Biophilic Design
LookBook
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Biophilic Design LookBook
Trend Towards
Healthy Buildings
Americans spend about 90 percent of their time inside.
As a result, building professionals are rethinking how
people design, use and occupy buildings.
Biophilic design is increasingly used to boost occupant
well-being through connection to nature and the use
of natural elements like daylight, plants, water and
exposed wood. These elements have been attributed
to positive outcomes in humans—from reducing stress
to boosting productivity.
Today, this emerging trend is increasingly a market
expectation, with tenants seeking sustainable,
functional and aesthetically pleasing features
throughout their offices, homes, retail and hospitality
spaces.
1
Biophilic Design LookBook
McKinsey & Company predicts that wellness is the next trillion-dollar
industry, as employers invest in healthy living programs, and as
customers take more responsibility for optimizing their own health.1
Biophilic design, and wood specifically, can contribute to a project’s
sales proposition and create warm, beautiful environments that
appeal to a new generation of eco-minded employees, residents,
and occupants.2
2
L u b b e r R u n C o m m u n i t y C e n t e r, V M D O A r c h i t e c t s
P h o t o c r e d i t : To m H o l m s w o r t h
Money Grows on Trees
Healthy Buildings
“Health and wellnessfocused environments...
can help reduce
company operating
costs and increase
revenues and profits.”
The Business Case for Healthy Buildings
Urban Land Institute
3
Biophilic Design LookBook
Real estate prices show that people will pay more for properties
with good views of nature. Developers also are seeing higher
leasing velocity and/or lease rates for offices with natural wood
environments. The developer for Clay Creative, a timber office
building in Portland, Oregon, reports that tenants were willing to
pay $7 more per square foot annually than a similar non-wood
structure located across the river downtown.3
4
Live Oak Bank Headquarters, LS3P Associates
Photo credit: Mark Herboth Photography
Tree-conomics
Healthy Buildings
C l a y C r e a t i v e , M a c ke n z i e
Photo credit: ©ChristianColumbres
5
Biophilic Design LookBook
Wood has been used as a building material for millennia, but its
benefits to people who live, work and gather in the built environment
are only beginning to be understood. Researchers are discovering
that wood can contribute to the health and well-being of building
occupants. While many people would agree that wood is visually
pleasing, its aesthetic properties affect humans on a deeper level.
Those in workplaces with a higher proportion of visible wood feel
more connected to nature, and rate their working environment far
more positively. These people report higher concentration, lower
stress levels, and improved overall mood.
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T h e H u d s o n , M a c ke n z i e
Photo credit: ©ChristianColumbres
Backed by
Emerging Research
Impact of Wood Use
"Wood in the workplace
is associated with
higher productivity and
reduced sick leave."
Workplaces: Wellness + Wood = Productivity,
Pollinate
7
Biophilic Design LookBook
Impact of Wood Finishes
A study by the University of British Columbia and FPInnovations
established a link between wood and human health.4 Four office
environments were created to study the effects of natural materials
in the built environment on autonomic nervous system responses.
The effects of both plants and wood were studied on a sample of 119
university students.
In the study, students were assigned to one of four treatment
conditions. They were told only that they were going to participate
in an office performance task, and were not informed that the
effects of materials were being studied.
H e a l t h y B u i l d i n g s : T h e C a s e f o r V i s u a l Wo o d ,
David Fell - FPInnovations
8
Impact of Wood Use
“Stress, as measured by
sympathetic nervous
system activation,
was lower in the wood
room in all periods of
the study.”
Wood and Human Health
FPInnovations
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Biophilic Design LookBook
One of the most well-known of the approaches to nature-based
and wellness-focused architecture is biophilic design. While the
overall goal of designing buildings that promote the well-being of
occupants is not new, the concept of biophilic design has only been
around since the 1980s, when an evolutionary biologist named
Edward O. Wilson introduced the philosophy via his book, Biophilia.
