Reconnecting With the Natural World Through Biophilic Design
It’s been three weeks since I last stepped foot in my room. An eerie feeling of being frozen in time hangs in the air, as everything appears as it was: colored pencils strewn across the surface of my desk, a pair of running shoes laying by the doorway, and my backpack dropped in the corner, untouched since school’s end. Yet, I leave the room carrying a corpse. I bring its casket out to the backyard; as I’m walking towards the compost bin, I lament that this situation has happened one too many times. Carefully, I tuck the shriveled leaves into the bin and carry the casket back inside, emptying excess soil on my way.
Nothing survives in my room–at least, nothing with roots. Despite my wish to be surrounded by greenery, minimal amounts of direct sunlight coupled with irregular watering patterns have wiped out all of my plants but a collection of hardy succulents, which seek refuge lined up against the windowsill. Nonetheless, my failures in plant care have not deterred me from dreams of a plentiful backyard garden and a dream home filled with natural light and thriving life. Maintaining a constant connection with nature, especially within my home, is essential to create an environment in which I can feel at ease. However, this sentiment extends far beyond personal preference. Under the theory of biophilia, the human species shares this yearning for the natural world, which is why the incorporation of plant life into our modern built environment carries such importance.
The average American spends only 7% of their time outdoors. Thus, biophilia–our innate need to affiliate with nature–is satisfied through biophilic design. Biophilic design is the concept of using direct and indirect exposures to nature to increase human connectivity with the environment, especially in urban spaces. As a result of sustained engagements with nature in our home life and workplace, integrated through biophilic design, we become immersed in an environment in which we find comfort. Subsequently, this immersion has been shown to increase productivity and promote stronger emotional attachments to places in the built environment.
So, if biophilic design presents such extensive benefits, how can it be incorporated into suburban and urban settings? The answer lies in companies such as Greenery: Unlimited, a team of “plant-passionate people” who work for a better quality of life through the fulfillment of biophilia. Greenery: Unlimited partially arose as a product of the houseplant trend, wishing to educate consumers on living sustainably and properly maintaining a botanic presence within their homes. Currently, the company has expanded to implement biophilic design in storefronts throughout New York City, in addition to providing plants and botany care products for consumers’ homes through its online site. Such storefronts include Timberland: Fifth Avenue, Ted Talks HQ, and United Technologies, among many others.
Featured NYC offices and storefronts designed by Greenery: Unlimited. Source: Greenery: NYC
On an even larger scale, technology giants including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon are also using biophilic design to elevate their office spaces. Walls of diverse plant species and trees are becoming a staple of such offices, and lighting has shifted from a harsh fluorescent glow to warm hues that simulate sunshine. Each of these changes has shown to positively impact employee morale, productivity, and energy levels. However, one must be cautious when praising these companies for their environmental strides forward, as creating biophilic workplaces remains a lesser cause than curbing greenhouse gas emissions. Amazon, for instance, has taken a step in the right direction by pushing biophilia forward, but drastically undercounts its carbon footprint, using a loophole to accept less climate responsibility by only tallying emissions for sales under the Amazon brand (which account for about 1% of total sales).
Overall, the productivity benefits and aesthetic value of biophilic design, although plentiful, pale in importance to developing a true understanding of biophilia. At times of environmental destruction, revitalizing our connection with nature allows us to recognize its role in promoting physical and mental well-being. If we do so, we can adopt a new consciousness towards the natural world, which will hopefully encourage us to protect it.
