Six Principles of Biophilic Design Explained
Estimated reading time: 9 minutes
Have you ever noticed how a simple walk in the park can instantly clear your mind?
Or how a room filled with sunlight and plants makes you feel immediately at ease?
If you have ever wondered why the human-nature connection is important in architecture, the answer lies in our biology.
Key Takeaways
- The six principles of biophilic design connect humans to nature, enhancing health and well-being.
- These principles include: Environmental Features, Natural Shapes and Forms, Natural Patterns and Processes, Light and Space, Place-Based Relationships, and Evolved Human-Nature Relationships.
- Biophilic design differs from sustainable architecture by focusing on human impacts rather than just environmental concerns.
- Incorporating elements like plants, natural light, and local materials helps create restorative indoor environments.
- Applying these principles can transform spaces into calming sanctuaries that support physical and mental health.
Table of Contents
For thousands of years, humans evolved outdoors. It is only in recent history that we began spending up to 90% of our time inside.
So to bridge this gap, architects and designers rely on the Six principles of biophilic design.
These biophilic design principles go beyond just putting a potted plant in a corner; they form a comprehensive strategy for integrating nature into our built environments to improve health, well-being, and productivity.
Understanding the Foundation
Before diving into the specifics, it helps to understand the origins of this concept. Much of modern biophilia in architecture is rooted in the Stephen Kellert biophilic design framework.
Kellert, a pioneer in the field, established that bringing natural elements into human spaces is not just an aesthetic choice, but a biological necessity, and helped shape the six principles of biophilic design used today.
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People often wonder about the distinction between biophilic design vs sustainable architecture.
While sustainable architecture focuses on minimizing the environmental impact of a building (like energy efficiency and carbon footprints), biophilic design focuses on the human impact—how the building affects physical and mental health of its occupants.
Another common question is: how does biomimicry differ from biophilia?
Biomimicry involves copying nature’s functions and mechanisms to solve human problems (like designing a train nose to mimic a kingfisher’s beak for aerodynamics). Biophilia, on the other hand, is about creating an experiential connection to nature through sensory elements, materials, and spatial layouts.
by Sonnie Hiles (https://unsplash.com/@sonniehiles)
Now, let’s explore the Six principles of biophilic design and how you can apply them to your own spaces.
1. Environmental Features (Bringing Nature Indoors)
The most direct way to experience nature indoors is by bringing actual environmental features into a space. This includes sunlight, water, plants, and natural ecosystems.
- The Power of Plants: Never underestimate the psychological benefits of indoor plants. Studies show that being around greenery reduces cortisol levels, boosts mood, and enhances focus.
- Health Benefits: Beyond mental wellness, you are actively improving indoor air quality through greenery. Plants like snake plants, peace lilies, and spider plants help filter common household toxins.
Actionable Tip: Create “living walls” or cluster potted plants of varying heights in your living areas to mimic the dense, varied undergrowth of a forest.
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2. Natural Shapes and Forms
Nature rarely builds in perfectly straight lines or rigid 90-degree angles. Instead, the natural world is full of curves, arches, domes, and fluid geometries. When comparing modern minimalism vs biophilic interior style, traditional minimalism often relies on stark, sharp geometry, whereas biophilic design embraces the soft, imperfect flow of the outdoors.
If you are wondering how to incorporate organic shapes in home decor, start small:
- Swap out a harsh rectangular coffee table for an oval or kidney-shaped one.
- Choose furniture with soft, curved edges.
- Incorporate arched mirrors or doorways to break up the monotony of rigid linear rooms.
by etkin esmer (https://unsplash.com/@eesmer)
3. Natural Patterns and Processes
This principle is all about utilizing the sensory richness of nature. It involves using materials, textures, and visual patterns that mimic the natural environment over time.
Wood, stone, bamboo, and leather age beautifully, developing a natural patina. Incorporating these elements allows us to experience the restorative effects of natural materials. A room anchored by a live-edge wooden dining table or an exposed stone wall instantly feels warmer and more grounding than one filled with synthetic plastics and artificial laminates.
4. Light and Space
Humans are highly sensitive to light. Our circadian rhythms dictate our sleep and wake cycles, and these rhythms are deeply influenced by the changing light of the day.
Maximizing the natural lighting and ventilation benefits in a building reduces eye strain, boosts vitamin D, and improves overall energy levels. However, it isn’t just about brightness. Biophilic design also embraces the interplay of light and shadow, mimicking the dappled light you might see filtering through a tree canopy.