Biophilia, which literally translates to “love of life” or
“love of living things,” is a concept that addresses human
connections with nature. The premise behind biophilic
design is the idea that incorporating natural elements
— water, natural light, green plants, and exposed wood
where you can see and feel the grain — into buildings can
contribute to the health and well-being of occupants.
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Carbon12
P h o t o c r e d i t : A n d r e w P o g u e , c o u r t e s y Ka i s e r + P a t h
What is Biophilic Design?
Biophilic Patterns
“Building with and
exposing the wood in
buildings is a simple
way to achieve
multiple objectives,
including aesthetics,
sustainability and
occupant well-being.”
Dr. Mike Burnard
Deputy Director, InnoRenew CoE
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Biophilic Design LookBook
Biophilic Patterns
Research firm Terrapin Bright Green, created the “14 Patterns of
Biophilic Design” to articulate the relationships between nature,
human biology and the design of the built environment. While
informed by science, biophilic design patterns are not formulas;
they are meant to inform, guide and assist in the design process
and should be thought of as another tool in the designer’s toolkit.
The purpose of defining these patterns is to articulate connections
between aspects of the built and natural environments and how
people react to and benefit from them.5
These fourteen patterns of biophilic design focus on psychological,
physiological and cognitive benefits and align to three categories:
Nature in the Space, Natural Analogue and Nature of the Space.
Specifically, we’ll explore how biophilic patterns can be incorporated
through wood design and construction.
In the pages that follow, the text describing each biophilic design
pattern is excerpted from the Terrapin Bright Green report,
14 Patterns of Biophilic Design: Improving Health and Well-Being
in the Built Environment.
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Biophilic Patterns
14 Patterns of Biophilic Design
Stress
Reduction
Pattern
Visual Connection w/ Nature
Nature in the Space
Non-Visual Connection w/ Nature
Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli
Thermal & Airflow Variability
Presence of Water
Dynamic & Diffuse Light
Nature of the Space
Natural
Analogues
Connection w/ Natural Systems
Biomorphic Forms & Patterns
Material Connection w/ Nature
Complexity & Order
Prospect
Refuge
Mystery
Risk / Peril
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Cognitive
Performance
Emotion,
Mood
& Preference
Biophilic Design LookBook
Visual Connection
with Nature
A view to elements of nature, living systems and natural processes.
A space with a good Visual Connection with Nature feels whole it
grabs one’s attention and can be stimulating or calming. It can
convey a sense of time, weather and other living things.
The Federal Center South Building 1202 brings nature inside within
the “commons” or social heart of the building. Timber reclaimed from
an existing warehouse is a focal point.
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Nature in the Space
Federal Center South Bldg 1202
P h o t o c r e d i t : B e n j a m i n B e n s c h n e i d e r, c o u r t e s y ZG F A r c h i t e c t s L L P
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Biophilic Design LookBook
Non-Visual Connection
with Nature
Auditory, haptic, olfactory or gustatory stimuli that engender a
deliberate and positive reference to nature, living systems or natural
processes.
A space with a good Non-Visual Connection with Nature feels fresh
and well balanced; the ambient conditions are perceived as complex
and variable but at the same time familiar and comfortable, whereby
sounds, aromas and textures are reminiscent of being outdoors in
nature.
Might the texture or smell of wood contribute to this biophilic pattern?
The natural smell of wood has surprised some designers who did not
consider this element in their designs.
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Nature in the Space
A l b i n a Ya r d , L E V E R A r c h i t e c t u r e
C r e d i t : M a r c u s Ka u f f m a n , O r e g o n D e p t . o f F o r e s t r y
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Biophilic Design LookBook
Non-Rhythmic Sensory
Stimuli
When immersed in nature, we continually experience environmental
stimuli: birds chirping, leaves rustling, the faint scent of eucalyptus in
the air. The objective of the Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli pattern
is to encourage the use of natural sensory stimuli that unobtrusively
attract attention, allowing individuals’ capacity for focused tasks to
be replenished from mental fatigue and physiological stressors.
