d45 BIOPHILIC DESIGN
Vækst is a garden-like restaurant situated in the middle of Copenhagen's old Latin Quarter. The decor brings the outside in with a full-sized greenhouse inside, garden furniture and an abundance of hanging plants
example: happier and more productive employees in corporate environments, calmer and more attentive students in educational spaces and more positive and comfortable patients in healthcare environments.”
Interest in biophilia has grown substantially over the last decade as research scientists and design practitioners have attempted to understand the relationships between nature, science, and the built environment so that we may experience the human benefits of biophilia.
Biophilic Design expert Oliver Heath believes that the current interest in biophilic design is an extension of the sustainable architecture movement. “For a long time, the conversation was around sustainability and how we reduce our use of basic resources, such as water and electricity. This was to reduce costs but also to reduce the building’s impact. Now, the conversation revolves around
the fact that a massive part of a building’s costs is the people in it and that 90% of the cost is paid out in salary and benefits. So there is a massive opportunity here to support and nurture people in a way that can reduce stress and increase productivity. This means there is a very strong business case for biophilic design.”
This business case has not gone unnoticed. According to the report Human Spaces 2.0: Biophilic Design in Hospitality prepared by environmental consulting and strategic planning firm Terrapin Bright Green, hotel rooms with a view to nature, particularly to water, are consistently priced on average 11-18% higher than rooms without a view and the dwell rate of biophilic hotel lobbies is 36% higher than in conventional lobbies, which in turn creates more revenue.
Offices that incorporate biophilia are known to be more productive and create lower levels of stress, fostering
greater happiness and creativity, whilst helping to retain staff and reduce absenteeism. Examples include some large companies who are at the forefront of workplace design such as Facebook, Apple and Amazon and which all incorporate biophilic design principles into their offices.
Hospital patients have been found to receive substantial recovery benefits when exposed to environments that incorporate the principles of biophilia into their design. Being exposed to natural elements, whether directly from nature or an interpretation of it, can aid the healing process of patients by reducing stress levels, reducing the need for medication and in some cases shortening postoperative stays. It can also have a beneficial impact on the staff that work in healthcare facilities.
Heath says that biophilic design has been led by an interest in human- centric design and a willingness to
designer kitchen & bathroom
designerkbmag.co.uk
AUG 2019
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