Biophilic
Biophilic design interprets and reacts to the philosophy of biophilia, which describes the tendency of humans to want to be near or interact with the natural environment. It is an approach used in building design, material selection, interior design as well as urban planning. More recently these kinds of projects have also been referred to as nature based solutions and green blue solutions.
Biophilic design bears a relationship to, but differs from other related fields:
- Biomimicry is design that takes its inspiration from nature, in particular emulating natural solutions from an engineering perspective at all scales, it is the application of recognised biological concepts to fields that lie outside the discipline of biological science.
- Bio-inspired design or architecture is a broader term that considers a mimicking nature’s processes in terms of scientific understanding, in particular how things function, which may or may not impact form.
- Biomorphism relates much more to design solutions that resemble different elements from life and nature, visually.
- Bio-Design is a term more common to the field of medicine, via the implementation of inventions and interventions using biomedical technologies. Finally Bionic design or bionics is an interdisciplinary field that combines natural biological systems with modern technology looking at structures, methods and the processes of biological systems.
For more information see: Biophilic design.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Biodiversity in the urban environment.
- Biophilic design research.
- Biophilic design and sustainability.
- Biophilic design - health and wellbeing in buildings.
- Biophilic gym.
- Biophilic urbanism.
- Biotechnology.
- Combating burnout with biophilic design.
- Green roof.
- Green space.
- Green walls.
- Landscape urbanism.
- The biophilic office.
- 2019 Wellness and biophilia symposium.
Featured articles and news
We're expanding our collaborative mission by launching DB Intelligence, an exclusive market research advisory panel. Built environment professionals can now get paid to share their expertise on industry trends, products and services.
Panel members receive direct financial incentives for participating in research projects like short surveys, 1-2-1 interviews and focus groups. Register today to shape the future of the construction sector.
Planning condition discharge in England and Wales
A brief exoplanation from a building compliance expert, with further links.
Overheating guidance and tools for building designers
Guidance for dealing with element of building fabric control that have increasing importance.
Shading for housing, a design guide
From the Good Homes Alliance and British Blind and Shutter Association.
UK Standard Skills Classification (SSC)
A shared framework for describing skills needs.
Social media ban consultation comes to close
CIOB urges UK Government to consider social media’s role in careers guidance in ban debate.
The latest of eight Skills England apprenticeship units
The addition of battery manufacturing welcomed by ECA with a warning about the risks of fast-tracked apprenticeship units.
Building Control Independent Panel final report
A precis of a key report led by Dame Hackitt with full recommendations and link to the government response.
Building Safety recap April, 2026
A short and longer run-through of the month, with links to further information and sources.
CIAT May 2026 briefing.
From medieval scribes to modern word art.
ECA welcomes crackdown on late payment and push for clean energy, whilst CIOB seek fixed cladding removal timeframes.
Cyber Security in the Built Environment
Protecting projects, data, and digital assets: A CIOB Academy TIS.
Managing competence in the built environment
ITFG publishes new industry guide on how to meet the ICC principles.
The UK's campaign to reduce noise pollution: Mythbusting, articles and topic guides.
Comments
[edit] To make a comment about this article, or to suggest changes, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.