Biophilia
A journal entry from Studio Two
The Secrets of plants
- AND HOW THEY INFLUENCE US -
The world of interior design is constantly evolving. No two days are the same, trends seem to come to go, and with that our homes & businesses change also.
A trend that still holds a firm place in the industry today and has done for the past 6 years, is the concept of bringing greenery into our indoor spaces; bringing the outdoors in, for a better term.
This wholesome hype is known as, Biophilia.
"WE WILL NEVER BE FULLY TRULY HEALTHY, SATISFIED OR FULFILLED IF WE LIVE APART FROM THE ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE WERE CREATED"
CHAPTER 1
THE HUMAN & THEIR ENVIRONMENT
Interior Design is all about how we as humans experience and interpret our environment. We design in ways to evoke certain emotions through our clever uses of materials, lighting & physical features such as furniture & manipulation of space. If we look back to the popular evolutionary theory of Darwinism, this suggests that we as humans have evolved from primates, living amongst dense forests & greenery.
Some studies have been conducted that suggest we as humans aren’t so different today, and still require time in nature and the outdoor world to feel relaxed & at ease.
This is where the magic happens and when biophilic principles start to come alive…
EVERYTHING IS PERFECT"
-Unknown-
CHAPTER 2
SO WHAT IS BIOPHILIA?
Biophilia is the idea that humans possess an innate tendency to seek connections with nature and the term roughly translates to ‘the love of living things’ in Ancient Greek.
This principle is translated into a physical form in the world of interiors through the material palette we use, for example;
Timber & natural wood has become a big front-runner in forms such as furniture & cladding materials, in the likes of once stagnant environments such as work offices, schools & libraries. The incorporation of natural materials such as locally sourced stone and the addition of
plant-life, has added a new dimension to flat and lifeless spaces.
In the design world, we see this principle at the forefront of new concepts each year and now we can see how the trend has evolved through time.
CHAPTER 3
HOW BIOPHILIA HAS EVOLVED
Let’s go back 6 years to when the idea first came about and into the spotlight…
Initially, we saw the concept in offices. The idea that bringing greenery into a space that was rife with stress and anxiety was thought of as a long-term solution in helping to make employees feel more relaxed with being at work, thus boosting productivity and high staff turnovers.
We saw the famous ‘living wall’ emerge and since then, this has been a popular feature in hotel lobbies, hospitals, offices, restaurants, and even some high-end homes & apartments!
Soon after this, foliage sales went through the roof, and homes & businesses’ were stockpiling plants in every room possible. – If anything it was a little overdone!
Let’s jump back to the present, where Biophilic design is here to stay.
Unfair to call this a trend, as trends are usually fast-paced and short-lived, this fad has been a slow burner.
CHAPTER 4
Now we see the influence of natural materials as a prevalent one in both commercial and residential settings, but it’s no longer the star of the show. Post-Covid, our perspective has changed, life is slower and the way we live has been altered.
Being confined to our homes over the past 2 years has made people appreciate the life of the outdoors more, and given us the chance to change our design aesthetic to reflect the changing times.
Designers from the industry have added live foliage into hotel rooms to alleviate & improve upon stagnant air, to provide better breathing in high footfall areas and places with limited access to fresh air. Alongside this, the addition of natural timbers, bamboo & rattan features in our cafés & restaurants, to give a warm feeling, imitating the one in our homes.
Biophilia has changed the way that we see the hospitality industry as a whole, on an industrial scale. The natural properties incorporated in these materials have been proven to help us sleep better & to feel more relaxed, which in turn, is shown overtime to lower blood pressure and have a cathartic effect on our day to day lives.