Art of Biophilic Design: Creating Balance and Harmony Between Nature and Industrial Spaces
In today’s world, we often face a dilemma between the world of objects and the immaterial nature of something that is bigger than us. The question that arises is: how can we bring nature and industrial design closer together? The answer lies in a concept called “biophilic design”.
Biophilic design can be defined as, “an integrated approach to designing the built environment that cultivates both human and ecological health”. This design style seeks to create a balance between humanity and nature through the use of thoughtful architectural elements and a focus on materiality. It reinforces our natural, ecological health as well as our emotional, mental, and physical wellbeing.
By utilizing materials, forms, and colors that depict nature, biophilic design creates a harmonious and calming environment that invites us to connect to our natural surroundings. Here are some of the key principles of biophilic design:
Using Natural Materials
Biophilic design often involves using natural materials in construction. Whether it be wood, stone, metal, or bamboo, each material can create a unique atmosphere in its own right. Natural materials are also incredibly good insulators and can help us transition to more sustainable buildings and interiors.
Creating Open Spaces
The concept of biophilic design encourages leaving plenty of open space for other forms of nature to fill. This is also crucial for creating a sense of freedom, movement, and flexibility in the design. Open spaces can also provide a lot of creative opportunities, from outdoor art installations to seating areas and more.
Using Green Technology
Biophilic design can also incorporate green technologies, such as sustainable energy sources, water conservation, and green materials. The goal is to create a space where people can interact with the natural environment in a conscious and sustainable way.
Inviting Natural Elements Indoors
Plants can bring nature indoors and also have restorative properties. By using plants indoors, biophilic design can help create a soothing environment and foster a stronger connection to nature.
Biophilic design is an empowering concept that can be utilized by both private residences and businesses. Employing these principles in our built spaces helps us bring nature and industrial design closer together and create harmony between the two. From selecting the appropriate colors, materials, and textures to balancing natural elements and green technologies – the goal of biophilic design is to create a space that induces a sense of wellbeing and reconnects us to our natural environment.
All in all, it can be argued that biophilic design is one of the most efficient ways to bring nature and industrial design closer together. This is especially true in today’s built environments, where the need to create sustainable and ecologically conscious spaces is greater than ever. While biophilic design may not always be a direct substitute for nature, creating a harmonious balance between humanity and nature can have tremendous benefits for both individuals and entire ecosystems.
