Biophilic Architecture and its Impact on Cognitive Function
What is biophilic design? Imagine stepping into a classroom, free from artificial lighting, plastic chairs, and blank walls— replaced instead with natural light, wooden furnishing, and flourishing greenery. This is the essence of biophilic design. Biophilic design is a modernized approach to architecture that is rooted in the connection between humans and nature. Some of the style’s key characteristics include biomorphic or organic shapes and patterns, natural and open lighting, incorporation of greenery, and the use of natural materials. In description and in image, biophilic architecture is a harmonious blend of indoor and outdoor environments. Beyond the surface, however, this design philosophy nurtures psychological health and well-being.
Biophilic design emerged from a philosophical theory called biophilia. Quite literally meaning the love of life, biophilia is the term coined by psychoanalyst Erich Fromm in 1973 to define the exploration of the essence of humanity. Fromm’s belief was that mortality salience and the awareness of existence disrupt the connection humans share with nature, ultimately leading to turmoil and anxiety. Biophilia, therefore, would be the reunion of humanity with their natural tendencies to love nature, returning a sense of well-being. Sociobiologist E.O. Wilson expanded upon the definition of biophilia as an aspect of human evolutionary survival and a “deep and complicated process in mental development” (Söderlund and Newman, 2015). From these individuals, modern scholars have concluded that incorporating biophilia in urban environments is essential for cognitive function, stress reduction, and ubiquitous fulfillment (Söderlund and Newman, 2015). Through this idea, biophilic design and biophilic architecture were born.
While there are multiple principles that are core to the architectural style, the three integral ones are natural lighting, natural materials and shapes, and greenery. One method of incorporating natural lighting into biophilic spaces has been through the use of low emissivity (Low-E) glass to regulate heat transfer, glare, and ultraviolet (UV) damage in buildings. This happens through applying a thin, metallic, and mostly silver coating in between the layers of the glass. Silver is considered ideal due to its outstanding electrical conductivity, making it the standard against which all other metals are compared. It is spread so thin that an individual layer of a Low-E coating is 500 times thinner than a strand of hair or a piece of paper. These coatings help reflect infrared (IR) and UV rays while allowing visible light to pass through (Guardian Glass, n.d.). Beyond the aesthetics, there are significant benefits of natural lighting. In 1999, the Heschong Mahone Group analyzed the effects of natural daylight in three school districts. Its results showed a 20% to 26% uptick in learning speed, a 5% to 14% improvement in test scores, and a reduced absenteeism rate of three and a half fewer days per year for students in schools with natural light. (Heschong, 1999).
Biophilic design’s extensive use of natural materials in office environments contributes positively to cognitive function. Because of this, biophilic architects lean toward using wood foundations over steel or concrete. In order for their projects to produce the same high-quality results as the other materials, architects will typically plan to use cross-laminated timber (CLT) or glued laminated timber (Glulam). CLT is a type of wood product that is made of kiln-dried dimensional lumber to ensure that it is straight and split-free. The lumber pieces are then perpendicularly glued together with adhesive to create sturdy and durable panels. Glulam is similar, however the lumbers are placed parallel to each other. This means that Glulam is better used for vertical supports such as columns or beams, whereas CLT is better used for walls, floors, and ceilings (Kallesoem Machinery, n.d.). Like natural lighting, the exposure to wood as a natural material can contribute to stress reduction through its organic patterns that reflect nature. In 2019, researchers Michael David Burnard and Andreja Kutnar conducted a study on how different office environments influence stress levels in individuals. Participants completed a written test, watched a stress-inducing video, and proofread their work, all while seated at either oak or white plastic tables. During the study, researchers measured heart rates and cortisol levels— both indicators of stress—to analyze how these environments might impact stress responses. Saliva samples collected throughout and heart rate monitors revealed that participants seated at oak tables had generally lower cortisol levels and heart rates than those at the plastic white tables (Burnard and Kutna, 2019). These findings suggest that exposure to natural materials helps create calming environments that contribute to reduced stress.
One method of incorporating greenery into modern biophilic design is through living walls. Living walls are vertical structures covered by vegetation and are sustained through three types of systems: the panel system, the felt system, and the container system. All systems go according to name; plants grow on panels in the panel system, on fabrics in the felt system, and in containers on a trellis in the container system (Jiang, 2022). The multitude of systems is due to the different environments in which living walls are installed. For example, indoor versus outdoor or hot versus cold environments. Exposure to greenery is one of the most straightforward methods of improving one’s well-being. A significant number of studies have been conducted on the benefits of being in proximity to plants, showing that having plants in work, living, and school environments holds a direct correlation to improving attention span, mental clarity, and task performance (TEDx Talks, 2022).
Biophilic architecture is not just a building style but a lifestyle as well. Combating the design of urbanism and its stressors to paint an aesthetic and healthier future shows how society has increasingly prioritized mental health and well-being, furthermore upholding the wellness of the planet. This indicates the need for changes in office and education spaces in order to ensure they uphold individual well-being. While it may seem insignificant, installing a couple of plants, adding wooden furnishing, or even just opening a window might make all the difference.
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