Biophilic design

An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about biophilic design

NewsNews • 10 Jan 2025

Kirkland Fraser Moor adopts biophilic approach to design of picturesque Foxglove House

Multidisciplinary architectural studio Kirkland Fraser Moor (KFM) has adopted a biophilic approach to the design of a low-carbon family home in the English village of Wiggington, Hertfordshire. The picturesque residence, named Foxglove House, replaces a small stable block, its unobtrusive design having a low visual impact on the surrounding landscape. KFM’s effective approach to massing and orientation resulted in a fourfold increase in the new home’s footprint (gross internal floor area 285 square meters – 3,068 square feet) without any adverse impact on the green belt or “AONB” countryside location. Edmund Sumner Kirkland Fraser Moor The home’s design concept centers around a single-s... More

Project • By DLR GroupNurseries

Tomball ISD Early Excellence Academy

In Tomball, Texas, DLR Group designed a new pre-K center that engages users' senses and imagination through nature-inspired colors, shapes, and varying scales. Representing the first dedicated early childhood learning center in Tomball Independent School District, the 57,289-square-foot facility is comprised of learning pods where research-based design strategies engage the needs of approximately 550 early learners, ages 3-4. Rooted in biophilic elements that evoke curiosity and connection to the natural world, the design elevates learning through a curated journey through the physical environment, allowing learners and educators alike to deeply engage with their surroundings. Each learning space has its own distinctive supergraphics and c... More

Project • By MIA Design StudioHousing

Oceanami Villa

Oceanami Villa is an exciting project located in a beautiful position with more than 700 meters of gentle and long beachfront at the front and the Minh Đạm mountain scenery embracing the land from behind. However, when approaching the project with an already established master plan, the natural advantages of the site were not fully exploited. Our task was to design approximately 357 adjacent villas, pre-positioned deep within a flat terrain area, neither facing the sea nor having views of the Minh Đạm mountain scenery. Trieu Chien Faced with the project's disadvantages, MIA Design Studio sought to explore a method of landscape improvement to maximize the beauty of the surrounding context while diversifying the vibrancy of the architec... More

Project • By MIA Design StudioHousing

Louvers House

From MIA Design Studio’s perspective, Louvers house is not only a living shelter but also reflects our client’s living style. Our client wanted to make a great combination of spaces to keep traditional communication between generations of a traditional Vietnamese family. That is how we simply started designing a house with a big void in the middle as a bridge to connect all the spirits of the house. This void with water scape and skylight creates a natural connection between bedrooms, living room, Spa, Gym and even the parking area. This principle has an ingenious use of natural ventilation to keep the building cool and give the family refreshing experience. With local plants and overflow water, the void inside this house become... More

Project • By MIA Design StudioHousing

The Drawers House

There are reoccurring impressions on the spatial quality – the green of nature struck the eyes every early morning, the rustling of leaves each night.  These sensations are brought to the coastal city of Vung Tau through a refreshing concept, a welcoming home for a family of 4 who love the freshness of nature. With constant interactions with nature, man and trees become more intimate; space is opened up but maintains privacy of individuals. This is the daunting problem of living in metropolitan area with cramped space and pollution. Oki Hiroyuki Oki Hiroyuki Oki Hiroyuki “The Drawer House” is a single – story located on a 470 square meters piece of land with a dedicated 60% of land usage for land... More

NewsNews • 4 Nov 2024

Ayers Saint Gross Completes Transformative Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center at Missouri Botanical Garden

Ayers Saint Gross has unveiled the Jack C. Taylor Visitor Center at the Missouri Botanical Garden, the oldest botanical garden in continuous operation in the United States. This center is not only a gateway for over a million visitors each year but also a hub for global plant science research, deeply rooted in the Garden’s rich history and diverse plant collection. Casey Dunn In collaboration with Michael Vergason Landscape Architects (MVLA), the Visitor Center features a striking arrival sequence designed for accessibility. The center includes a North Garden and a World Woodland Garden, which together function as a living library housing over 46,000 plants, including more than 300 species, many of which are endangered. This... More

NewsNews • 16 Oct 2024

ORN Denver by MAD Architects embraces a biophilic design concept inspired by Colorado's natural terrain

Designed by MAD Architects, One River North (ORN) is a 16-story mixed-use tower that embraces MAD's approach of blending the built environment with natural elements. ORN is characterized by a dramatic 'landscaped rift' that cuts through ten stories of the building's façade, creating terraces with lush greenery inspired by Colorado's natural terrain. The design echoes the Rocky Mountains and aims to transform urban living by introducing biophilic design principles to the city.  Iwan Baan Guided by the sounds of cascading water audible from the street, residents traverse the building's canyon trail from the 6th to the 9th floor, becoming immersed in a curated environment inspired by the Colorado foothills and canyon ecos... More

Project • By JMADHousing

Deephaven

This organic design takes advantage of its unique landscape as it emerges from and interacts with the nearby wetlands. The horizontal-cut stone siding gives the home a sleek and modern look. The many windows are positioned to maximize the amazing views, and to ensure privacy.  JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD Asked to create outdoor areas on a small, tight lot, the design team integrated the indoor and the outdoor spaces to create beautiful places to entertain on a lower level terrace as well as a main level cantilevered deck. JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD JMAD More

