https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/

https://www.sageglass.com/industry-insights/seven-principles-biophilic-design#:~:text=Biophilic%20design%20is%20an%20approach,healthy%20built%20environment%20for%20people.

Environmental Features / Natural Shapes and Forms / Natural Patterns and Processes / Light and Space / Place-Based Relationships / Evolved Human-Nature Relationships

https://neumannmonson.com/blog/six-principles-biophilic-design

When Singapore was being planned, the aim was to make it as green as possible.

The result is an epitome of biophilic design in architecture as we see it today. Amongst numerous great biophilia projects, The Jewel stands out as an icon for public spaces in an urban context. 

Jewel comprises layered gardens, entertainment activities, a hotel and more than 300 retail and dining facilities / Biophilic Architecture

The Jewel is a nature-themed entertainment and retail complex on the landside of Changi Airport, Singapore.

Linking three of its passenger terminals, the centerpiece is the world’s tallest indoor waterfall, named the Rain Vortex, surrounded by decks of forest in the promenade.

One of the world’s best examples of biophilic architecture is Singapore’s Jewel. It is a nature-inspired airport, retail and entertainment complex with a massive artistic roof made of glass and numerous plants everywhere in the building.

The Benefits of Biophilic Design

The incorporation of biophilic elements into architectural spaces offers a myriad of benefits for occupants, as well as the environment. Research has shown that exposure to nature, even in simulated forms, can have profound effects on mental and physical well-being. Here are some key benefits of biophilic design:

1. Stress Reduction: Biophilic elements such as indoor plants, natural materials, and views of nature have been shown to reduce stress levels and promote relaxation, ultimately improving overall health and well-being.

2. Enhanced Productivity: Studies have found that exposure to natural light and greenery can boost cognitive function and productivity, leading to better concentration, creativity, and performance in work and learning environments.

3. Improved Air Quality: Incorporating indoor plants and natural ventilation systems can help improve indoor air quality by filtering out pollutants and increasing oxygen levels, creating a healthier and more comfortable indoor environment.

4. Sustainable Design: Biophilic design encourages the use of sustainable materials and practices, such as recycled materials, energy-efficient systems, and passive design strategies, reducing the environmental impact of buildings and promoting sustainability.

• Environmental Pillar: It aims at the perfect confluence of nature and mankind to achieve pollution free Earth.

• Economic Pillar: It aims at the aesthetic beauty of the whole place ensuring a good profit-making deal for the builders and architects.

• Social Pillar: It aims at achieving a healthy society with non-toxic pollution free society towards a better future.

According to Kellert, although the concept of biophilic design is itself relatively straightforward to grasp and we can easily appreciate how and why it creates positive outcomes, applying it in reality is challenging. This is because we don’t fully understand the biological workings of our affinity for nature or how to incorporate any understanding we do have into physical buildings. The six elements seek to create a framework for us to successfully apply biophilic design in the built environment.

https://thermory.com/blog-and-news/the-six-elements-of-biophilic-design/

It is a fifteen-room spa that is part of the luxury Naman Retreat. Vertical plantations surround the rooms to give them a tranquil environment.

In the courtyard of the Naman spa, you can barely see the large concrete walls because they are covered by vines that start at the roof and cover the entire surface flowing down like a green waterfall.

Biophilic design seeks to satisfy these inherent adaptations to nature in the modern built environment and, in doing so, enhance people's physical and mental health and fitness. Good habitat means ecologically sound and productive environments where people function to their optimal potential.

Main three principles are

Nature in the Space, Natural Analogues, and Nature of the Space

• ^{Environmental Features.}

• ^{Natural Shapes and Forms.}

• ^{Natural Patterns and Processes.}

• ^{Light and Space.}

• ^{Place-Based Relationships.}

• ^{Evolved Human-Nature Relationships.}

Biophilic spaces often include well-recognized features of the natural world. Features like vegetation, water, sunlight, and natural materials create a more pleasing visual and tactile experience. This principle can be applied on different scales.

