ONE WORD TO BEAT WINTER BLUES: BIOMIMICRY

CREATURELY REFLECTIONS

- SARAH BOWEN

“THIS IS THE STRANGEST TOILET STALL I’VE EVER BEEN IN,” I said aloud to no one in particular in Newark Airport’s redesigned Terminal A. Completely absent was any graffiti or shiny stall partitions. No, the entire toilet enclosure was a forest scene. Full-scale murals comprised of bright green grass and rough-barked trees created a lush, safe-feeling place to “do my business.”

Newark Airport’s 2.7 billion dollar investment seems well spent for traveler comfort. Soaring ceilings let in plentiful natural light, small gardens provide areas to rest, and a playground gives kids room to run. Rather than trying to overstimulate visitors with things to do! and stuff to buy!, the terminal now seems to have a pleasant, soothing effect, blurring the boundaries of what we normally consider city and nature—which is amazing for an airport.

EXPLORING BIOMIMICRY

Blending nature with interior architecture utilizes a design process called biomimicry, or nature-inspired innovation. “Biomimicry is about valuing nature for what we can learn, not what we can extract, harvest, or domesticate. In the process, we learn about ourselves, our purpose, and our connection to each other and our home on earth,” explains the Biomimicry Institute.

Upon returning home from the airport, I wondered if I could do some mimicry of my own. My husband and I tend to get quite cranky when the world beyond our windows seems to turn from green to gray in a matter of days. Could more attention to the interior spaces in which we spend our winter days help? Did my house need a redesign, too?