A space with good Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli feels as if one is
momentarily privy to something special, something fresh, interesting,
stimulating and energizing—a brief but welcome distraction. A
non-rhythmic stimuli strategy can be interwoven with almost any
landscape or horticulture plan. For instance, selecting plant species
for window boxes that will attract bees, butterflies and other
pollinators.
The LEED Platinum Oregon Zoo Education Center blurs the natural
and built environment to create unexpected teachable moments.
Throughout the spiraling campus, natural stimuli piques visitors’
interest and invites them to observe and engage. Landscape
architects blurred indoor and outdoor experiences—coalescing
around an immersive central plaza brimming with native plant
species, local insects and rotating exhibits that include a living turtle
lab, rain gardens and an insect zoo.
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Nature in the Space
O r e g o n Z o o E d u c a t i o n C e n t e r, O p s i s A r c h i t e c t u r e
Photo credit: Christian Columbres
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Biophilic Design LookBook
Thermal and Airflow
Variability
Subtle changes in air temperature, relative humidity, airflow across
the skin, and surface temperatures that mimic natural environments.
A space with good Thermal & Airflow Variability feels refreshing,
active, alive, invigorating and comfortable. The space provides a
feeling of both flexibility and a sense of control.
The Commons’ operable windows invite sunlight and fresh air
into the building interior while sliding doors allow students to
spill outside under the patio’s slatted roofs. The lower level Guild
incorporates large garage doors opening out onto a patio, garden,
and surrounding outdoor teaching areas.6
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Nature in the Space
S onoma Academy Janet Durgin Guild & Commons, WRNS Studio
P h o t o c r e d i t : M i c h a e l D a v i d Ro s e
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Biophilic Design LookBook
Cultural Crossing at Por tland Japanese Garden
P h o t o c r e d i t : J e r e m y B i t t e r m a n n , c o u r t e s y H a c ke r w i t h Ke n g o K u m a a n d A s s o c i a t e s
22
Nature in the Space
C o t t o n w o o d Va l l e y C h a r t e r S c h o o l
P h o t o c r e d i t : P a t r i c k C o u l i e P h o t o g r a p h y, c o u r t e s y E n v i r o n m e n t a l D y n a m i c s , I n c .
23
Biophilic Design LookBook
Presence of Water
A condition that enhances the experience of a place through the
seeing, hearing or touching of water.
A space with a good Presence of Water condition feels compelling
and captivating. Fluidity, sound, lighting, proximity and accessibility
each contribute to whether a space is stimulating, calming, or both.
The Enso Apartments’ central courtyard features a cascading
fountain focal point surrounded by stone finishes and natural wood
pergolas that, together, mimic a rustic mountain escape in the middle
of Atlanta.
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Nature in the Space
Enso Apartments
P h o t o c r e d i t : D a v i s & C h u r c h L LC
25
Biophilic Design LookBook
Dynamic and
Diffuse Light
Leverages varying intensities of light and shadow that change over
time to create conditions that occur in nature.
A space with a good Dynamic & Diffuse Light condition conveys
expressions of time and movement to evoke feelings of drama and
intrigue, buffered with a sense of calm.
Varying intensities of light and shadow throughout the day can be
reminiscent of variations in natural daylight that help the human
circadian system which manages sleep, eating and bodily functions.
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Nature in the Space
GSA Office Building rendering
P h o t o c r e d i t : P a t r i c k C o u l i e P h o t o g r a p h y, c o u r t e s y P a g e S o u t h e r l a n d P a g e , L L P
27
Biophilic Design LookBook
GSA Office Building
P h o t o c r e d i t : P a t r i c k C o u l i e P h o t o g r a p h y, c o u r t e s y P a g e S o u t h e r l a n d P a g e , L L P
28
Nature in the Space
Ve n t u r e C a p i t a l H Q, P a u l M u r d o c h A r c h i t e c t s
Photo credit : ©2012 Eric Staudenmaier
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Biophilic Design LookBook
Connection with
Natural Systems
Awareness of natural processes, especially seasonal and temporal
changes characteristic of a healthy ecosystem.
A space with a good Connection with Natural Systems evokes a
relationship to a greater whole, making one aware of seasonality
and the cycles of life. The experience is often relaxing, nostalgic,
profound or enlightening, and frequently anticipated.
