ANTOINETTE GREEFF – SENIOR INTERIOR DESIGNER, B4 ARCHITECTS, SOUTH AFRICA BIOPHILIC DESIGN
Biophilic design: designing for health
South African interior designer, Antoinette Greeff, takes a deep dive into biophilic design in hospitals, using a case study of Life Hunterscraig Private Hospital in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).
The term ‘biophilia’ was first used by social psychologist Eric Fromm (The Heart of Man, 1964) and later became popularised by Edward Wilson (Biophilia, 1984).1
The question arises -
what is biophilia exactly? In short, biophilia is the innate connection between humans and nature. This connection is the reason why certain feelings are evoked within us through the exposure to natural elements, for example: the comforting feeling evoked from the sound of crackling fires, the turmoil we experience when we see waves crashing, and the comfort we feel when interacting with an animal companion. Over the past decade, biophilic design principles have been developing to such an extent that it is deemed a necessary complementary study in addressing workplace stress, student performance, patient recovery, community cohesiveness and other challenges associated with health and overall wellbeing. Biophilic design is the relationship
between the built environment, science and nature to create nature-health relationships that enhance our daily lives.
to overall physical comfort and how connections with nature can alter physiological responses.
Assisted ward, Life Hunterscraig Private Hospital, Gqeberha, SA Life Hunterscraig Private Hospital is in Gqeberha (previously Port Elizabeth) in South Africa. The hospital is a short-term psychiatric facility treating predominantly anxiety disorders, depression and substance dependence.2 The hospital is located on
Figure 1. Floor plan of the assisted ward at Life Hunterscraig Private Hospital.
This is ultimately achieved through the introduction of nature and the characteristics of nature within the built environment. Health, in this context, can be psychological and/or physiological. Psychological health and wellbeing
refer to our emotions and moods and how experiences of natural environments provide emotional restoration, while physiological health and wellbeing refers
Antoinette Greeff
Antoinette Greeff is a senior interior designer with b4 Architects, based in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) in South Africa. She graduated from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan
University in Gqeberha with a bachelor’s degree in building arts (2006) and a bachelor’s technologiae in interior design (2009). Her professional career started at The Workplace Architects and later at SVA International, where she gained valuable experience in working as both a designer and project lead on large
commercial projects. In 2016, Antoinette joined b4 Architects under the leadership of Bryan and Bruce Brinkman. Having always been
interested in healthcare design, Antoinette has found her niche within the company and has worked on both acute care and mental health projects. She has a passion to create spaces which contribute to healing – and which challenges traditional norms – without compromising on functionality or budget.
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a narrow plot of land, which stretches from Park Drive in the front, down into the Baakens Valley at the back. In 2019, b4 Architects completed the design and construction of the new assisted ward at the rear
of the hospital. The project was both an alteration and addition to the existing building (Fig 1). The accommodation schedule called
for a ten-bed ward, consisting of two four- bed wards and a single two-bed special care ward, together with x2 assisted showers with WC facilities. Included in the ward is a dedicated seclusion room (with own ablution facilities), lounge/dining area leading onto an enclosed courtyard, treatment room, consultation room and group room. In addition, there are a nurses’ station, staff room/kitchenette and staff WC.
Three biophilic design categories In the paper, 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design – Improving Health & Wellbeing in the Built Environment, the authors indicate that biophilic design can be categorised into three categories of patterns that provide a framework for designers to incorporate biophilic design principles into their works. The three biophilic design categories are: nature in space; natural analogues; and nature of the space.
IFHE DIGEST 2022
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