Seven principles of biophilic design

Biophilic design is the practice of keeping people in close, everyday contact with nature through the buildings they use. It is sometimes reduced to adding plants to a room. In our work it starts much earlier, with the plan, the section and the way a building meets its land.

These are the seven principles we return to most often. They are design intentions rather than formulas, and every site interprets them differently.

1. Daylight first

We arrange rooms around the movement of the sun, so daylight and its changes through the day are present in the places people spend the most time.

2. Views to living things

Windows are placed for what they frame: a tree, a garden court, water, the sky. A good view gives the eye somewhere distant to rest.

3. A continuous landscape

Courtyards, verandas and garden rooms soften the line between inside and out, so stepping into nature becomes part of daily life rather than an outing.

4. Natural materials and textures

Timber, stone, clay and lime carry the variation of the natural world, and they age in ways people instinctively understand.

5. Water as a quiet presence

Still pools, rills and fountains add movement, reflected light and gentle sound. They work best when restrained and placed with care.

6. Prospect and refuge

People are drawn to places that offer both shelter and a view. We design edges, alcoves and outlooks to give both at once.

7. Seasonal change

Deciduous trees, shifting shadows and planting that flowers and fades remind people of time passing, gently and without urgency.

Nature is not a finish we apply. It is a relationship we design for.

On every project we develop these principles with landscape architects, ecologists and environmental engineers, so the connection to nature is generous, practical and right for the place.