To start off, it is important to define biophilia. It is the human instinct to connect with nature and other living beings. In interior design, it more specifically means bringing the outdoors in. This helps create a natural environment that makes it more enjoyable to work, live, and learn in. The benefits not only include the connection between humans and nature, but also impacts our emotions, health, and overall feeling. Biophilia is used through interior design to get this feeling across. This extends to the lighting, furniture, and finishes of a design.
Through design, biophilia brings water, vegetation, and natural light, as well as natural elements like wood and stone into architectural areas. Encouragement of the use of natural systems and processes in design allows for increased exposure to nature, which improves health and well-being. Reduced heart and pulse rates, reduced blood pressure, and greater activity in our neural systems are just a few of the potential benefits.
For decades, theorists, research scientists, and designers have been attempting to pinpoint the characteristics of nature that have the greatest impact on our contentment with the built environment. Unfortunately, contemporary society has constructed numerous barriers to enjoying the benefits of nature. The most serious issue is a growing alienation with nature, which is frequently considered as a resource to be exploited or as a beautiful but unnecessary recreational pleasure. Modern agriculture, manufacturing, education, healthcare, urban growth, and architecture all reflect this growing alienation from nature.
Ways in which nature is incorporated in a space include visual connection with nature, which stimulates our other senses of sound, touch, smell, and taste to remind us of our connection to nature, non-visual connection with nature, which stimulates our other senses of sound, touch, smell, and taste to remind us of our connection to nature, and other presence of nature, which helps our senses connect to nature by any means necessary.
There are also patterns called natural analogue patterns which can be used to incorporate elements of nature into a space. They use texture, patterns, and shapes to imitate natural details. Every location on the planet has its own distinct plants, rivers, or natural features. Buildings and interiors that actually belong to their individual area, celebrate its beauty, and promote people's attachment to it will be created using biophilic design principles. This might be reflected in the use of local materials in the construction of interior finishes.