Climate affects nearly every aspect of our lives, from our food sources to our transport infrastructure, from what clothes we wear, to where we go on holiday. It has a huge effect on our livelihoods, our health, and our future. Climate is the long-term pattern of weather conditions in any particular place.

Biophilic architecture integrates natural elements into building design to foster a connection between occupants and the environment. include:

1. Natural Light: Maximizing daylight through large windows, skylights, and open spaces to reduce reliance on artificial lighting and enhance mood.

2. Greenery: Incorporating plants, green walls, and rooftop gardens, which improve air quality and provide visual appeal.

3. Natural Materials: Using wood, stone, and other organic materials to create warmth and texture, promoting a sense of comfort.

4. Water Features: Integrating elements like ponds, fountains, or streams to evoke a calming atmosphere and enhance soundscapes.

5. Views of Nature: Designing spaces to offer views of outdoor landscapes, which can reduce stress and improve focus.

6. Organic Shapes and Patterns: Utilizing forms and patterns found in nature to create harmonious and aesthetically pleasing spaces.

7. Natural Ventilation: Promoting airflow and temperature regulation through design, reducing reliance on HVAC systems.

Key Features of Biophilic Architecture:

1. Natural Light: Maximizing the use of natural light to create bright, uplifting spaces.

2. Natural Materials: Using materials such as wood, stone, and plant-based products that evoke a sense of nature.

3. Green Spaces: Integrating plants, gardens, and green roofs into buildings to create a more vibrant, living environment.

4. Water Features: Including elements like fountains, ponds, or streams to provide auditory and visual connections to water.

5. Views of Nature: Designing spaces with windows and balconies that offer views of outdoor landscapes.

6. Organic Shapes: Incorporating curves and shapes found in nature to create a more harmonious environment.

7. Wildlife Integration: Creating habitats for local wildlife, such as birdhouses or bee hotels, within urban settings.

https://www.supremesteel.com/projects/the-spheres/

The Six Principles of Biophilic Design

• Environmental Features.

• Natural Shapes and Forms.

• Natural Patterns and Processes.

• Light and Space.

• Place-Based Relationships.

• Evolved Human-Nature Relationships.

• Learn More About the Biophilic Design

  
  

https://thermory.com/blog-and-news/the-six-elements-of-biophilic-design/

Nature in the Space, Natural Analogues, and Nature of the Space

2)case study

https://urbandesignlab.in/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/gb.gif

Biophilic design seeks to harness this connection by incorporating nature-inspired elements, materials, and patterns into the built environment. From incorporating natural light and views of greenery to incorporating organic shapes and textures, biophilic design aims to create spaces that evoke the same sense of tranquility and vitality found in natural settings.

•The Jewel – Singapore, Singapore

The first of two entries from Singapore, The Jewel is an entertainment and retail complex that forms part of Singapore Changi airport. It’s home to the world’s largest indoor waterfall (the 40-metre tall Rain Vortex) and 100,000 plants, and is part of Singapore’s goal to become ‘a city in a garden’ and a model of biodiversity.

Principles:

Biohpilic design is based on using natural features and environment surroundings, natural forms and biomimicry architecture,daylighting and natural ventilation,enhancing user's relation with nature.

The image above shows the 'Green house' desiged by Hayhurst&co. The house won the RIBA award due to its biophilic design.The house decreases energy consumption by using recycled materials as corck rubber maximizes energy efficiency by using materials such as recycled cork and timber walls. The house also contains a central atrium which enhances natural lighting.

Case study:

The barbican center in London.

It is a place is a multi art center. Practices such as theatre, music, art are done there. It has natural lakes, artificial lakes, and wildlife feeling from the trees. In my opinion it gives a very good sense of integration with the surrounding and it helps with the actual purpose of the place as people will be more creative when blended with natural elements.

What is biophilic design?

Biophilic design is an architectural movement that introduces elements of nature into a building’s architecture and design. While the prefix ‘bio’ might imply a singular focus on green elements like planting trees or foliage, biophilic design also prioritizes other natural elements — like open air, sunlight, or running water — that allow a building’s residents to establish a connection to nature.