Harnessing the beauty of its densely forested site, Canyon Commons
Dining Hall cultivates connections between interior and exterior
spaces through proximity to the natural forest system.7
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Nature in the Space
G e o r g e F ox U n i v e r s i t y - C a n y o n C o m m o n s
P h o t o c r e d i t : J e r e m y B i t t e r m a n n , c o u r t e s y H a c ke r
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Biophilic Design LookBook
Biomorphic Forms
and Patterns
Symbolic references to contoured, patterned, textured or numerical
arrangements that persist in nature.
A space with good Biomorphic Forms & Patterns feels interesting and
comfortable, possibly captivating, contemplative or even absorptive.
The Cathedral of Christ the Light employs a non-linear pattern to
honor the church’s diverse 2,000-year history. The inner wooden
vessel contained within a veil of glass conveys an inclusive statement
of welcome and openness as the community’s symbolic soul.8
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Natural Analogues
Cathedral of Christ the Light , SOM
P h o t o c r e d i t : T i m o t h y H u r s l e y, c o u r t e s y S k i d m o r e , O w i n g s & M e r r i l l L L P
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Biophilic Design LookBook
Material Connection
with Nature
Materials and elements from nature that, through minimal
processing, reflect the local ecology or geology to create a distinct
sense of place.
A space with a good Material Connection with Nature feels rich,
warm and authentic, and sometimes stimulating to the touch.
Wood can be used as an extension from the exterior natural
environment to our interior spaces. Designers of Washington Fruit
+ Product Company’s new office framed exterior walkways with the
natural wood beams which extend to the interior.
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Natural Analogues
Wa s h i n g t o n F r u i t + P r o d u c e C o m p a n y
P h o t o c r e d i t : Ke v i n S c o t t , c o u r t e s y G r a h a m B a b a A r c h i t e c t s
35
Biophilic Design LookBook
Blue Ridge Orthodontics
Photo credit : Mark Herboth, cour tesy Clark Nexsen
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Natural Analogues
F i r s t Te c h F e d e r a l C r e d i t U n i o n
P h o t o c r e d i t : J e r e m y B i t t e r m a n n c o u r t e s y H a c ke r w i t h K r a h m e r G e h l e n & A s s o c i a t e s ; S w i n e r t o n
37
Biophilic Design LookBook
Complexity and Order
Rich sensory information that adheres to a spatial hierarchy similar
to those encountered in nature.
A space with good Complexity & Order feels engaging and
information rich, offering an intriguing balance between boring
and overwhelming.
The Portland Japanese Garden’s Cultural Village is positioned
along a journey from the city to the top of the hill, wherein the
pilgrimage pays homage to the spirit of nature. The buildings are
wrapped with wood battens that mimic the tall vertical lines of the
surrounding Pacific Northwest conifers.9
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Natural Analogues
Cultural Crossing at Porltand Japanese Garden
P h o t o c r e d i t : J e r e m y B i t t e r m a n n , c o u r t e s y H a c ke r w i t h Ke n g o K u m a a n d A s s o c i a t e s
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Biophilic Design LookBook
Ta s h j i a n B e e a n d P o l l i n a t o r D i s c o v e r y C e n t e r
Photo credit: Richard Brine, courtesy MSR Design
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Natural Analogues
M c C a r t h y Te t r a u l t , BV N D e s i g n A r c h i t e c t , Ka s i a n L o c a l A r c h i t e c t
Photo credit: Ed White Photographics
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Biophilic Design LookBook
Prospect
An unimpeded view over a distance for surveillance and planning.
A space with a good Prospect condition feels open and freeing, yet
imparts a sense of safety and control, particularly when alone or in
unfamiliar environments.