NewsNews • 23 Apr 2024

Taktik Design revamps sunken garden oasis in Montreal college

At the heart of Montreal’s Collège de Maisonneuve, Montreal-based Taktik Design has completed the development of a lush and colorful sunken garden oasis housed under a glass roof. The project epitomizes Taktik’s approach to biophilic design. Maxime Brouillet The interior garden was first created in 1972 as a result of the addition of a new college wing. A glass roof transformed the “Brutalist-style courtyard” into a veritable all-weather greenhouse. A popular spot for students, the space was very much in need of an upgrade. Maxime Brouillet At its core, biophilic design enhances our connection — visual and non-visual — with the natural world in a way that increases health, happi... More

Project • By Harikrushna Pattani & AssociatesPrivate Houses

Concrete House In Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad Bungalow Design: Nestled in the heart of vibrant Ahmedabad, a striking contemporary bungalow emerges, masterfully weaving together wood and concrete in a symphony of aesthetics and sustainability. This 6000 sq. ft. residence, perched on a 380 sq. yd. plot, redefines urban living by seamlessly blending nature and design. Harikrushna Pattani & Associates Harikrushna Pattani & Associates Harikrushna Pattani & Associates Sustainable Architecture: Exposed concrete walls offer strength and a modern touch, while expansive wooden decks and beams exude warmth. Sunlight dances through strategically placed slats, creating a mesmerizing effect on polished concrete floors. Vertical gardens and potted plants soften... More

NewsNews • 25 Jan 2024

Horatio’s Garden Room provides a nurturing environment for people with spinal cord injuries

London-based Mcmullan Studio designed a sustainable, pod-like building for Horatio's Garden, a charity that promotes the well-being of people with spinal cord injury in beautifully landscaped, accessible gardens in the heart of NHS spinal cord injury centers (the NHS is the UK's National Health Service). Created by leading landscape designers, the gardens are peaceful, inspiring and restorative oases for patients, their families and friends and hospital staff to enjoy. Jim Stephenson   Best in Show The pod-like garden room was created for Horatio's Garden as part of the charity's first show garden at the prestigious RHS Chelsea Flower Show in 2023. The project was created in collaboration with landscape design firm Harris B... More

NewsSpecification • 3 Jan 2024

10 educational facilities that prioritize energy self-sufficiency

The International Energy Agency (IEA) highlights that operating buildings accounts for “30 percent of global final energy consumption and 26 percent of global energy-related emissions.” The 26 percent figure equates to a combination of direct emissions (8 percent) from buildings themselves and indirect emissions (18 percent) from producing the electricity and heat that buildings use. Buildings that improve their energy efficiency (and self-sufficiency), particularly those that are energy-positive or energy-neutral, will, in addition to significantly lowering costs, improve air quality and comfort levels for their users: in effect, improving the overall health and vitality of people. A number of factors are related to energy eff... More

NewsArchello Awards • 22 Dec 2023

Science-informed MAM Competence Center selected as Office Building of the Year

The MAM Competence Center by INNOCAD Architecture has been selected by the public as the Archello Awards 2023 Office Building of the Year. Located in Großhöflein, Austria, the science-informed biophilic design offers an organic headquarters and work environment derived from strategies concluded in the study ’14 Patterns of Biophilic Design’ by Terrapin Bright Green. The project stands out for its use of materials and patterns, dynamic and diffused light, optimized acoustics, and a compelling emphasis on sustainability and human-centred design. Paul Ott INNOCAD Architecture tells Archello that the main challenge in approaching the project was designing a building that could grow organically over the years in... More

Project • By Flad ArchitectsHospitals

Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s (SMHCS) new greenfield hospital provides a growing community with a new and convenient source of high-quality, advanced emergency and medical services in a modern hospital environment. Flad Architects master planned and designed the hospital campus, the system's most significant expansion in nearly a century. Edward Caruso Photography Edward Caruso Photography Edward Caruso Photography Edward Caruso Photography With extensive use of high-performance glass on the building's exterior, interior spaces are filled with natural light and feature strong indoor-outdoor connections, views to the landscaped campus, local artwork, and natural materials – resulting in a unique atmo... More

Project • By Atelier NomadicRestaurants

Overwater Bamboo Restaurant

This stunning example of biomimicry takes its inspiration from the sleek silhouette of the Pink Whiprays (Pateobatis fai) that graze in the surrounding lagoon. Joe Chua Agdeppa The naturally ventilated, bio-climatic structure features an incredible sea saltwater infinity pool, and an array of overwater catamaran nets where guests can relax while enjoying breathtaking sunset panoramas, caressed by the gentle sea breeze. Joe Chua Agdeppa Crafted meticulously with bamboo, the structure is amplified by the dramatic Maldivian landscape and reflected in the mirror like lagoon. The looping, shingled tail winds back down the jetty to link the building with the mainland and to guide the visitors into the building. Joe Chua Agdeppa... More