This year’s interior design colour of choice being Emerald will undoubtedly have fashionistas up and down the country canvassing a feature wall or two in a deep bottle hue. But why not interpret the idea of a green home slightly differently? Increation looks at all things Biophilia and how you can add a touch of nature to any luxury home renovation.
“Biophilia is the innately emotional affiliation of human beings to other living organisms... Life around us exceeds in complexity and beauty anything else humanity is ever likely to encounter.” - Edward O. Wilson, The Biophilia Hypothesis
Biophilic design teaches that a return to nature, either in the home or in the workplace, improves well-being and productivity.
Ferrari’s take on the workplace jungle gained them the title of Europe’s Best Workplace in 2007; the picture above showing three mechanics at their work stations through thick foliage. Benefits of trees in the workplace are not only to do with better air quality but studies also say they act as a calming influence.
So how do I even start putting this in my home? Well first work out what makes up Biophilia: there is the literal and the symbolic. Literal aspects of design will be the use of water or trees and vegetation – obviously if you are not designing a new build or are adverse to a sizable refit, the dream of having a feature pool in your lounge might have to remain a dream. The example below, built in Bangladesh, uses a single concrete shell to shelter the urban oasis from nearby apartments and multi-storey high-rises. A matrix of square rooms then encloses the central atrium and idyllic large lagoon.
Symbolism is probably the way for you to go. Look at accessorising with natural ornamentation or pot plants, use natural materials and decor. Where possible try to use organic shapes. Claustrophobic spaces must be avoided with the use of glass and open plan layouts allowing the eye to wander and explore the space.
Interface, specialists in carpet tiles, has recently launched their own range of Biophilia styled products. In an attempt to bring a calmer and more sustainable approach to interior design in fast-paced cities, their fabrics aim to mimic natural woods, grasses and stones.
For further thoughts, why not look at the Society of British Interior Design’s recent green fingered blog post?
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