The 10 Examples Of Biophilic Building Designs| | Biophilic Realm

Here are five famous examples of buildings that demonstrate the concepts of biophilic design. Biophilic design blends with nature - the Apple Park office is a large circle with a park outside and inside the buildings, giving all office space a view of green space.

1.    Apple Park, California, USA

Apple's new campus is considered one of the leading examples of biophilic design. The donut-shaped structure mimics the natural curves of nature and brings light into offices from all angles. The campus is surrounded by a new forest of 9,000 trees.

2.    Bosco Verticale, Milan, Italy

The Bosco Verticale (“vertical forest”) are two residential towers in Milan, whose walls and balconies are covered with thousands of bushes and bushes. Rainwater harvesting systems irrigate vegetation.

3.    Rolls Royce, Chichester, England

The headquarters of the engine manufacturer Rolls Royce, in the south of England, has one of the largest green roofs in the world, with thousands of square meters covered with native plant species. This also helps insulate the building and control stormwater runoff.

4.    The Spheres, Seattle, United States

The striking Spheres at e-commerce giant Amazon's Seattle offices are a fantastic example of biophilic design. The three transparent greenhouses are filled with a wide variety of plants, making the workplace unique.

5.    Singapore

The entire city-state of Singapore is possibly the world's first “biophilic city.” Officials have made efforts to incorporate plants, water and wildlife into buildings, parks, cityscapes and government offices.

Biophilic interior design: a living room with windowsill covered in houseplants and hanging plants with vines coming down from the ceiling.

In many ways, biophilic home design and biophilic interior design have always been around: people have had houseplants for as long as they've had houses. That being said, the following five interior design examples have really taken the concept to the next level.

6.    Second Home, Lisbon, Portugal

This coworking space in the Portuguese capital is one of the most interesting examples of biophilic interior design. The Second Home office is filled with thousands of houseplants, making it a truly unique workplace.

7.    Karolinska Indoor Fitness Center, Stockholm, Sweden

This indoor fitness center includes many of the features of biophilic home design, such as images of nature, plant life, and natural materials in the gym.

8.    1FA Cafe Pavilion, London, United Kingdom

This cafe features a miniature green roof interior, natural materials and designs that imitate patterns from nature.

9.    Citibank Banking Conservatory, Singapore

This Citibank office in Singapore truly brings together the inside and the outside. Biophilic interior design surrounds meeting rooms, event spaces and concentration areas with native plant species.

10. Living Grid House, Singapore

The Living Grid House is a fantastic example of biophilic home design. With skylights letting in light, interior green walls and extensive use of houseplants, it is also a fantastic example of biophilic home design.

What are the benefits of biophilic design?

A large hall, one interior wall is covered with ivy and other plants. Proponents of biophilic design point to a wide variety of benefits that come from this approach. Among them:

·         Productivity: Several studies have shown that when people are close to nature they are more productive, concentrate better and study more.

·         Reduces stress: Being surrounded by vegetation and other plant life has long been believed to reduce stress, and scientific research also supports this hypothesis.

·         Health Benefits: Studies have also shown that when people are surrounded by nature, they recover more quickly from illnesses and injuries.

·         Better for the environment: Planting more trees and shrubs brings many benefits to the environment, from carbon capture to promoting biodiversity, to climate resilience by, for example, slowing stormwater flows.

·         Ventilation: Especially when it comes to biophilic design of homes and offices, some proponents of the concept believe that the use of plants can remove pollutants from the air.

Criticisms of the concept of biophilic design

Asian woman spraying the leaves of a large houseplant, behind her there are many other plants in a home that has a biophilic interior design.

Biophilic design is a relatively new concept. Therefore, there are few, if any, rigorous scientific studies that show that it is really as beneficial as its supporters claim. Here are some of the most common criticisms:

Ø  Neglected concept: There are hardly any serious academic studies showing that biophilic design directly improves productivity, cleans the air, or makes people happier. While it is true that some highly productive companies like Google or Apple use biophilic design in their offices, this does not prove that office plants are the cause. Since those companies attract the brightest and best, their staff is likely to be very productive anyway.

Ø  Use of non-native species: Some biophilic designs could also be detrimental to local biodiversity by introducing non-native species that compete with local flora and fauna.

Ø  Expensive and difficult to maintain: Effective maintenance of large numbers of indoor plants, green walls and other green design elements requires much more time than traditional building maintenance. It may also require greater amounts of water and energy.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the concept of biophilic design has gained prominence in recent years, with numerous examples of innovative and nature-inspired building designs. These designs have made a significant impact on the way we perceive and interact with our built environments. The benefits of biophilic design are numerous and include increased productivity, reduced stress, improved health, environmental benefits, and enhanced ventilation. However, it's important to note that there are criticisms surrounding this concept, such as the lack of rigorous scientific evidence to support its claimed benefits, concerns about the use of non-native species that could harm local biodiversity, and the challenges associated with the maintenance of biophilic elements.