Request Catalog

Blog

Resources >


Image

7 Principles of Healthy Buildings

The built environment affects human health and behavior in a direct and appreciable way. As we spend more than 90 percent of our time indoors, these places have a significant impact on our mental and physical well-being. The push to develop healthy buildings has always been around, but it has recently gathered momentum due to the pandemic with increasing numbers of projects opting for environmentally responsible, resource-efficient, safe, and healthy building plans. Below are a few principles of healthy building environments that will not just increase the performance of the building but will make people comfortable and active by designing […]

Read More
Image

Why Bring Biophilia into Eating Areas and Restaurants

In eating areas, there are two primary components to the experience that we are familiar with –  one is the food and the second is the interior design. In terms of interior design of an eating area or restaurant, it’s important to consider what the guests think and experience. Some eating areas are built only for function, while others invite people to set up their laptop and to stay awhile. The ambience created can dictate the length of time people stay in the eating space and how often they come. Eating spaces that provide an extra offering beyond the food […]

Read More
Image

How Biophilia Is Applied to Biophilia to Walls, Ceilings, and Floors

A building’s geometry is a result of applying a particular design language chosen by the architect. A design language includes the basic elements: floors, walls, ceilings, volumes, and their subdivision, windows, materials, ornamentation, and the rules for combining them. When the design language of a building is biophilia, opportunities include more than just plants on these surfaces.  Stephen Kellert in his thought-leadership has provided design professionals with a roadmap to incorporate a biophilic design language within buildings. He stresses that good biophilic design is more than bringing potted plants and artwork into the space. Rather, effective biophilic design is thoughtfully […]

Read More
Image

Designing and Building following WELL Standards

Buildings are constructed for humans. They are designed for human activity, and since we spend more than 90 percent of our time inside the built environment, it is crucial that we create something that positively impacts our emotional, physical, and mental well-being. This is exactly what WELL Building Standards are all about.  What are WELL Standards? A model to improve human-centered design and construction, WELL is a performance-based system formulated by the International Well Building Institute for certifying features of the built environment that impacts health and wellness while integrating existing green building standards like LEED and Living Building Challenge. […]

Read More
Image

Geometric Style in Design of Urban Landscapes

Through the ages, geometry has had a key influence on the design of urban landscapes – and it’s easy to see why. They are pleasing to the eye and represent a common value of beauty and order that reflects society’s condition of well-being. From the ancient landscapes of Persia and Egypt to Renaissance Europe and even contemporary landscapes, mathematical shapes and patterns have inspired design for centuries. Considered formal, or sometimes classical, geometric landscape designs can be found across the globe today.  Geometric landscapes aren’t just about visual aesthetics, but they greatly influence the way people view and experience them. […]

Read More
Image

Biophilia into Office Spaces

People spend an overwhelming amount of their time indoors. Numerous studies have concluded that we spend about 90 percent of our time indoors where the staff that do get to step out only immerse themselves for 15-30 minutes outdoors. With many Americans working on average 40 hours per week indoors, this adds up to a lot of time away from nature.  ‘Biophilia’, a term coined by research biologist Edward O. Wilson, describes that human beings have an inherent need to connect with the natural environment. A later response to E. O. Wilson’s work led to biophilic design as a strategy […]

Read More
Image

Why Incorporate Biophilia into Corridors and Walkways

If you walk from Concourse A to Concourse B at ATL Atlanta Airport, you will experience elements of Biophilia during this transit. You will hear the sounds of wind and birds coming from the hanging plants that are accented with soft lighting. This biophilic experience creates a calming mood when transitioning between concourses in a traditionally busy and sometimes stressful airport. Airports invest in reducing stress for people, and that includes people transitioning from one space to another. When considering the effectiveness that biophilic design applications have at reducing stress people might experience when in transit at airports, offices can […]

Read More
Image

Why Incorporate Biophilia into Collaboration Areas

Collaboration areas are where ideas come to fruition. These spaces are meant to inspire creativity and social interaction. Just as it’s normal for humans to socialize, it’s also normal for humans to connect with nature. When a social connection occurs in a setting such as a biophilic collaboration area, people reach a more comfortable state of well-being while also inspiring productive interaction. Intersecting benefits of social interaction with biophilic design provide several positive impacts that can be productive for people working in collaboration areas. Positive interaction with others releases oxytocin in the brain, which improves mood. Human connection to nature […]

Read More
Image

Budgeting Biophilia in Offices

Biophilic Design Makes Economic Sense A common question asked by clients is what it will cost to incorporate biophilia in their office. Biophilic design can be considered a similar concept to that of incorporating solar panels onto a roof to harness energy, upgrading an HVAC system to improve performance and efficiency, as well as switching to low voltage incandescent light fixtures to save on energy bills. The up-front capital cost provides for the subsequent economic savings and benefits for the office as well as for the personnel.  In terms of biophilic design, the upfront capital cost allows for subsequent enhanced […]

Read More
Image

Influence with Design – A Guide to Color and Emotions

The pioneer of abstract art, Wassily Kandinsky, once said, “Color is a power which directly influences the soul.” Colors influence our emotions and are known to dramatically affect human moods and feelings. The use of colors in commercial spaces can be used to signal action and productivity in the workplace. Colors can represent all sorts of different things. For example, the color red usually means angry or bad, whereas yellow means joyful and content. Colors can even go deeper too with their meanings. There are colors for depression, relieving stress, and even reducing high blood pressure. The color choices, whether […]

