Biophilic Designs: How do nature-integrated designs| | Biophilic Realm

With increasing urbanization and the increasing number of skyscrapers with metal objects in cities, the gap between humans and nature is widening. As studies indicate, the disconnect between nature and humans negatively affects human physiology and well-being, leading to many deficiency disorders and stress-related health problems.

Therefore, it is very important for humans to feel safe, comfortable and connected to nature, if possible, to focus and work better, which highlights the importance of spatial contexts. Over the past few decades, people have been discussing the concept of “biophilia,” which symbolizes the innate human need to connect with nature, and applying it to architectural designs to humanize cities and make them more livable places.

What is biophilia, and why is it important?

As a compound word consisting of bio (life, living) and philia (love), “biophilia” loosely translates to “love of life.” Erich Fromm first used the term in 1964 to describe the psychological orientation of attraction to all that is living and vital basing the concept on “two basic orientations of living beings: the preservation of life from threats of death and positive integration with each other.” However, “biophilia” became popular in 1984 after the publication of Biophilia written by the American biologist and naturalist Edward Wilson.

Wilson emphasized the need for emotional connection to the natural surroundings, inherently present in humans. This idea also has a connection to the theory of psychological development. To be more specific, the main focus is on the human body and mind, the evolution of the human body as part of a natural process, and how it adapts to the changing environment.

Biophilic Designs: What makes a design biophilic?

Borrowing from environmental psychology and employing concepts such as biophilia paved the way for biophilic designs. These designs are especially important for nurturing and cultivating an environment with applications of organic materials, and mimicking natural patterns. They help us form connections with nature and manage natural resources effectively. Hence, it helps in achieving sustainability.

To test whether a design is biophilic, we can look at whether the architectural structure in question evokes the emotions that nature might evoke in us or whether it stimulates our olfactory, visual, gustatory and tactile senses. In addition, geometric and biophilic forms that replicate natural patterns and use organic materials such as wood, stone, earth and timber indicate biophilic origins.

Integration of factory walls into the interior space and well-designed designs to enable heat and air flow are other key features of biophilic design. In other words, biophilic designs put us in contact with nature directly or indirectly.

In other words, the human need to stay connected with surroundings that stimulate our five senses is key for designers and architects. We can now look at some examples of how these theories can be applied in practice.

1.    Frank Lloyd Wright Falls in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, USA

Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1939, The Waterfall House, located partly above a waterfall, is a home with dynamic elements in harmony with nature. Tucked away on a rocky hillside, 90 minutes from Pittsburgh, it features organic forms and Japanese architectural elements in Pennsylvania's Bear Run Nature Preserve. Cantilevered eaves, narrow corridors and rooms with low ceilings draw people to the outdoors. Nature sounds, especially water, have a calming effect.

Wright's concept of "organic architecture" was inspired by American Transcendentalism, which emphasizes the inherent goodness of people and nature. Some of the main characteristics of this concept include open-plan layouts, which eliminate the sharp distinction between interiors and exteriors, geometric forms analogous to natural forms, and spatial interventions to simulate different cognitive responses and respond to human emotional needs. Architectural designs that follow the mentioned details characterize the needs of the individual and nature itself.

2.    WOHA's Oasia Hotel

Oasia Hotel , located in Tanjong Pagar, Singapore , the city's central business district, stands out among other buildings as one of the greatest examples of biophilic design with its striking red facade partly covered with plants. A 27-storey high tropical skyscraper with capacity for 314 hotel rooms, 100 offices, a restaurant, a swimming pool, meeting rooms, a gym and a garden. It consists of different layers covered with plants and a heavenly garden. Open spaces allow natural ventilation. As such, it also maximizes the flow of natural light.

Wrapping greenery around this skyscraper comes with countless benefits. Plants prevent temperature rise and provide habitat for non-human animals, thus enriching biodiversity. In addition, plants lower the temperature, reducing the need to use air conditioners indoors and creating microclimates. As Richard Hassell, one of the hotel's designers, points out, surface temperature measures around 25 degrees (Celsius) versus 55 degrees for a neighboring building wrapped in glass and steel. On a typical day, the average temperature in Singapore is between 30 and 32 degrees.” ".

3.    About WOHA Architecture Firm

In 1994, Richard Hassell and Wong Mun Summ founded WOHA in Singapore to uncover architectural fallacies. From scratch, small projects, they reached the top and participated in large-scale projects. Sum and Hassell were particularly concerned about climate change, population growth, and declining biodiversity. They sought designs to emphasize the interconnectedness between man and nature. As Hassell says in an interview,

“We have developed a 'systems approach' where we view each project as part of larger social, economic and environmental systems – be it at a department or city level. Our buildings interact with their context, their people and their nature. To achieve this, we cannot have a tunnel vision where we see "We are built as an isolated organism. We believe it is important to set up situations in which positive feedback loops can begin and connections can be formed that lead to new relationships and greater productivity."

The overall goal is to “humanize the buildings,” in WMS’s words, “to enable people to relate to them.” Singapore is a biophilic city, and is known for being a garden city, rather than having parks in the city.

4.    Layer House designed by Robson Rak Architects in Coastal Victoria

Another example of biophilic design is located in the coastal region of Victoria, Australia. The multi-layered house consists of limestone shelves and underground caves. Local building materials (especially felled earth and timber) and techniques are used in the construction of the house, allowing this unit to be an extension of the landscape, adapting the local character of the area.

In other words, the architects used organic materials throughout. As such, the house forms a meaningful connection with its natural surroundings by emulating physical structures in nature, particularly with the use of polished earth for the walls and timber for the floors and ceilings. Other technical achievements of the units include cross ventilation achieved with louvres, and a green-tiled island counter that helps connect the landscape to the interior space.

In addition, the use of window walls blurs the distinction between outside and inside, increasing visibility. Likewise, the open floor plan layout aids in natural lighting and airflow, enhancing the effect of floor-to-ceiling windows. A shaded courtyard along the roof provides a peaceful setting by preventing direct exposure to sunlight and rain.

Conclusion:

In an increasingly urbanized world, the need for biophilic design has never been more critical. As the gap between humans and nature widens, the negative impact on well-being and overall health becomes evident. Biophilia, the innate human connection to nature, has found its place in architectural design, offering a solution to bridge this gap and create more harmonious and sustainable urban spaces. The concept of biophilia, popularized by biologist Edward Wilson, revolves around the idea that our emotional connection to the natural world is inherent and vital to our well-being. Architectural designs that embody biophilic principles incorporate organic materials, mimic natural patterns, and stimulate our senses, creating environments that not only look and feel closer to nature but also function more sustainably.