PROPERTY & INTERIORS
known at some level for centuries as evidenced by the history of botanical art and design in furnishings such as medieval tapestries or more recently the designs of William Morris.
PRIVACY, COMMUNITY AND ENGAGEMENT
Designing good homes to accommodate older people is a growing field with the population ageing in the UK and other developed countries. The 2011 UK census recorded 16.4% of the total population as being aged 65 and over. By 2021 this had increased to 18.6%. Whether they need care, want to be part of a community or would rather adapt their current home for ageing in place, biophilic design can bring benefits for people in the next stage of life.
In a care home, biophilic design works in combination with accessibility guidelines, addressing the fundamental needs for safety and comfort and applicable for visual impairment and mobility problems. Barrier-free design sets the standards for physical dimensions such as doorway widths, ramps and the height and type of hardware in the bathroom and kitchen. Biophilic design then can be transformative by minimising the institutional feel and enhancing the quality of life in this setting.
Biophilic design principles guide the design of spaces that are restorative and engaging and which meet the needs for privacy, stimulation and community. The spatial strategies are about how the interior spaces relate to each other and how they in turn connect with the outside world. Biophilic design also encompasses the careful positioning of furniture in communal areas to maximise views and lighting from outside and interior materials and details. Earthy and natural colours and furnishings in natural materials and with patterns and imagery that mimic nature will create a calming space. Being able to experience a multi-sensory connection with nature, such as feeling a breeze or hearing the sound of water or birdsong through an open window, can improve mental health as well.
INDEPENDENT LIVING FEATURING
EXPERIENCES WITH NATURE For many independent living villages or communities, enabling the residents to enjoy nature has been central to their design, from the planning of the buildings’ form and orientation, through interior spatial organisation to details. The best designs offer both a sense of shelter with private accommodation, allowing the resident to maintain their independence and control of their personal space, while at the same time supporting positive experience of being in a communal environment. And the human nature connection is a very important feature. Being able to be part of the changing seasons in a protected environment which is also easy to access is important for residents who relinquished their garden when they moved from the family home. Having landscaped grounds for sitting and walking and looking out on from their personal living quarters, is central to having an upliſting living experience in this setting.
USING BIOPHILIC DESIGN FOR AGEING
IN PLACE Another application of biophilic principles for seniors is in considering how the needs of the occupants might evolve in the future with designing for ageing in place. There is a variety
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of ways to do this from rethinking the flow between rooms, widening doorways, adapting the kitchen and bathroom to simplifying the arrangements of furniture. But using biophilic principles in this context, and in particular, considering how to boost the connection between the interior and exterior, can be transformative. An example is Symbiotic Living’s interior design of a new oceanfront residence in Virginia Beach, USA. The property is to be a forever home for the occupants as they age. The living spaces have been designed to offer unobstructed views to the ocean beyond, while at the same time, providing privacy from the adjacent beach access The home will be a refuge but with prospect: a sanctuary which also benefits from the proximity to its beautiful natural setting.
This connection with nature has guided design decisions down to the smallest details around the experiences of sound, lighting, tactile and scent within the home. Furniture is oriented to reinforce fluid inside/outside continuity in the living spaces. The bedroom has been designed for calming through the senses to disconnect with the outside world. Dynamic and diffuse light is a key element of the design, including the commissioning of a bespoke screen that provides light patterns which mimic the natural light experienced in a forest.
Looking across these different settings, biophilic design is a salutogenic approach to wellness which is beneficial for the residents. But more than that – in the case of the residential and care home buildings, connecting nature with the built environment provides staff with a pleasant and efficient work environment.
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