What does ‘Biophilia’ mean in terms of Building Design?
When the term ‘Biophilia’ is used in modern building design, it refers to the practice of designing nature into a building. The word itself means ‘a love of nature’ and it’s becoming increasingly important for m & e consulting engineers, as factoring in the emotional and physical wellbeing of building occupants becomes a necessity, rather than a preference for the construction industry.
Examples of Biophilic Design
The obvious question at this point relates to exactly what biophilic design is and how it is manifested in the real world. Let’s take a look at just a few examples now. They include:
- Ensuring that as many planted or naturalised areas are available and visible through overlooking windows
- Maintaining trees already in existence
- The provision of green facades and roofs
- Building pathways that pass through natural areas
Building services design consultants can also incorporate biophilic design into internal areas by:
- Including vertical internal and green walls
- Using natural materials like wood in the building’s construction
Essentially, anything that can be done to bring more of the natural environment into the daily lives of building users will fall under the umbrella of biophilia.
The Benefits
There are a number of advantages to consulting engineers incorporating biophilia into building design and they include a range of benefits to building users. Natural features within any building are known to help provide a relaxing and nurturing effect, including reducing recovery times for patients in hospitals, with the added benefit of:
- Reduced stress
- Enhanced productivity & creativity
- Improved wellbeing
- Increased ability to learn
- Introducing biophilia in the design of buildings also helps to encourage an appreciation of the natural environment, which is key to a greener future for everyone.
Want to Know More?
At Varming Consulting Engineers, we have decades of experience in the construction industry and we are major exponents of traditional and contemporary methods of sustainable building design.
If you would like to know more about biophilic design or any aspect of the broader topic of modern, sustainable design, please take a look at our website www.varming.ie or give our knowledgeable team a call on +353 (0)1 4872300.
