Biophilia in Architecture: Nature Indoors and Outdoors

Written by Romullo Baratto | Translated by Tarsila Duduch
Published on February 10, 2023

The idea of "Biophilia" was defined as "love of life" in ancient Greece. Although the term may seem relatively new, coming across as a trend in the fields of architecture and interior design, the concept of biophilia was introduced by psychologist Erich Fromm for the first time in 1964 and then popularized in the 1980s by biologist Edward O. Wilson, who studied the lack of connection with nature caused by urban life.

The guiding principle is quite simple: connect people with nature to improve their well-being and quality of life. How could architecture do that? By seeking alternatives to integrate nature – either through natural elements or techniques – into its designs.

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The most common approach is incorporating natural features into the built environment. Water, vegetation, sunlight, and natural materials are used quite often. Another typical characteristic of biophilic projects is the use of organic shapes and silhouettes instead of straight lines, even though the connection with nature is not necessarily a formal one, but also a process of mimicking nature's unique strategies.

Check out the following 11 projects that explore biophilia indoors and outdoors.