6/17/2019 3 Simple Ways to Design a Biophilic Home – Seembu – Medium

Images haven’t loaded yet. Please exit printing, wait for images to load, and try to
3 Simple Ways to Design a Biophilic
print again.
Home
Seembu Follow
Oct 27, 2016 · 4 min read

Image via Unsplash

Biophilic Design is an innovative way of designing the places where we

live, work, and learn. Moreover, Biophilic design integrates the
building with the available natural resources around us plants, water
and air. Biophilic design can reduce stress, improve cognitive function
and creativity, improve our well-being and expedite healing. With

https://medium.com/@seembu/3-simple-ways-to-design-a-biophilic-home-7e93fafdb0c2 1/11
6/17/2019 3 Simple Ways to Design a Biophilic Home – Seembu – Medium

application of Biophilic Design, it could give a positive impact to the

building users.

Maximize the advantages of nature which is free and available. To help

you design a Biophilic home, here are 3 ways to apply Biophilic design
to your home:

METHOD 1: APPLY BIOMIMICRY FINISHES

It simply means that you should apply natural finishes such as wood or
stone to your interior/exterior walls, floors or any other elements in
your home.

Design considerations on applying natural finishes on your walls or

floors

Image via Totems Architecture

a. Quantities of a (natural) material should be specified based on

intended function of the space.

https://medium.com/@seembu/3-simple-ways-to-design-a-biophilic-home-7e93fafdb0c2 2/11
6/17/2019 3 Simple Ways to Design a Biophilic Home – Seembu – Medium

Image via Marc Canut

One such study demonstrated that a difference in wood ratio on the

walls of an interior space led to different physiological responses. The
researchers observed that a room with a moderate ratio of wood (i.e.,
45% coverage), with a more subjective “comfortable” feeling, exhibited
significant decreases in diastolic blood pressure and significant
increases in pulse rate.

b. Choose authentic material over synthetic ones

https://medium.com/@seembu/3-simple-ways-to-design-a-biophilic-home-7e93fafdb0c2 3/11
6/17/2019 3 Simple Ways to Design a Biophilic Home – Seembu – Medium

Image via Marc Canut

Real materials are preferred over synthetic variations because human

receptors can tell the difference between real and synthetic, so
minimally processed materials from real nature are preferred whenever
possible.

METHOD 2: LET NATURAL LIGHT AND AIR

PENETRATE

https://medium.com/@seembu/3-simple-ways-to-design-a-biophilic-home-7e93fafdb0c2 4/11
6/17/2019 3 Simple Ways to Design a Biophilic Home – Seembu – Medium

Image via Catherine Macfee Interior Design

Design considerations on Natural light and ventilation

a. Orient the building where the building could capture the light
and air. Avoid the side which captures the heat.

Image via Line Grundstad Hanke Interior Design

Search for Sun and Wind Map of your location and identify the wind
direction and Solar path. The best performer for light is on the south

https://medium.com/@seembu/3-simple-ways-to-design-a-biophilic-home-7e93fafdb0c2 5/11
6/17/2019 3 Simple Ways to Design a Biophilic Home – Seembu – Medium

side rather than in the west and east. It is called the 6M Passive zone.
Thus, the design of the buildings have window openings facing the
South side.

b. Achieve appropriate WWR (window-wall ratio)

Image via Canadian Home Decor

Window area or window-to-wall ratio (WWR) is an important variable

affecting energy performance in a building. Window area will have
impacts on the building’s heating, cooling, and lighting, as well as
relating it to the natural environment in terms of access to daylight,
ventilation and views. The WWR (window-wall ratio) chart shows the
right WWR in order to achieve good daylighting.

https://medium.com/@seembu/3-simple-ways-to-design-a-biophilic-home-7e93fafdb0c2 6/11
6/17/2019 3 Simple Ways to Design a Biophilic Home – Seembu – Medium

WWR Chart (Source: Patterns of Biophilic Design: Improving Health and Well-being in the built
environment by William Browning)

METHOD 3: ADD BLUE AND

GREEN ELEMENTS
It means add landscape and water elements to your design.

https://medium.com/@seembu/3-simple-ways-to-design-a-biophilic-home-7e93fafdb0c2 7/11
6/17/2019 3 Simple Ways to Design a Biophilic Home – Seembu – Medium

Image via 3Dskaper

Design consideration on adding landscape and water elements

a. Prioritize or enable exercise opportunities that are in proximity

to green spaces.

Image via Suppose Design O ce

https://medium.com/@seembu/3-simple-ways-to-design-a-biophilic-home-7e93fafdb0c2 8/11
6/17/2019 3 Simple Ways to Design a Biophilic Home – Seembu – Medium

Add natural elements around spaces such as dining area, living spaces
or any spaces where you could stay longer.

Stress recovery from visual connections with nature have reportedly

been realized through lowered blood pressure and heart rate. Viewing
of nature stimulates a larger portion of the visual cortex than non-
nature scenes, which triggers more pleasure receptors in our brain,
leading to prolonged interest and faster stress recover.

b. Add some water features such as Koi pond or fountains.

Image via aadaw.nvrdns

The Presence of Water element has evolved from research on visual

preference for and positive emotional responses to environments
containing water elements; reduced stress, increased feelings of
tranquility, and lower heart rate and blood pressure from exposure to
water features; improved concentration and memory restoration
induced by complex, naturally fluctuating visual stimuli; and enhanced
perception and psychological and physiological responsiveness when
multiple senses are stimulated simultaneously.

Sources:

14 Patterns of Biophilic Design - Terrapin Bright

Green

https://medium.com/@seembu/3-simple-ways-to-design-a-biophilic-home-7e93fafdb0c2 9/11
6/17/2019 3 Simple Ways to Design a Biophilic Home – Seembu – Medium

Terrapin Report Go to the Report Improving Health

and Well-Being in the Built Environment Biophili…
www.terrapinbrightgreen.com

5 Design Approaches to a Biophilic Home -

JAPHETH LIM.COM

I have always loved "Green Buildings" and waiting

to invest into one of it soon enough, and that…
blog.japhethlim.com

Biophilic Design: The Architecture of Life

Biophilic Design: The Architecture of Life - a lm

about the future of green
www.biophilicdesign.net

https://medium.com/@seembu/3-simple-ways-to-design-a-biophilic-home-7e93fafdb0c2 10/11
6/17/2019 3 Simple Ways to Design a Biophilic Home – Seembu – Medium

https://medium.com/@seembu/3-simple-ways-to-design-a-biophilic-home-7e93fafdb0c2 11/11