The principles:

1) natural light 2) organic shapes like curves rather than sharp lines. 3) water features

4) wildlife 5) the design should be able to blend with the environmental changes.

The benefits of biophilic design:

1) reduces carbon dioxide

2) minimize waste through recycling and renewing of the water features

3) improve the public health of people ( clean air)

. It's a design approach that aims to combine buildings with nature by using natural elements such as: light, water and green elements, and organic materials to achieve sustainability and enhance human well-being and productivity.

Example

Eden project

In cornwall, England.

By Nicholas Grimshaw.

It began in 1998 and launched in 2001.

What makes it biophilic architecture example?

- Integration of Nature: Houses thousands of plant species in immersive biomes.

- Natural Forms: Geodesic domes mimic organic shapes found in nature.

- Natural Light: Transparent structures allow daylight to flood the spaces.

- Sustainability: Focuses on environmental education and conservation.

- Restorative Environment: Provides a calming, nature-filled experience.

- Water Elements: Incorporates water features for a multisensory connection to nature.

Biophilic designs include a range of concepts that a designer or architect can incorporate into their building designs. Some of the most common ideas include:

• Addition of plants and trees into walls, interior design, roofs, and landscaping

• Use of natural light

• Attempting to break down the barrier between inside and outside, via extensive use of skylights, sliding doors and balconies

• Introduction of water features

• Where possible, encouraging wildlife, particularly insects and small birds

• Using images and colours associated with the natural world

• Copying the random patterns found in nature within facades, floor plans or wallpaper

• Using natural materials, particularly timber, clay or wool in the structure and furniture

Biophilic design is a concept used within the building industry to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions. Used at both the building and city-scale, it is argued that this idea has health, environmental, and economic benefits for building

Biophilic designed buildings incorporate things like natural lighting and ventilation, natural landscape features and other elements for creating a more productive and healthy built environment for people.

And it has a main six elements

1. Environmental Features

Biophilic spaces often include well-recognized features of the natural world. Features like vegetation, water, sunlight, and natural materials create a more pleasing visual and tactile experience.

This principle can be applied on different scales. Some projects may stick to features like potted plants and materials like wood and stone, while others may incorporate larger features like courtyards, living wall planters, ponds, or fountains.

3. Natural Patterns and Processes

This principle refers to the structures and laws of the natural world. Biophilic spaces may include patterns found in nature, such as fractals. They may also reflect natural processes, like growth or aging.

Whether we recognize it or not, these processes stimulate our senses. Evolving materials like weathering steel reflect the passage of time, creating a more stimulating environment. Contrasting evolving materials with static materials can create a rich and varied sensory experience.

4. Light and Space

Daylighting is essential to biophilic design. Interior spaces with ample daylight can boost mood, improve productivity, and help regulate circadian rhythms.

Beyond standard lighting strategies, the principle recommends varied lighting to mimic how we experience light outdoors. For example, shadows and diffused light can mimic light filtering through a forest.

The principle also focuses on how occupants experience space. Varied interior volumes can mimic the experience of nature, reminding occupants of open skies or tree canopies.

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The Six Principles of Biophilic Design

August 19th, 2022 | 9 min. read

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Tyler Stone

Coined by psychologist Eric Fromm in 1964, biophilia refers to our innate connection with nature. It stems from the Greek words for “life” and “love” and explains why people around the globe enjoy experiences like walking through a forest or listening to ocean waves. Architects and interior designers have put biophilia into practice by creating connections to nature within the built environment.

This practice is known as “biophilic design,” and it offers many psychological benefits, including reduced stress and improved cognitive function. Due to the benefits, biophilic design has become a core component of building verification systems like the Living Building Challenge (LBC).

If you undertake an LBC project, you and your team will participate in a Biophilic Exploration, a workshop that helps you better understand biophilia and its connection to your project.

In the Biophilic Exploration, you will learn about Stephen Kellert’s six biophilic design principles. This article will discuss these six principles in more detail and provide examples, helping you explore ways your project can connect to nature.

