Aesthetics Explorations – Biophilic Design

Biophilic design is an aesthetic approach to connect people with nature in agriculture and landscape. It encompasses roots from ancient civilizations but began to be recognized and named in the mid-20th century. This type of design is the combination of organic architecture and nature to form spaces that connect people to their primal selves in nature. Ancient Roman and Greek civilizations originally designed homes and outdoor spaced to connect people with nature, believing there were health and medicinal benefits that came in doing so. Green was perceived as a healthy color and the idea of “clean air” arose in the ancient world.

Ancient civilizations use of courtyards and landscapes (4)

While ancient civilizations used the natural environment in their architecture, one of the most inspiring architects of all time, Frank Lloyd Wright, defined and highlighted a new vision for what architecture could be. Wright once said, “study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you” (3) demonstrating his passion for the connection humans should have with nature. In his architecture, he uses natural materials and forms to connect his humans in harmony with the environment. Wright is known for his idea of “organic agriculture” and his work became a foundation for biophilic design later on.

Frank Lloyd Wrights Fallingwater (5)

Wright helped illustrate what biophilic design could be but the aesthetic was still yet to really be defined until authors such as E. O. Wilson and Stephen R. Kellert. Wilson writes, “Biophilia” in 1984 to help define the term and describe humans innate passion and longing for nature. Kellert writes, “Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life” in 2013 to help define the aesthetic in design and to explains biophilic design as “an approach that fosters beneficial contact between people and nature in modern buildings and landscapes” (3). These authors kickstarted a movement in biophilic design and gave an outline of its aesthetic. Now we see a lot more natural designs in buildings that include things like living walls and organic woods. The design approach aims to improve well-being, productivity and quality of life. As biophilic design continued to grow, it began to form key principles such as using natural environmental features. This includes features that highlight natural colors, plants, animals, and light.

Natural colors and plants in a space

The next two principals highlight the use of natural shapes, forms and patterns. Here the design approach connects texture, wood grains, and other natural rhythms to enhance the feeling of nature in a space.

Biophilic Design

Natural shapes, materials and patterns in a space (6)

The next key principal relates to the use of natural light in a space to help give a different perspective to a space and make it more dynamic.

Natural light showing through plants (7)

The next key principals highlight the use of plants and the human-nature relationship to help bring people back to their innate love for the environment.

Biophilic Design in the Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore (8)

Overall, the aesthetic of biophilia comes from an internal crave to connect with our environment and nature. Biophilic design stems back from ancient cultures and has advanced very quickly as people now have a better understanding of the design approach and have access to the new technologies that help enhance architectural possibilities.

Works Cited:

(1) Champion, Vanessa. “Biophilic Design in the Ancient World.” Journal of Biophilic Design, 15 Oct. 2021, journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcast-journal-of-biophilic-design/biophilic-design-in-the-ancient-world.

(2) Kellert, Stephen R. Biophilic Design: The Theory, Science, and Practice of Bringing Buildings to Life. Wiley, 2013.

(3) Space Refinery. “Everything You Need to Know about Biophilic Design.” Space Refinery, 30 Apr. 2024, spacerefinery.com/blog/biophilic-design-101.

Images:

(4) https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/podcast-journal-of-biophilic-design/biophilic-design-in-the-ancient-world

(5) https://franklloydwright.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Falling-Water.jpg

(6) https://www.modernfurnishings.com/blogs/news/biophilic-design-trends

(7) https://architizer-prod.imgix.net/media/14376672131776_LocalPlants-2.jpg

(8) https://u4d2z7k9.delivery.rocketcdn.me/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Untitled-design-50.jpg.webp

4 Comments. Leave new

  • Clemens Pacher-Theinburg
    January 25, 2025 4:57 pm

    Overall, I think this is a really fascinating and appealing aesthetic. I found your introduction particularly engaging, as I wouldn’t have guessed that the origins of biophilic design go as far back as Ancient Roman and Greek civilizations. Your integration of figure 6 is especially interesting because it highlights how the aesthetic can be applied outside of a “living” plant environment, showing its versatility. Many of the examples in the figures are spacious environments that seem to enhance the sense of connection to nature. Do you think a similar sense of immersion can also be achieved in smaller living spaces?

    • Thank you Clemens! It is very interesting that biophilic design goes as far back as Ancient Roman and Greek civilizations. I originally though that it was a newer age aesthetic but learned quickly about its roots in history. I think that people really enjoy being around nature and that is what is so refreshing about biophilic design. In regards to smaller spaces, I do think that biophilic design can be applied to smaller living spaces as even the material choice can incorporate the principals of this type of design. Smaller spaces might not have a ton of room for plants but the use of wood and texture can bring a different connection to nature in a space.

  • Jules Fischer-White
    January 24, 2025 12:51 pm

    What a beautiful aesthetic! I find photo #7 especially appealing, I love the way that leaves disperse and reduce the intensity of the natural lighting. I find the overgrown jungle aesthetic in the Jewel Changi Airport so captivating, makes me want to go there and explore! I had never thought about why humans appreciate biophilic design so much, but your explanation about the internal craving to connect with the environment makes total sense.

    I noticed that some of the designs used organic shapes and materials in the construction itself (e.g. photo #6, photo #8), while others use straight & inorganic shapes and materials (e.g. photo #7, Frank Lloyd Wright’s work in photo #5) where sleek modern surfaces clash with the nature surrounding/placed inside them. It seems like there is a significant difference between building to look and feel like nature vs buildings that simply include nature in or on them. Did you come upon any discussion of this difference within the biophilic aesthetic? I personally prefer organic shapes and textures within the design of the building, do you have a preference?

    • Hi Jules! I’m glad that my explanation about why humans love biophilic design so much made sense to you. There is definitely and innate passions a love for the outdoors and bringing this into a space can really make it more special. I noticed that clash between modern shapes and more natural shapes in a space while researching biophilic design but it wasn’t really discussed. I agree, I think it is really interesting how there is a difference between building to look like nature vs building to incorporate nature but I do think that the building to incorporate nature really aims to highlight nature. The contrast almost makes the nature more apparent as it is an abrupt change in texture and color. I personally prefer the more modern look with a lot of highlights of nature because I like modern architecture and how the simplicity of it shows off the natural textures and grains in woods and other plants. Thank you for pointing out this contrast!

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