Biophilic Design

Biophilic Design is the science of connecting nature with humans to add serenity, resilience, and other wellness states we all seek in modern times. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon is a perfect example of Biophilia in ancient times. However it was not known as such.

The term”biophilia” was coined by Eric Fromm and later popularized by biologist Edward Wilson. How does it manage to do so? By adding elements such as natural light, water features, indoor plants, views of nature, and natural materials to our surroundings, either at home to prompt relaxation, at the office to trigger creativity and boost productivity, or even in hospitals where it helps people heal faster.

Specialists like Sally Coulthard (Biophilia: You + Nature + Home ) writes about how including plants in interior environments reduce stress and increase pain tolerance in patients. Peter Newman and Jana Soderlund observed that by adding views of nature or designing hospitals with views to exteriors filled with nature views, or add nature images decrease depression and pain which shortens hospital stay from 3.6 days to 2.6. By adding nature sounds; mental health was improved 37% faster than in urban area hospitals and people who actually used aromatherapy used 45% less morphine while 56% used less pain killers. If this can be done in hospitals imagine what can do for healthy regular folks. Just by adding these changes into the urban city it can help modify agressive community behaviors.

Adding aquariums, little fountains with running water in our home, including plants inside our home, and opening the curtains to let natural light come in will help us connect with our inner self.

Building a home is more than bricks and mortar with us, it is about putting together the elements that will create a unique space to not only unwind but to charge our soul with smooth energy that comes from nature.