The Six Principles of Biophilic Design

Stephen Kellert was a professor of social ecology at the Yale School of Forestry and Design. Throughout his career, he helped develop the field of biophilic design and became one of its biggest advocates. His six principles offer a practical framework for brainstorming design decisions, helping you consider how to incorporate nature into your project.

1. Environmental Features

Biophilic spaces often include well-recognized features of the natural world. Features like vegetation, water, sunlight, and natural materials create a more pleasing visual and tactile experience.

This principle can be applied on different scales. Some projects may stick to features like potted plants and materials like wood and stone, while others may incorporate larger features like courtyards, living wall planters, ponds, or fountains.

Biophilia principles

Indoor foliage at Kreg Tool's headquarters.

2. Natural Shapes and Forms

Using naturally occurring shapes, patterns, and forms is another element of biophilic design. These elements can include botanical motifs, spirals, arches, and curves.

Mimicking or recreating natural forms can create a symbolic and subconscious connection to nature. For example, an arched doorway or a vaulted ceiling may remind one of a cave, creating a sense of shelter and refuge.

3. Natural Patterns and Processes

This principle refers to the structures and laws of the natural world. Biophilic spaces may include patterns found in nature, such as fractals. They may also reflect natural processes, like growth or aging.

Whether we recognize it or not, these processes stimulate our senses. Evolving materials like weathering steel reflect the passage of time, creating a more stimulating environment. Contrasting evolving materials with static materials can create a rich and varied sensory experience.

Biophilia principles

2.Weathering steel at St. Luke the Evangelist.

3. Light and Space

Daylighting is essential to biophilic design. Interior spaces with ample daylight can boost mood, improve productivity, and help regulate circadian rhythms.

Beyond standard lighting strategies, the principle recommends varied lighting to mimic how we experience light outdoors. For example, shadows and diffused light can mimic light filtering through a forest.

The principle also focuses on how occupants experience space. Varied interior volumes can mimic the experience of nature, reminding occupants of open skies or tree canopies.

4.Diffused light at One Place.

5. Place-Based Relationships

This principle encourages designers to avoid “placeless-ness” and root a building or interior space within its context. On a basic level, it involves using local materials, native plantings, and indigenous building techniques.

However, this principle is also about capturing the “spirit” of a place. In the LBC’s Biophilic Exploration, you learn about your local ecology, history, and culture. This information can inspire design ideas that root your project in its community context.

6. Evolved Human-Nature Relationships

The last principle refers to our evolutionary relationship with nature and how we can recreate this feeling in the built environment. Designers can work to create a sense of:

Protection and refuge

Awe and excitement

Order and complexity

Exploration and discovery

These are all sensations we experience as we immerse ourselves in the natural environment. By identifying and naming these feelings, we are better able to integrate them into a building’s design. Readily experiencing the sensations of nature makes us more likely to appreciate and protect it.

The main benefits of biophilic design

The sustainability aspect of biophilic design is crucial for living buildings and environments. Providing green spaces, water features, abundant plants and natural materials creates a host of benefits, including helping to reduce a development's carbon footprint and regulating the temperature of buildings.

One of the primary challenges of integrating biophilic design with an existing space is the structural limitations of the building. Incorporating natural elements such as living walls, skylights, or water features may require significant modifications to the building's infrastructure.

Case studies

Greenacre Park is a 6,000-square foot oasis nestled among the

tall towers of midtown Manhattan. Inside the park a 25-foot tall

waterfall cools the air and mutes the noise of the surrounding

traffic, creating space for quietude—a rarity in the hectic city

center. The park has three distinct levels which provide users

several choices of environmental conditions. The spatial

configuration and excellent use of biophilic design principles

imbue this popular park with a sense of tranquility even during

periods of heavy utilization.

Notable architects who embrace biophilic principles include:

1. Stefano Boeri – Known for his Bosco Verticale in Milan, which integrates vertical gardens into residential towers.

2. Jeanne Gang – Her Aqua Tower in Chicago incorporates organic forms and balconies that resemble waves, blending nature into urban settings.

3. Ken Yeang – A pioneer in eco-architecture, known for his designs that incorporate green spaces and natural ventilation systems, such as the Menara Mesiniaga building in Malaysia.