BIOPHILIC DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Stephen Kellert is Professor Emeritus at Yale University and one of the more prominent academics promoting the biophilic or nature-inspired design agenda in the world today. A key aspect of biophilic design is the concept of place-based relationships, which emphasizes the connection of culture with ecology and the emotional attachment people feel towards specific places.

This 2015 paper, written with US-based architect Elisabeth Calabrese, serves as a pithy overview of the key tenets of the design ethos that has inspired our own Biofit fitness studio concept, emphasizing how biophilic design principles can be applied to the built environment to foster a connection with nature.

The full article is available online here.

THE EVOLUTION ARGUMENT

Over 99% of our evolutionary history saw us adapting to natural rather than artificial or man-made forces, a process deeply influenced by human evolution. To give some sense of scale to that statement, homo sapiens has been evolving for 200,000 years whereas agriculture is only 5000 - 12,000 years old (depending on where you look) and cities have only been around for 6000 years or so.

Industrialization and the recent technological revolution are mere blips on that timeline:

Our evolved human nature relationships influence our need for natural factor in our surroundings. If we try to apply that same wide-angle view to our environment we see that what we now think of as our ‘natural’ habitat is essentially a series of indoor or covered spaces, be it home, office, gym or restaurant, interspersed with short walks that connect one to the other.

INDOORS vs NATURE

Many of us now spend around 90% of our lives indoors, negatively impacting human health and resulting in a fundamental disconnect with nature. In more concrete terms, Kellert and Calabrese equate that to a lack of natural light, ventilation, materials, vegetation, natural shapes and forms, all things that we took for granted in the past, disrupting our human nature connection.

How is this negatively impacting our lives? What damage is it doing us as a race or perhaps more urgently, to the planet? These are big, hairy questions that are outside the scope of an article on architecture and design but any comprehensive answer would widen the frame of reference in order to look at the more general 21st century malaise that includes Big Agriculture, global warming, Type 2 diabetes and the obesity epidemic, amongst other things.

Reconnecting with natural environments can mitigate some of the negative impacts of indoor living.

Here though Kellert and Calabrese use the evolutionary argument outlined above, as favored by the paleo and primal communities, leaning on the overwhelming weight of macro history to establish the primacy and importance of our connection with the natural world before moving on to what really interests them, their proposed design solution.

Six Principles of BIOPHILIC DESIGN

Biophilic design is their chosen response to this disconnection with nature by incorporating nature into the built environment. Incorporating natural patterns, such as variations and richness of detail in sensory experiences, is essential in creating a connection with the natural environment. Far from being a regressive philosophy that asks us all to go off-grid for the rest of our days however, it is about finding a new harmony between contemporary existence and man’s relationship with natural units like plants, water, and sunlight.

Kellert and Calabrese offer a summary of the key elements in biophilic design that can be loosely categorized as ‘actual nature’, ‘almost nature’ and ‘inspired by nature’. Biophilic design aims to create a connection with the natural environment. It incorporates natural features like vegetation, water, and natural materials.

Of those, we would highlight four points in particular as being of particular relevance to our concept for a biophilic urban fitness studio.

NATURAL LIGHTING

Firstly, natural light is fundamental to wellbeing as it facilitates a connection to our daily circadian rhythm as well as the seasons. When operating in the northern hemisphere, training before and after dark is a necessary evil but low intensity, yellow lighting in a studio rather than white or blue light can counteract those negative effects.

Incorporating natural lighting into fitness spaces aligns with the principles of biophilic design, which seeks to integrate natural elements into the built environment. Natural light not only enhances the ambiance of fitness studios but also promotes wellbeing by connecting individuals to the natural world. By incorporating environmental features such as natural materials and shapes, fitness spaces can foster a sense of harmony with the modern world while promoting health and vitality.

VEGETATION

Spending time in the presence of abundant vegetation has been shown to reduce stress and enhance both performance and productivity. Google, Facebook and Amazon know a good thing when they see one so all of their new headquarters in Silicon Valley have adopted biophilic design principles for this very reason. Even just a 1-2% of additional office productivity in a billion dollar business can make all the difference.

A training session in a Biofit biophilic fitness studio therefore represents two benefits in one: a hit of Vitamin N(ature) and an evolution-friendly workout at the same time.

NATURAL MATERIALS

Natural materials such as wood, stone, wool, cotton and leather often have both visual and tactile qualities that we instinctively gravitate towards. Compare that with metal and plastic of most gyms and the innate appeal of wabi-sabi (imperfect) organic forms in a fitness studio rather than off the shelf, high-tech machinery makes complete sense. We know which we'd rather work out with.

Incorporating natural materials into fitness studio design is not only aesthetically pleasing but also aligns with biophilic design principles, fostering a deeper connection to the natural world. The use of wood, stone, and other natural principle creates a sense of warmth and authenticity, enhancing the human-nature connection within the built environment.

By integrating natural shapes and textures, fitness spaces can serve as central focal points for promoting human health and wellbeing amidst the demands of modern life.

NATURAL COLOURS

Muted and earthy natural colors give us a palette of beiges, reds, browns and greens to suggest sand, soil, rock, plants and water. Applying this color scheme to a fitness studio takes us away from the bare bones approach of Crossfit studios as well as the currently in vogue nightclub-like studios to produce something more in tune with the environments we evolved in over thousands of years.

Natural Space and Forms

Natural space and forms are crucial in biophilic design, creating nature-filled spaces that evoke the beauty of the natural environment. By incorporating natural shapes, natural wood, and natural patterns, these spaces enhance the built environment, fostering a sense of calm and well-being. This approach supports mental and physical health by providing restorative and harmonious environments that incorporate nature.

Healing Patterns and Processes

Healing patterns and processes are key in creating environments that promote recovery and rejuvenation. Incorporating nature with biophilic design elements like natural light, green walls, and natural systems reduces stress and improves mood. These nature-filled spaces support the body's natural healing processes, enhancing overall well-being in the surrounding environment.

Place-based Relationships

Place-based relationships emphasize designing spaces deeply connected to their specific location and cultural context. By using local materials, respecting regional traditions, and incorporating nature that reflects the surrounding environment, these designs create meaningful connections. This approach enhances human connection and attachment to the space by fostering place-based relationships.

Human Nature Connection

The human nature connection is a fundamental principle of biophilic design, bridging the gap between built environments and the natural world. By incorporating natural elements such as plants, natural wood, and natural patterns, these designs promote physical and mental well-being.

Strengthening the human-nature connection through biophilic design elements enhances productivity and supports human health, creating spaces that evolve human-nature relationships in modern architecture.