Biophilic Design and Mental Health

A love for life or nature’ is what the term “biophilia” refers to, and biophilic design uses these ideas to bring nature back into man-made settings like offices. We can help people feel more connected to nature while at work and improve positivity and wellness by simulating natural environments in artificial ones. Biophilia incorporates not only plants but also other things like better natural lighting, water features, and more natural colors. Even natural patterns like honeycombs can be found in structures with biophilic design. 

Biophilic design is a concept that involves incorporating elements of nature into the built environment to improve mental health. It has been found to reduce stress, improve mood, and increase cognitive performance. Biophilic design can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Biophilic design has been used in a variety of settings, including homes, workplaces, and healthcare facilities. The most common elements of biophilic design include natural light, plants, water features, and natural materials. Other elements can include views of nature, natural colors, natural textures, and natural sounds.

Biophilic design can be used to create a calming and restorative environment, which can help to improve mental health. It can also be used to create a more inviting and productive workspace, which can help to reduce stress and improve wellbeing.

Why Does Biophilic Design Improve Mental Health?

It has been discovered that biophilic design can enhance mental health by fostering a tranquil and healing environment. This may lessen stress and lift your spirits. A sense of connection to nature is another benefit of biophilic design that has been linked to better mental health. Biophilic design can lessen the signs of anxiety and depression.

How Biophilic Design Affects Mental Health?

It has been demonstrated that biophilic design has the following positive effects on our mental health:

  • Decrease In Depressive Symptoms
  • Reduced Feelings Of Burnout
  • Decreased Feelings Of Anxiety
  • Reduced Stress
  • An Overall Better Emotional State

Decrease in Depressive Symptoms

It has been demonstrated that biophilic design can boost your mood when you’re feeling particularly down. After receiving nature-based rehabilitation (traditional medical rehabilitation combined with exposure to nature), 88% of patients with treatment-resistant stress-related mental disorders experienced a decrease in their depression score. And in this case, “exposure to nature” merely meant relaxing in a garden. 

Reduced Burnout Feelings

Plants or exposure to spaces that have a “planty” feeling are the main components of biophilic design. This tracks, given that almost every area of the natural world is controlled in some way by the presence of plants or other living things.

Reduced Anxiety Symptoms

We seem to feel less anxious when we are around plants and greenery. And we already understand this to be true.

Lower Stress

The parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest) may even be stimulated by exposure to plants, which helps to suppress the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight).

It is obvious that biophilic design has a positive global impact on the workplace and contributes to bridging the gap between the sometimes harsh and lifeless office environment and the natural world that surrounds us.

What are the principles of biophlic design?

Nature’s experience can be incorporated both directly and indirectly. Utilizing all natural components directly into a structure is known as direct incorporation. It might be living things, animals, moving water, or sunlight. By using artificial methods, indirect incorporation imitates nature. Examples include depictions of nature, the use of natural colors, or organic shapes. These are all significant aspects of biophilic design.

Six guidelines for biophilic design

Environmental features – One effective way to promote a connection between people and nature in design is to include direct contact with vegetation in a built environment.

Natural forms and shapes – can be used to mirror the natural world by displaying complexity at various design levels as opposed to sharp edges and straight lines.

Natural patterns and processes – Since managing highly sensory and variable natural environments has always been essential to human survival, biophilic design in the workplace must arouse all the senses, including sight, sound, smell, touch, and other sensory systems.

Place-based relationships: Spaces should be designed with a connection to their surroundings.

Light and space – Natural daylight creates an energetic space that changes throughout the course of the day.

Biophilic design principles have been found to have a number of benefits, including reducing stress, improving mood, and increasing cognitive performance. Biophilic design can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as provide a sense of connection to nature. Additionally, biophilic design can reduce noise levels, improve air quality, increase patient satisfaction, and reduce energy costs.

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