Have you ever experienced being completely away from elements of nature? The sensation of being surrounded only by large buildings, asphalt and concrete is uncomfortable, and there is already a way to bring life closer, even in big cities. This is the role of biophilic design.

Even if you don't know the concept of biophilic design, you may have already incorporated some elements of this architectural technique, precisely because you understand that you need elements that remind you of the existence of nature.

What is biophilic design

The term biophilic has Greek origins, a possible translation is: "love of living things". This concept sheds a technical architectural light on the importance of creating spaces with elements of nature. The aim is to create more humanized, emotionally comfortable spaces that generate well-being for the people who live and work in them.

How to apply biophilic design

The principle of biophilia is to make environments more human-friendly, and this includes connecting them with natural elements. Because it is an architectural vision, and not just an intuitive one, for a space to be considered planned within the concept of biophilic design, it takes more than a few potted plants. Undoubtedly, including elements such as flowers and foliage in the home brings a more pleasant atmosphere, but biophilia applied to architecture is more than that.

Tips for adapting your environment to biophilic design 

For a space to be considered biophilic, it must present a set of elements that are reminiscent of outdoor areas and that produce a sense of well-being in people. 

Check out some of the elements that can be incorporated into residential and corporate environments:

• Priority for natural lighting and ventilation: making air circulate and light enter rooms is a necessity in any type of interior design, but not all projects take this into account in practice.
  
  For an environment to have biophilic design characteristics, light and air are essential! To achieve these elements, you can invest in large windows; hollow bricks; skylights to take advantage of the light coming from the ceiling and doors that give access to an outside area. These tips are invaluable for offices, for example, which often have closed environments with little natural ventilation.
• Coatings and organic materials: whenever possible, include materials that have the essence of nature in the decoration, in the loose elements of the room and also in the coatings.
  
  Instead of metal, choose wood! You can also include stones, grass, straw and leather in the decoration and furniture.
  
  Bringing these elements into the home or office will create a connection between people and memories, or with the first experiences related to this type of material - which has everything to do with nature.
• Vegetation: green foliage and colorful flowers can be just the first step towards making your environment cozier, less arid and more lively.
  
  Choosing the right plants will depend on your space, but there are foliage plants of all kinds and ways of caring for them. Make a habit of looking after your plants, knowing what they need to be watered, fertilized and pruned when necessary.
  
  As well as bringing nature into the room visually, this will be an opportunity to take care of something alive. Tinkering with the soil, planting, changing pots and watering the plants will change your relationship with nature completely!
• Sounds and smells of nature: another way to bring the outdoors in are items that make reference to the noises and smells found in wildlife.
  
  Try including a fountain, with its constant sound of running water, and also wooden coverings that bring the characteristic smell of open areas into the room.

These are some tips for making your home or work environment more natural, not just because of the look, which is beautiful, but mainly because of the relationship between emotions and this type of material.

Human beings need to relate to organic elements, which is why being surrounded only by bricks and without a view of a green area is detrimental to mental health.

Specialized architect will be an ally

There are already architecture and interior design professionals who specialize in this type of design. Remember that the opinion of a qualified professional will always be the best alternative for projects involving major changes in the home or in commercial buildings.

Beginning to include some elements of nature, such as plants and a fountain, can be simple actions to start the decoration. However, if you want to go deeper into this proposal, talk to someone in the field about your needs and desires. An architecture and interior design professional will certainly help make your project a reality.