Biophilic design guide
About biophilic design
Biophilic design represents a bridge between design, nature and wellbeing. Translating the essence of nature into design solutions, biophilic design creates spaces that actively support health and wellbeing while restoring a balanced relationship between people and the natural world.
It’s an approach that resonates deeply with anooi’s philosophy: nourishing spaces.
Biophilic design introduction
The theory behind biophilic design has been translated into design frameworks to facilitate practical applications.
Biophilic Moodboards is a column from anooi blog that explores the main principles of biophilic design one moodboard at a time, taking the 14 patterns framework as a reference. A downloadable overview of the column is available in the free publication Biophilic Design Introduction.
Nature in the space
Nature in the space: incorporating nature and its features in designed spaces.
01 Visual connection with nature:
view of natural elements from within a space.
02 Non-visual connection with nature:
interactions with nature through other senses: sound, touch, smell and taste.
03 Non-rhythmic sensory stimuli:
unpredictable and non-repetitive movements recalling those happening in nature (birds chirping, leaves moving in a breeze…)
04 Thermal and airflow variability:
variability in air temperature and flow, changes in relative humidity and varying surface temperatures.
05 Presence of water:
use of water and water-mimicking solutions as design features.
06 Dynamic and diffuse light:
varying lighting intensities and light changes over time evoking the natural cycle of day and night.
07 Connection with natural systems:
awareness of seasonal and temporal changes stimulated by design solutions.
Natural analogues
Natural analogues: mimicking or evoking natural features through design.
08 Biomorphic forms and patterns:
nature-inspired textures, shapes and patterns.
09 Material connection with nature:
natural materials and elements that reflect the local environment in terms of ecology or geology.
10 Complexity and order:
rich sensory features recalling natural spatial hierarchies (otherwise called fractal patterns).
Nature of the space
Nature of the space: taking inspiration from positive feelings that natural environments inspire.
11 Prospect:
uninterrupted views over a distance creating feelings of calm and safety.
12 Refuge:
sense of protection from movements and activities happening in the surroundings.
13 Mystery:
partially obscured views stimulating curiosity about the unknown.
14 Risk/peril:
balanced combination of a perceived sense of risk and the rational knowledge of safety.
Beyond biophilic patterns
Biophilic design patterns are meant to facilitate practical applications in projects. Yet a biophilic approach to design goes way beyond a set of design patterns.
In a combination of physical and digital publications, anooi’s resources delve into these nuances, highlighting anooi’s perspective on the topic and covering the studio’s ongoing research in biophilic thinking and design.
