost touch with what ought to be natural to us as we entered a technologically advanced metropolitan society.
Biophilic interior design has significant health and financial advantages for our homes, places of employment, schools, and public spaces. We get a fantastic sense of calmness and security, mental healing, and increased productivity when we apply Biophilic design principles to our homes.
Other benefits of having one installed at home include the following:
Air filtration
When you have a lot to do, it might be difficult to find time to get some fresh air. Bringing nature indoors can help purify the air and transform exhaled CO2 into oxygen.
It has also been demonstrated that plants eliminate contaminants from the air, producing a healthier, happier environment for everyone: increasing your mood and stimulating your creativity.
Temperature control
The ability of plants to absorb sunlight can help you stay cool in the summer heat. In the winter, they also add moisture to the air, making the environment warmer and more enjoyable.
Noise absorption
A living wall frame that contains houseplants can absorb sound and reduce noise. This is perfect if you need to concentrate when working in a home office or a hectic area. And if you need to clear your thoughts and take a five-minute break, preening your plant wall is a wonderful way to do so.
Peace and tranquillity
A living plant wall provides tranquil vistas of nature, which have a calming impact on the mind and spirit. Being near nature can make people feel happier, healthier, more relaxed, and more productive.
Consider the last time you visited a dense forest or an isolated beach. How did it make you feel? Simply being in nature can induce feelings of tranquillity. This is something that indoor plants can do. They transport us to a state of serenity and tranquillity – nothing else compares.
Shades of nature
The colours in nature are abundant, and each season has a distinct theme. Don’t be afraid to use striking colours in your home. If you don’t feel like painting the entire room, you may paint only one wall as an accent, and it will still significantly improve your mood. Wallpaper might be a better choice if you want something less permanent.
Varied colours have different effects on your mood: Pablo Picasso reportedly said that colours “follow the fluctuations of the emotions” just like features do. Considerable colour choices include cream, gentle greens, light blues, lemon yellow, brown tones, pink, vivid orange, and many others.
A work of art
Create a wall gallery with images of your favourite wildflowers, forests, singing birds, rising suns, framed living walls, or anything else that brings back special memories of time spent in nature. “Art speaks where words are unable to explain,” as the saying goes.
Biophilia: The relationship between this design and environmental protection
Technological progress and increased time spent indoors and in cars have led to a disconnection from nature. Spending time in nature and engaging in biophilic activities could deepen our bonds with the natural world.
Lack of connectivity to other parts of nature is a key reason for concern since it may lead to increasing ecological degradation and species loss. Therefore, reconnecting with nature has taken on more significance in the conservation movement.
Smarter designs for greener cities that integrate ecosystems within them, such as biophilic cities, and more access to green spaces in and around urban areas are two such examples. These urban areas have the potential to serve as wildlife corridors, facilitating the territorial and migratory demands of a wide variety of species.
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FAQs
What is an example of a biophilic design?
An example of biophilic design is using houseplants as decorative elements in your home.
Is biophilic design expensive?
The biophilic design doesn’t have to be overly expensive. You can incorporate inexpensive biophilic designs, such as houseplants, without shelling out a lot of money.
