The need for Biophilic Architectural Design

The people who design our world have a lot to learn from nature. Our current world has been in existence from 3.8 billion years which is centuries worth of research at the fingertips of engineers, designers and architects. When it comes to architecture specifically, the influence of nature can be seen throughout the ages from the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona to the Taipei 101 in Taiwan to the dreamlike Lotus temple of India. The congruence of nature and architecture is not just limited to designs but can also be used to provide various innovative strategies and solutions to complex problems.

Today, new technologies are now enabling architects, engineers and designers to create structures and design elements inspired by nature. In this article we will be talking about what is Biophilic Design, its need in the present day and also state how can modern technology in the AEC sector like BIM Services, Virtual reality etc. facilitate its implementation.

What is Biophilic Design?

Biophilic Design is a concept that is slowly becoming prominent in the construction industry. It aims to increase the occupant’s connectivity to nature via direct or indirect use of natural elements in the design. It is based on the principal that human beings have an innate attraction to nature and natural settings. It is to because of living in agrarian settings for thousands of years that human beings have a genetic conditioning towards the natural world. If the today’s increasing urban world could connect to this natural world it could lead to higher levels of satisfaction, productivity and quality of life.

The need for Biophilic Design?

There are various aspects of the natural world which can contribute to human health and productivity. In the modernized world where there is technology all around us Biophilic design could hold the key to increasing our connection to nature. WHO has stated that in 2020 the highest contributor to diseases were mental health disorders and cardio-vascular diseases. Both these diseases at some level can be affected by the immediate environment the person resides in. There has been considerable research done which have concluded that elements of nature implemented into design can reduce stress, blood pressure and heart-rates. It could also increase productivity and creativity. This is perhaps why companies like Apple, Google and Amazon are choosing to go the natural way hoping that their employees would form better emotional bonds as well as it would improve the employee’s concentration, engagement and cognitive abilities.

How to implement Biophilic Design into building design?

Biophilic Design can be implemented at different places. It could be in homes, offices, hotels, hospitals etc. There are two ways in which Biophilic design can be implemented: direct and indirect. Direct implementation of nature could be in the form of lights, plants, water etc. It is anything which would lead to a direct contact with green elements. Direct views of nature or outdoors for instance. In fact, a study conducted by Roger Ulrich in 1984 found that healthcare patients with views of green nature recovered faster than those poised in a room with a brick wall. Even water and airflow can play key roles in direct implementation of nature. In bigger buildings there is also the possibility of adding indoor rivers, koi ponds etc. Better ventilation could lead to reduced toxin levels as well as generally open spaces for better air quality could also lead to enhanced natural lightning.

Then there are also indirect experiences of nature which can used in the building design. It could be in terms of materials used like wood, faux grass etc. It could also be as simple as adding pictures of nature. Indirect experience of nature enables architects and designers to add natural elements where there is no possibility for them to add plants, have better ventilation etc. Indirect experience of nature could also be brought on by sound and smell. By incorporating visual senses, sound of nature or any multi-sensory Biophilic experience could prove to be beneficial.

Then the final question raised is how effectively it is possible to add such elements. Some changes are simple like adding a few plants or playing some nature induced sounds, however most Biophilic design elements require proper planning and design. Architectural BIM Services can be used in the preconstruction phase to properly visualize the building design. BIM has various tools which would be beneficial to calculate the impact of natural elements for instance Revit allows to calculate the sun positions and shading. BIM is also data-driven and can also be used to provide information about materials, their compositions and how they will react.

Proper visualization is essential when it comes to Biophilic designs as it is ultimately about enhancing the occupant’s quality of life. BIM can be thus used to create virtual reality and augmented reality environments which can enable the client to properly get the feel of the place.

Conclusion:

Thus, it is important to state that Biophilic design is much more than making the people more efficient by applying the right designs with the right tools. The success of the design also could translate in a new consciousness towards the environment and enrich the mental and physical life of the people inhabiting it. Finally, it could prove instrumental in better connecting humans to the larger world they occupy.