Jewel Changi Airport5
Biophilia (meaning love of nature) focuses on human’s innate attraction to nature and natural processes. It suggests that we all have a genetic connection to the natural world built up through hundreds of thousands of years of living in agrarian settings.
“It is the term coined by the Harvard naturalist Dr. Edward O. Wilson to describe what he saw as humanity’s “innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes,” and to be drawn toward nature, to feel an affinity for it, a love, a craving.” – Natalie Angier1
Biophilic design is a concept used within the building industry to increase occupant connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and space and place conditions. It uses nature-inspiring principles to create a human-nature connection. Strategies include the use of indoor plants, views of nature, natural materials, colors and textures.
Researches have shown that incorporating direct or indirect elements of nature into the built environment have a positive impact in human health. It has been found to support cognitive function, physical health, and psychological well-being. Benefits include reduction of stress, blood pressure levels and heart rates, increase in productivity, creativity and concentration.
“It is the deliberate attempt to translate an understanding of the inherent human affinity to affiliate with natural systems and processes—known as biophilia—into the design of the built environment.” Stephen Kellert2
Followed by the popularization of the term Biophilia, Stephen R. Kellert, in collaboration with Edward O. Wilson, published the book “The Biophilia Hypothesis” in 1993.
Stephen R. Kellert created the term “biophilic design” as a referral to “an architectural response to how we design buildings, neighborhoods & cities with nature”. This concept requires acknowledging that our relationship with the built environment goes beyond the basic standards of health, safety, and energy efficiency.3
According to Ryan Browning (2014)4, many researches and studies are based on the relationships between nature and one’s cognitive, psychological and physiological health. This is due to the increased curiosity of understanding how people’s health and well-being are impacted by the environment they are surrounded.
Cognitive functioning refers to one’s mental ability. This ability includes thinking, learning, remembering, creating, among many others.
Most of our daily tasks require directed attention, which is energy intensive, and can result in mental fatigue over time. A strong connection with nature provides opportunities for mental restoration, resulting in greater performing focused tasks if compared with someone with fatigued cognitive resources.
Psychological responses refer to one’s emotions, mood, concentration, attention and beyond. It includes impact restoration and stress management. Empirical studies have shown that surrounding oneself with nature provides emotional restoration, decreasing anxiety, anger, fatigue, and etc.
Physiological responses refer to our aural, musculoskeletal, respiratory and circadian systems. Connections with nature can trigger muscle relaxation, decrease blood pressure and stress hormones.
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