Read More
Image

Biophilic vs. Biomorphic Design

Nature has always been a big influence on humans. There are countless examples in history of nature being involved in design in people’s homes and spaces. Ancient Greek temples, the Egyptian Sphinx, and the Rococo designs found in the Salon de Monsieur le Prince are all proof of the fact that nature has always been a part of human spatial design. This indicates that implementing nature in a built environment is not a new trend. Over time, these ideas have evolved into the modern notions of biophilic and biomorphic design. It is easy to mix up these terms as they […]

Read More
Image

Biophilia in Lobbies

Lobbies are the first place where people enter a building.  They give a strong first impression to the employees and guests entering the space. Many opportunities exist in the lobby to allow people to have an experience of human to nature interconnectivity that will provide them with an idea of what is to come within the office space.  When people enter a lobby, they can be immersed in an experience and sense that they are entering a calming environment. When people see plants, earth tone colors, natural light (if available), and materials representative of nature, the human will subconsciously respond […]

Read More
Image

Anticipated Changes in the Office Environment and How Biophilia Plays a Role

What Does the Post-Pandemic Workplace Look Like? A recent JLL survey of leaders in business found that the future office place is changing. It is predicted that the majority of businesses will continue utilizing a hybrid work environment in the post-pandemic era. The survey found that 46% of businesses intend to reduce their real estate footprint by up to 30% to allow for flexible/hybrid workspaces. While changes are being made to how and where people work, the office is not going anywhere. What’s changing is how people work and the environment in which they collaborate.  Many businesses see these changes […]

Read More
Image

Interior Architecture and Design Trends 2021

The last 18 months have been especially chaotic for offices, retail businesses, and hospitality ventures that saw a major disruption in every part of their operations. Commercial spaces are constantly changing and evolving, but 2020 has forced a radical rethink in how we design public environments. As people get vaccinated, things are regaining a sense of stability, but the way we work, shop, and dine has undergone a massive shift. This has sent architects and designers back to the drawing board to create spaces where customers and employees can feel safe. Below are a few commercial interior architectures and design […]

Read More
Image

Biophilia and the Visual Connection

Urban spaces are increasingly becoming dense built environments with little space for nature. The missing factor to creating a healthy environment in these urban spaces is biophilia. Regular exposure to nature has many advantages that are stripped away in the modern built environment. Biophilic design respects mind-body systems as indicators of health and well-being. Visual connection with nature is one of the most important elements of biophilic design and can enhance the experience of commercial space by reducing stress, improving cognitive performance, and positively impacting attitude and overall happiness.  Visual connection with nature is defined as having visual access to […]

Read More
Image

What is the Future of Office Spaces?

The coronavirus pandemic has reshaped the world, how we design public spaces, and how we use them. As vaccines continue to be distributed and the world becomes more and more open, it is only a matter of time before we return to how life used to be in the office. However, the office environment may be dramatically changed for many returning workers, and navigating them will be different than the way we remember. We will have to redefine the old office culture of crowded meeting rooms, lounge areas, shared cubicles, and long lines at the cafeteria. The office is meant […]

Read More
Image

Biophilic Design Principles, Elements, and Concepts

Humans have developed adaptive responses to the natural world. The human body, mind, and senses evolved in a bio-centric world and humans have an inherent inclination to affiliate with nature. This is what biophilia is all about. Biophilic design creates an atmosphere that connects humans to nature – the ultimate goal of which is to create a modern built environment that is healthy, inspirational, and restorative.  One of the most important principles of biophilic design is ensuring repeated and sustained engagement with nature. Biophilic installations should create a cohesive, interconnected environment throughout the entire space, much like real nature. Isolated […]

Read More
Image

5 Interior Design Hacks to Reduce Anxiety

Interior design has a big impact on health and wellness. Architects and designers are constantly searching for ways to create interior spaces that not only look good but also support physical and mental well-being. The term neuroarchitecture, which derives evidence from neuroscientific studies, is being used to create spaces that will improve the well-being of those living in them. The goal is to create an atmosphere that actively reduces stress and anxiety. Here are a few interior design hacks you can incorporate into your space to reduce anxiety and lead a healthier, happier daily life. Colors and Emotions Colors and […]

Read More
Image

14 Patterns of Biophilic Design

Good biophilic design is one which is designed to keep The world, as we know it today, is relatively new. The large-scale agriculture, urbanization, industrialization, and the dominant use of technology, everything is fairly recent. However, these are artificial forces whereas human evolution took place in an adaptive response to the natural world. It will not be incorrect to say that the human mind, body, and soul evolved in a bio-centric world which explains our inherent inclination to affiliate with nature. And this is exactly what biophilia is all about. Biophilic designs seek to create good habitats for people in […]

Read More
Image

Implementing Biomorphic Design

Derived from Greek words Bioic (life, living) and μορφή (form), Biomorphism refers to designing shape and forms that are inspired from nature. Biomorphic shapes, forms, and patterns are one of the components of biophilic design and symbolically refer to contours, patterns, textures, or numerical arrangements that occur in nature. In fact, we have always embedded natural themes in architecture and the signs can be found even in the earliest human structures. From the ancient temples to the Art Nouveau designs of the late 19th century, from Hotel Tassel in Brussels to the structures of Gare do Oriente in Lisbon, biomorphic […]

Read More
Shopping List0
There are no products in the List!
0