Furthermore, static environments can feel stifling. Introducing thermal and airflow variability in building design—such as operable windows that allow a gentle, unpredictable breeze to enter—prevents a space from feeling artificially sealed and keeps our senses gently stimulated.
by Artem Korolev (https://unsplash.com/@artemisss666)
5. Place-Based Relationships
A space should feel connected to its specific geographic location. This principle of biophilic design encourages the use of local materials, native plant species, and cultural designs that reflect the surrounding landscape.
This sense of authenticity is particularly effective in commercial spaces. For instance, reducing workplace stress with nature-inspired design often involves creating offices that reflect the local ecology. An office in the Pacific Northwest might use rich Douglas Fir timber and deep green hues, while an office in the Southwest might utilize terracotta, sand tones, and desert succulents. This creates a deeply rooted, comforting environment for employees.
by Alberto Castillo Q. (https://unsplash.com/@alcasqui)
6. Evolved Human-Nature Relationships
The final principle ties together how humans subconsciously react to their environments. We naturally seek spaces that offer both “prospect” (a clear view of our surroundings) and “refuge” (a safe, protected place).
This requires designing multisensory interior design experiences.
A space shouldn’t just look like nature; it should feel, sound, and smell like it. Engaging in a non-visual connection with nature—such as the sound of a small indoor water feature, the texture of a woven wool rug, or the scent of cedar—can drastically lower blood pressure.
See Also: Exploring the Beauty of Waterfront Structures
Actionable Tip: You can apply this specifically by creating a biophilic bedroom sanctuary. Position your bed as a “refuge” against a solid wall with a clear “prospect” view of the door or window. Incorporate tactile, organic cotton bedding, a quiet essential oil diffuser with pine or lavender scents, and soft, warm-toned dimmable lighting to signal to your brain that it is safe to rest.
Conclusion
The core biophilic design principles remind us that we are not separate from nature; we are a part of it.
By intentionally utilizing the Six principles of biophilic design, we can transform sterile, stressful environments into sanctuaries of health, creativity, and calm.
Whether you are redesigning a corporate office to boost employee morale or simply adding a few ferns and curved elements to your living room, embracing the natural world indoors is one of the best investments you can make in your overall well-being.
Q&A – Six Principles of Biophilic Design
Sustainable architecture focuses on reducing a building’s environmental impact (energy use, carbon footprint), while biophilic design centers on the human impact—how spaces support physical and mental well-being by reconnecting people with nature. Biomimicry, by contrast, copies nature’s functions to solve problems (e.g., a train nose modeled after a kingfisher’s beak), whereas biophilia creates experiential connections to nature through light, materials, patterns, and spatial layouts. Much of today’s approach follows Stephen Kellert’s framework, which treats nature in buildings as a biological necessity, not just an aesthetic choice.
Bring actual elements of nature inside: sunlight, water, plants, and even small-scale ecosystems. Start with greenery—cluster potted plants of different heights or install a living wall to mimic a forest’s layered undergrowth. Plants like snake plants, peace lilies, and spider plants can help filter common indoor toxins, while exposure to greenery has been shown to reduce cortisol, boost mood, and enhance focus. Where appropriate, consider gentle water features and position plant groupings to catch natural light.
Design for circadian support and sensory richness. Maximize natural light and ventilation to reduce eye strain, boost vitamin D, and raise energy levels. Go beyond sheer brightness by embracing the play of light and shadow—think dappled, tree-canopy effects. Keep environments dynamic with thermal and airflow variability: operable windows that allow a soft, unpredictable breeze prevent spaces from feeling sealed and help keep the senses comfortably engaged.
Tie the space to its geography with local materials, native plants, and cultural patterns that reflect the surrounding landscape. For example, a Pacific Northwest office might use Douglas Fir and deep greens, while a Southwest space could lean on terracotta, sand tones, and desert succulents. This authenticity is especially effective in workplaces, reducing stress and creating environments that feel grounded and comforting.
Prospect offers clear views of your surroundings; refuge provides a protected, sheltered spot. Combine both to support innate comfort and calm. In a bedroom, place the bed against a solid wall (refuge) with a clear view of the door or a window (prospect). Reinforce multisensory cues with tactile, natural textiles, soft warm-toned dimmable lighting, and subtle nature-based scents (like pine or lavender). Non-visual elements—such as the sound of a small water feature or the feel of a wool rug—can also help lower stress and support rest.
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