What is Biophilia and Biophilic Design? Do I Want It?

Nevermind that it sounds like a disease or phobia, Biophilia is nothing so terrible.  In fact, since summer is fast-approaching, we’ll be getting our ‘Biophilia On’ over the next few months. Oh. I am sorry, that sounded dirty. I’d better explain. Simply put, Biophilia is our innate desire to converge with nature. It’s what sends us into the woods, camping, hiking and fishing. Biophilia is an instinctive affinity for the natural world.

Biophilic Design incorporates nature into the work place using color, plant material and many other creative elements, thus bringing the outside in and positively affecting employers and employees. People who work in environments with natural elements report a 15% higher level of well-being, are 6% more productive and 15% more creative overall.

We now know the potential benefits of incorporating nature into the workplace, but how does biophilia translate into biophilic design and why is it important for architects and designers to use these principles when creating effective commercial spaces? Below, Professor Sir Cary Cooper talks about elements such as light, greenery and color, and how these can be used to create a positive workspace. For more information on Biophilic Design, visit HumanSpaces.com.