As of late, it seems the phrase “biophilic design” has reentered the interior design conversation. With the term being applied to everything from sustainable architecture to fabric patterns, it has many asking, “What is biophilic design, exactly?” Well, let me tell you, it is nothing new. Humans have a long history of bringing nature into our homes, and the benefits of indoor-outdoor connections are only becoming more apparent as our daily environments continue to urbanize. 

 

So, are you ready to get in touch with your inner biophile? 

 

What is Biophilic Design? 

Biophilic design is a concept used within architecture and interior design to connect those inside a space to the natural world through direct experiences and indirect representations. Direct experiences include design features such as large windows for natural light and courtyard gardens, while indirect representations include decorative items like nature photography or fern pattern textiles. Biophilic design principles can be applied on a small scale within single-family homes as well as through large-scale urban planning developments. 

A Brief History of Biophilic Design 

The term “biophilia” wasn’t formally introduced until 1973 when Psychoanalyst Erich Fromm coined it as the “passionate love of life and of all that is alive” in his book The Anatomy of Human Destructiveness. And it wasn’t thought of like it is today until a decade later, in 1984, when Edward O. Wilson stated the biophilia hypothesis in his book Biophilia. He explained that humans have an inherited need to connect with nature thanks to our evolutionary dependence on it for survival and personal fulfillment. We’re just biophilic beings seeking out opportunities to hike in the mountains, soak up the sun on the beach, and stroll through the park. 

 

While the formal history of biophilia is fairly recent, humans seeking indoor-outdoor connections to nature are nothing new. One of the earliest examples of an urban biophilic design plan is the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. So, it seems humans have been finding ways to stay connected to our natural roots for as long as we’ve been building. 

 

The Victorian Fern Craze’s Influence on the Home

One of the most effective ways to bring nature indoors is with potted houseplants. When it comes to houseplants, none have been as influential in the world of interior design as the fern. Between the transition from the Industrial Revolution to the Victorian Era, a simple invention was created that would spark a fern frenzy (that’s still going strong). 

 

In 1829, Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward invented the Wardian Case, a simple wooden framed box with airtight glass panels that allowed exotic plants to be transported between continents. These miniature, shippable greenhouses made it easy for upper-class British Victorian families to purchase and display tropical plants in their homes, including ferns. 

 

This sparked a craze known as Pteridomania (“Pteris,” referring to the botanical classification of ferns), lasting from the early 1850s through the 1890s. In addition to Victorians clamoring to get their hands on the next fern shipment, fern and botanical patterns began appearing on decorative items like pottery, textiles, wallpaper, and more. 

 

Since then, traditional botanical patterns have remained popular in interiors, with some trendy reinterpretations, like mushroom motifs and monstera leaves, sprouting up occasionally. Ferns (and botanicals in general) give a sense of organic movement and fluidity, especially in spaces that can feel a little too uniform and structured. 

 

Simply put, we crave the organic forms of nature and find them to be the best way to decorate our rigid, human-made structures.  

Schumacher Fern-Inspired Textiles

Two Ways to Bring Nature Into Our Homes

There are two main ways to achieve a biophilic design and bring nature into the home. 

Direct Experiences 

The first is through direct experiences. You can bring nature directly into a residential space by establishing indoor-outdoor connections. In our Schulle project, we took the time to create spaces that incorporated a view outside and water features so the residents are able to see and hear nature. Other ways to bring natural experiences indoors include placing potted plants throughout the space or even lighting a fire in the fireplace. 

Indirect Representations 

The second is through indirect representations. Not every home will have a view of the countryside or the seashore. However, you can establish a connection to nature through visual motifs. In our Society Hill project, we decorated an atrium-style sunroom with plants, decorative ceramic and metal mushrooms, and neutral earth tones to provide a respite for recharging in an otherwise urban environment.

 

Benefits of Indoor-Outdoor Connections in the Home

Biophilic design has many benefits for our mental health, cognitive abilities, and general wellness. Consider how you feel in a space void of any natural connections, like a stark white office with harsh fluorescent lights and not a window in sight. Compare that to the feeling of opening the doors to a breezy veranda covered in wisteria vines. Humans need indoor-outdoor connections whenever possible. It’s crucial to our happiness.  

As designers, we are responsible for delivering spaces with an indoor-outdoor flow or using patterns and materials that evoke the natural world. Back at our Society Hill project, we created two spaces connected to the natural world to be enjoyed in different seasons. The top-floor atrium provides a place to lounge in cold weather, offering a rejuvenating space. On the ground level, we decorated the garden space off the kitchen so the homeowner could enjoy the warmer patio season. A glass door and wall of windows, however, keep the space in view to preserve that connection year-round, no matter the weather. 

 

Nature is a Means to Nurture 

Humans need nature to survive. It’s interesting to see how we’ve collectively turned to biophilic design to reconnect with nature when we felt it was slipping away. From the ancient civilization of Babylon to the Industrial Revolution, when we thought we were drifting too far apart from nature, we found ways to bring it back into our spaces. 

 

Home is where the fern is.