Rosewood Interactive Center’s hybrid system of light wood-frame
and steel construction creates an extra thin profile for roof and wall
assemblies of the Rosewood Interpretive Center, while timber piles
provide structure for the boardwalk. To minimize bulk, only functions
needing privacy or separation are enclosed.10
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Nature of the Space
Ro s e w o o d B e a c h , Wo o d h o u s e T i n u c c i A r c h i t e c t s
Photo credit: Bill Timmerman
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Biophilic Design LookBook
Refuge
A place for withdrawal, from environmental conditions or the main
flow of activity, in which the individual is protected from behind and
overhead.
A space with a good Refuge condition feels safe, providing a sense
of retreat and withdrawal—for work, protection, rest or healing—
whether alone or in small groups. A good refuge space feels
separate or unique from its surrounding environment; its spatial
characteristics can feel contemplative, embracing and protective,
without disengaging the viewer.
Developed to respond to 21st century learning principles, the École
Au-coeur-de-l’ile community school is organized around four
separate pods, each containing a variety of learning spaces like
private reading nooks to enjoy a peaceful read.11
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Nature of the Space
Ecole au Coeur
P h o t o c r e d i t : D e r e k L e p p e r, c o u r t e s y M c F a r l a n d M a r c e a u A r c h i t e c t s
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Biophilic Design LookBook
Mystery
The promise of more information achieved through partially obscured
views or other sensory devices that entice the individual to travel
deeper into the environment.
A space with a good Mystery condition has a palpable sense of
anticipation, or of being teased, offering the senses a kind of denial
and reward that compels one to further investigate the space.
The Barn’s curved edges, dramatic shadows and partially revealed
views imply movement and compel visitors to see what’s around the
corner.
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Nature of the Space
The Barn, !melk
Photo credit: Chad Davies
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Biophilic Design LookBook
C a l g a r y C e n t r a l L i b r a r y, S n ø h e t t a
Photo credit : ©2018 by Michael Grimm, cour tesy Struc tureCraf t
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Nature of the Space
N e s t We G r o w, D e s i g n e r : U n i v e r s i t y o f C a l i f o r n i a B e r ke l e y C o l l e g e o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l D e s i g n ;
A r c h i t e c t : Ke n g o K u m a A r c h i t e c t s & A s s o c i a t e s
P h o t o c r e d i t : S h i n ke n c h i k u - s h a C o . L t d .
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Biophilic Design LookBook
Risk / Peril
An identifiable threat coupled with a reliable safeguard.
A space with a good Risk/Peril condition feels exhilarating, and with
an implied threat, maybe even a little mischievous. One feels that
it might be dangerous, but intriguing, worth exploring and possibly
even irresistible.
The focal point of the Washington State University Everett University
Center is the cantilevered wood stair constructed of locally-sourced
Douglas fir glued lamella stringers that span up to 44 feet.12
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Nature of the Space
W S U E v e r e t t U n i v e r s i t y C e n t e r, S R G P a r t n e r s h i p
P h o t o c r e d i t : © C o p y r i g h t 2 01 7 B e n j a m i n B e n s c h n e i d e r
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2. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Financial-Benefits-of-Biophilic-Design-in-the-AStopka/91613fb7292b2509ac8c33b9d432c6c8713ef4d4
3. https://www.woodworks.org/wp-content/uploads/case_study-Wood-Offices.pdf
4. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/The-Financial-Benefits-of-Biophilic-Design-in-the-AStopka/91613fb7292b2509ac8c33b9d432c6c8713ef4d4
5. https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/#the-patterns
6. https://www.wrnsstudio.com/project/sonoma-academy-janet-durgin-guild-commons/
7. https://www.hackerarchitects.com/home/canyon-commons-dining-hall-y9fzt
8. https://www.som.com/projects/cathedral_of_christ_the_light
9. https://www.archdaily.com/896384/portland-japanese-garden-cultural-village-kengo-kumaand-associates
10. https://www.woodworks.org/project/rosewood-beach/
11. https://www.mmal.ca/ecole-au-coeur-de-iile/
12. https://www.srgpartnership.com/work/wsu-everett-university-center
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Sources
1. https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/marketing-and-sales/our-insights/healthywealthy-and-maybe-wise-the-emerging-trillion-dollar-market-for-health-and-wellness#