The Nature Of Things

According to the theory of biophilia, we’re genetically programmed to thrive in nature. Biophilic design encourages us to bring nature and its therapeutic benefi ts into the places where we dwell most of the time: our homes and workplaces.

- Linda Moon

In the developed world we spend most of our lives within human-made environments. Artificially lit, air-conditioned and furnished with synthetic mass-produced products, the modern habitats of our homes and workplaces are far from what we evolved within. While few of us would challenge such a way of life, a growing body of evidence suggests deprivation from the natural environment has negative consequences for our health and wellbeing. In fact, many researchers believe a lot of modern stress derives from our lack of adaptation to living in urban environments.

A report commissioned by Beyondblue (Beyond Blue to Green: The Benefits of Contact With Nature For Mental Health and Well-Being) found contact with nature, including merely viewing a garden through a window, can enhance our health. As well as invigorating and rejuvenating us, nature can reduce stress, depression, anger and frustration, improve our mood and physical health, enhance focus and clarity, and promote a sense of belonging, calm and acceptance.

Evolving out of this growing recognition (a field known as ecopsychology), the concept of biophilia (our innate affinity for nature) has been embraced by some architects and designers. Holistic architect and interior designer Anthony Ashworth explains that biophilic design is simply “bringing a sense of the natural world into our built environment”. While it’s a new word, “We’ve been doing biophilic design since we could pick up charcoal and draw on a wall,” he says. “It’s been given a category and an awareness now but we’ve always kind of done it.”

Not everything natural is necessarily biophilic. For example, deep-sea habitats, volcanoes, outer space, deserts, poisonous snakes and microorganisms, though natural, are not biophilic. Biophilic design centres around natural ecosystems and phenomena with an evolutionary history of benefit to human wellbeing.