Articulture Designs living wall art in lobby or Loren Hotel Austin’s “garden oasis” lobby
The increasing visibility of plant walls, moss walls, and vertical gardens in buildings has germinated a jungle of media articles about the trend of biophilic design. But it’s hard to call something “trendy” when its popularity and presence enjoy decades of steady growth. Biophilic design today (and tomorrow) is less an adjunct option to interior design and architecture, and more a basic tenet of the practices.
The business and health benefits of biophilic design are no secret, including reduced stress levels, greater worker productivity, less absenteeism, and lower energy bills to name a few. While this undoubtedly has contributed to the growth of the industry, equally important is the very nature of biophilic design (pun intended). So before hopping into ways to incorporate biophilic design into new builds and renovations, let’s start with defining it.
What is Biophilic Design?
The textbook definition of biophilic design is typically something like “increasing a building occupant’s connectivity to the natural environment through the use of direct nature, indirect nature, and strategic space planning.”
A great definition, though the use of “building occupant” to mean a living, breathing human being hints at the need for biophilia. After all, nature is part of our DNA. The definition also usually includes something like “based on the belief that humans have an innate love of (or connection to) nature.” But even this is missing the point: we are nature. Buildings are not a natural environment, nature is, and we are part of nature. End stop. So, it’s no surprise humans — whether they can pinpoint it or not — are less stressed, more at ease, and simply feel better when their surroundings have connections to nature (even as the building is serving its essential purpose of providing shelter and comfort).
Anyway, another laymen’s expression for biophilic design is “bringing the outside in.” Between the two definitions we have more than enough of a starting point. So, let’s jump into…..
How to Incorporate Biophilic Design into New Builds and Renovations
Living Plant Walls
Let’s start with the show-stopper, living plant walls. Yes, living walls can remove carbon dioxide (CO2) to improve breathing and air flow. Yes, large green walls can help cool a building. Yes, plant walls have all the aforementioned benefits of biophilic design. But let’s just go out on a limb here and say living walls are popular because….living walls are gorgeous!
That said, living walls — especially large-scale living walls — can provide some technical challenges to ensure long-term sustainability. Thankfully these are easily overcome by planning in advance. Some of the basics to consider:
Irrigation — ensure the plans include plumbing to the desired wall. If a renovation, scope the easiest route to add plumbing if not pre-existing.
Water collection — where will the water go? There are options here, including re-circulating irrigation, elegantly hidden drainage, and, for exterior plant walls, using in landscape maintenance.
· Light — proper light is an absolute necessity. What is “proper” isn’t set in stone though. The planting palette desired and environmental conditions (air flow, climate control, humidity, etc.) will determine the lighting conditions needed. In renovations, it’s often the existing conditions that dictate what planting palette is possible. But on new builds, it could move in reverse, with the desired planting palette informing the design/build decisions around the area.
Seasonal considerations — less a factor for indoor plant walls, but exterior plant walls will need to be prepared for seasonal variations, that depending on your location can swing from tropical to frozen tundra. Again, the good news is planning in advance can overcome the challenge.
Articulture Designs works closely with architects, general contractors, interior designers, and property managers to help incorporate living walls into new builds and renovations. Don’t hesitate to connect with us for any living wall needs, including consulting, design, fabrication, installation, and maintenance.
Articulture Designs living wall at luxury condo complex in Austin, TX
Botanical Wall Art
A close cousin to living walls is botanical wall art. Think of where you might hang a painting, but hang plant art instead. These could include as much or as little living plant material as desired – or as dictated by the environment. This makes botanical art extremely approachable, it can fit any space and any budget. It can use any combination of living plants, preserved plants, dried botanicals, other natural elements, or even faux material that looks life-like.
If using living plants in the botanical art, similar factors such as light, humidity, and watering must be taken into consideration. But the workarounds are far simpler than, say, a two-story living plant wall. For starters, hand watering means there’s no need for irrigation or drainage. A basic mister or pump sprayer is all that’s needed, and simply laying a towel underneath while watering. As an extra precaution against mold, we use waterproof backing on frames.
Articulture has made thousands of botanical art pieces for homeowners, renters, and businesses. We work in any range from all living material, to all non-living material, to any combination of living, preserved, and faux.
Large botanical art example, living air plant wall in physical rehabilitation clinic.
Preserved Moss & Preserved Plant Features
A somewhat common misconception of biophilia or biophilic design is all materials used are living. The literal word meaning, from Greek roots bio- and -philia or -philic, is “love of life” or “strong attraction to nature.” So, not nature itself (that’s us), but love or attraction to nature. Preserved moss and preserved plant features fall somewhere in between the “direct nature” and “indirect nature” tenets of biophilic design. Either way, they 100% create the desired calming and pleasing effects of biophilic design.
Moss walls in particular have exploded in popularity recently. As a 15-year biophilic design firm, we can speak to this directly: we used to have to convince builders these features were viable option to consider, but today designer, architects, and owners come to us with these features in mind.
Preserved moss and preserved plant walls have near limitless design potential. They can be simple, monochromatic, or boldly artistic. Natural dyes allow for significant color variation. One of the most common questions we receive is “is it real?” The answer is, yes. It is real moss, that was once living, and is now preserved. While living moss is also an option, this would require the same site preparation and maintenance as living plant walls outlined above. Whereas preserved moss can last near indefinitely without any maintenance.
Preserved moss art by Articulture Designs
Let There Be Light
Natural light is one of the most integral elements of biophilic design. Of course, there could be an entire book on ways to incorporate natural light into interior spaces. Thankfully architects have been working on utilizing natural light since time immemorial. So, this will not be a struggle. We’re including it in this list less for “how” to do it, and more as a reminder to property owners that bringing in natural light should be among your earliest conversations with your architect. Plus, natural light has the added benefit of making the above suggestions for plant walls and botanical art easier to achieve.
Your Own Central Park
Even New York City, concrete jungle that it is, still has trees and pockets of green space throughout the city. Yet, there is something otherworldly magical about Central Park. Partly because of the scale and density, yet also because of the beauty and execution.
Your building can be just the same. Pockets of planters, plantscapes, and botanical art can be spread throughout, but it’s always a good idea to have a “central park” of plants and nature. This can be an outdoor courtyard or an indoor atrium, for example. If existing conditions don’t allow for these lush, light-intensive options, a zen garden is a possibility.
Articulture created this Zen Garden in Amazon’s Austin offices, including real West Texas tumbleweeds and rakes for employees to tend to the Zen.
Once again, courtyards and atriums are nothing new. That said, some architects are more inclined toward these biophilic centerpieces than others. So simply make this a part of your vetting process. That said, you will not have any trouble finding an architect aligned with these principles.
Typically, an architect will make the feature a part of the site plan on a high level, and then partner with a specialist like Articulture for the details. No matter what stage you are at in your concept or design, you can connect with Articulture Designs to bring your vision to life.
Have other favorite biophilic design features? Let us know in the comments below.