VIEWPOINT
Photo by Jared Rice on Unsplash
C hloe Bullock
is the Founder of Materialise Interiors, an award-winning, Brighton-based interior design company working for clients in South East England and further away (online). She has been a British Institute of Interior Design (BIID)registered Interior Designer at the British Institute of Interior Design since 2013.
Viewpoint
Incorporating biophilic design principles Chloe Bullock, the Founder of Materialise Interiors, an acclaimed interior design firm based in Brighton, and a registered Interior Designer with the British Institute of Interior Design (BIID), discusses the advantages of biophilic design and shares real-life examples of how it can be incorporated into the homes of self-builders and home renovators. What is biophilic design?
We hear the term biophilia so frequently. It’s spoken about as if it’s a trend, and people find the word confusing. Yet, its definition is straightforward. It is the connection between humans and the rest of the natural world we belong to. So not at trend at all; instead, an inherent part of being a human. Biologists have observed how light, air, water, plants, animals, weather, natural landscapes, ecosystems and fire connect to our senses. While plants are good for us – in apparent ways aesthetically and less obvious ways, such as filtering air and regulating humidity – designing using biophilia is so much more than incorporating plants once you think about the many forms nature takes and how we connect with them. I often think we are more nature connected on holiday as we are in the outdoors more; enjoying fresh air, taking the time to watch sunsets and immersing ourselves in water. All these experiences have a physiologically positive effect on us. The good news is we can maintain this deeper connection when we return home. I-B U I L D/ N OV E M B E R/23
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When nature connections are integrated into the design of a building or the things that go inside, it provides the users of the spaces created with a far more healthy and enjoyable experience. A well-designed building is not only aesthetically pleasing but also supports physical and mental wellbeing, enhancing the overall quality of life for its users. Plus, this design approach has the added benefit of having longlasting appeal and will be attractive to future purchasers, too.
So, here are some ways to incorporate biophilic elements:
Daylight: Maximising natural light in a home is a fundamental aspect of biophilic design. Maximising window sizes, skylights and other strategies to bring in natural light can reduce the need for artificial lighting, improve mood and enhance the overall atmosphere of a space. Considering the colour temperature of any electric lighting added. We need maximum exposure to daylight in the morning to get our circadian rhythm working, but less bright, more yellow light in the evening as we wind down.