Biophilic Interior design for the bottom line
Living wall of the Musée du Quai Branly by Patrick Blanc
From commercial office spaces to single family homes and from corporate hotels to remote resorts, biophilic design has taken the world of architecture by storm. Green wall gardens, improved ventilation and circadian lighting systems are all elements of biophilic design. However, the physical, mental and emotional health benefits of biophilic design are far more complex than such basic implementations.
Research in recent years has proved time and again that exposure to greenery can reduce mental fatigue, immersion in nature can reduce blood pressure and access to fresh air can improve overall mood. Natural interior design might also reduce recovery time from both mental and physical illness and injury. According to Jill Suttie in an article for Greater Good Magazine, nature can even enhance “our ability to connect with other people.”
Given the ways in which biophilic environments can impact mental and emotional wellbeing, it makes sense that the hospitality industry has been taking notice - especially after a year of fear and frenzy surrounding a global health crisis. With the increasing focus of placing wellness at the center of design decisions, biophilia is becoming a hot topic in progressive hotel design circles. Read on below to learn more about biophilic design and how hotels, resorts and wellness centers can and should embrace the movement.
What is Biophilic interior Design?
In simple terms, biophilia implies that oneness with nature is man’s truest state, and that humans are at an evolutionary disadvantage when separated from nature. In her 2019 article for Fast Company, Katharine Schwab explains biophilia and its applications to design, writing that biophilia “centers on the idea that the great indoors should mimic the great outdoors.” Lessening barriers between the internal self and the natural world has long been tied to improved self-esteem, increased longevity and more.
In short, it “improves people’s lives–an insight that is backed up with increasing amounts of research.” Schwab issues the same warning that many other biophilic designers and researchers have also released - that “biophilic design is more than just adding plants to indoor spaces.” Biophilic design rejects the idea that interior design and architecture is “merely as an aesthetic or functional discipline” and instead identifies it as “a way to improve people’s mental and physical well-being.”
Scientific Support for natural Interior design
A wide variety of studies in recent years have bolstered the true value of biophilic interior design by measuring and proving its impact on human health and wellbeing.
Environment International found that “biophilic environments had a larger restorative impact than non-biophilic environments” - those in biophilic environments experienced immediate positive psychological effects that could reduce anxiety.
A 2014 study published in the Journal of Environmental Psychology found that “short-term visits to urban nature areas have positive effects on stress relief...[while] time spent in the city centre decreases positive feelings.”
Another study found that self-esteem improves with exposure to nature and other studies have shown that the amount of stress experienced on a trip greatly affects the traveler’s perception of that trip.
In their 2010 paper for Applied Research in Quality of Life, Dutch researchers found that vacations plagued by travel stress result in little happiness.
How natural interior Design Can Boost the Bottom Line
According to a Dutch study,“a ’very relaxed’ holiday is not only good for one‘s health but is also important in terms of post-trip happiness.” Finding ways to create more supportive environments for travelers staying in your hotel or resort increases the likelihood of longer-lasting happiness that extends well beyond the trip itself.
This brings into focus how introducing elements of biophilic interior design could reduce stress and improve the emotional wellbeing of guests long after they leave the property. Hoteliers, landscape architects and interior designers should take advantage of the fact that it only takes two hours to improve perceived health and wellbeing.
Given that higher guest satisfaction ratings at a property are directly linked to the guest’s loyalty to the property, as well as their likelihood of recommending the property to their network, we can draw a straight line from the integration of biophilic interior design through to improved revenue growth.
The lobby at the Hudson Hotel, New York
Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility Does Not Apply to Nature
From a scientific perspective, according to author Florence Williams, nature actually affects how our brains interact with the outside world. When we are outside, the “frontal lobe, the part of our brain that’s hyper-engaged in modern life, deactivates a little.” This allows people to relax, unwind and ready themselves for future work. Williams cites a number of research studies, and notes that the law of diminishing returns rarely applies to nature exposure, and that "a little bit of nature is helpful; a little more nature is even more helpful.”
Ways to Incorporate Biophilic interior Design in Hotels
Incorporating elements of biophilic interior design into a hotel, resort or other destination need not be an expensive endeavor. Minor changes to lighting, decor and accessibility can go a long way towards improving guests’ connection to nature.
Designers might consider embracing natural circadian lighting, opting for organic decor and investing in native landscaping. They should also try to engage all five senses in order to better impress upon guests that they are in a natural space by integrating or better utilising atriums, private balconies or courtyard gardens. Resorts can consider adding private gardens to their suites which increases the amount of time guests spend outside.
Designers should attempt to simplify access to the grounds, encouraging guests to wander outside during their stay. While undoubtedly more difficult in urban environments, architectural design should consider this aspect deeply during the earliest stages of design. Opportunities include prioritizing rooftop gardens, incorporating natural materials into finishings or installing vertical gardens into public areas. Moving beyond design, operational teams can play their part by adding activities that promote the local habitat whether it be through planting trees, plotting out and offering nature walks, or reducing food waste.
A Private Pool Villa at Ka’ana Resort, Belize
Examples of Biophilic interior Design in Hotels and Resorts
At Ka’ana Resort, one of our past projects, we upgraded suites by fencing in and adding designer finishes, from decking to outdoor showers and landscaping, which resulted in a significant increase in guest use of the outdoor areas. With minimal capital investment, the suites also became a lot more sale-able. A similar approach was used in the design of the Private Pool Villas, whose indoor-outdoor appeal minimised capital outflow and maximized the return on nature. Similar biophilic focuses were integrated by utilising reclaimed wood to adorn the walls of the Ceiba Restaurant, utilising natural materials throughout the resort expansion.
The Hudson Hotel in New York showed that even in the most urban environments there are opportunities to incorporate biophilic design by integrating a lush green living canopy directly over their lobby area.
In Singapore, vines and plants climb the exterior of the Oasia Hotel Downtown. At 27 stories, the hotel’s exterior is constructed of red aluminum mesh shrouded in 22 species of plants, including phycus, philodendron, and thunbergia. Open space is incorporated throughout the project with 40% of the structure dedicated to communal areas. 60 species cover the hotel’s interior, offering a miniature habitat for insects and birds. The vegetation cools the air here as well as cleaning it.
Closing thoughts on biophilic interior design
The scientific evidence is clearly pointing to what many have felt was previously intangible - that, as humans, we feel a deep connection to our living planet and feel very real benefits from a closer integration with nature. This opens up opportunities for new developments to set themselves apart while also delivering improved guest experiences. If hospitality is all about helping people to feel good, then biophilic design could be a new and very exciting tool for developers to consider.
