In our first article, we explored the principles and benefits of biophilic design, a transformative approach that weaves nature into architecture to enhance well-being and sustainability. As urban environments grow denser and the demand for human-centric spaces rises, architects are finding innovative ways to bring the outdoors inside. From lush green walls to dynamic natural light, biophilic design is reshaping homes, offices, and public spaces in 2025. For architecture students, understanding how these concepts translate into real-world projects is key to mastering this trend. This article dives into the practical applications of biophilic design, showcasing techniques, iconic examples, challenges, and ways you can experiment in your own work. Let’s explore how architects are making nature an integral part of the built environment—and how you can, too.
Techniques for Bringing Nature Indoors
Biophilic design isn’t about superficial additions like a single plant in a corner; it’s about intentional strategies that mimic natural systems and engage the senses. Below, we outline key techniques architects use to integrate nature into interiors, each rooted in the principles discussed in our first article (direct experience, indirect experience, and spatial qualities).
1. Green Walls and Indoor Gardens
Living walls—vertical surfaces covered with plants—are a hallmark of biophilic design. These installations, supported by irrigation systems, bring vibrant greenery into tight spaces. Indoor gardens, from small atriums to cascading planters, create mini-ecosystems within buildings.
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How It Works: Green walls use hydroponic or soil-based systems to sustain plants, often paired with automated watering. Indoor gardens might include potted trees, ferns, or herb beds, enhancing air quality and aesthetics.
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Example: The One Angel Square office in Manchester, UK, features a living wall in its atrium, purifying air and calming employees.
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Student Application: In studio projects, design a small green wall for a café or library, considering plant types and maintenance needs.
2. Maximizing Natural Light
Natural light is a cornerstone of biophilic design, connecting occupants to the outdoors and regulating circadian rhythms. Architects use large windows, skylights, and light wells to flood interiors with daylight.
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How It Works: Floor-to-ceiling windows, clerestory openings, or glass roofs allow dynamic light patterns to shift throughout the day. Light shelves reflect sunlight deeper into spaces, reducing reliance on artificial lighting.
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Example: The Shor House in Canada uses expansive windows to blur indoor-outdoor boundaries, offering views of surrounding forests.
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Student Application: Sketch a room with strategic window placements to optimize daylight, balancing glare and heat gain.
3. Natural Materials and Textures
Using organic materials like wood, stone, and bamboo evokes nature’s tactile qualities. These materials add warmth and authenticity to interiors.
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How It Works: Reclaimed timber beams, stone accent walls, or cork flooring create visual and tactile connections to nature. Architects prioritize sustainable sourcing to align with biophilic ethos.
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Example: The Bullitt Center in Seattle incorporates reclaimed wood and exposed stone, creating a “living building” that feels grounded in its environment.
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Student Application: Experiment with material palettes in your next project, specifying locally sourced wood or recycled stone.
4. Water Features
Water elements, such as indoor fountains, streams, or reflecting pools, introduce soothing sounds and visual tranquility.
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How It Works: Small-scale features like tabletop fountains or larger installations like indoor ponds are integrated into lobbies or courtyards. Recirculating systems ensure sustainability.
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Example: Jewel Changi Airport’s Rain Vortex, a massive indoor waterfall, creates a sensory oasis in a busy hub.
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Student Application: Design a public space with a modest water feature, considering acoustics and maintenance.
5. Biomorphic Forms and Patterns
Mimicking nature’s shapes—curved lines, fractal patterns, or leaf-like motifs—adds subtle biophilic touches to interiors.
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How It Works: Curved furniture, perforated screens resembling tree branches, or wallpapers with organic patterns evoke natural forms without literal greenery.
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Example: The Heydar Aliyev Center by Zaha Hadid uses flowing, biomorphic curves to create a nature-inspired interior.
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Student Application: Incorporate a biomorphic element, like a wavy partition, into a studio model.
These techniques are adaptable to various scales and budgets, making biophilic design accessible for both grand projects and student experiments. By combining multiple strategies, architects create immersive, nature-rich environments.
Real-World Examples: Biophilic Design in Action
To understand how these techniques come together, let’s explore three iconic projects that showcase biophilic design across different building types. These examples highlight the versatility of biophilic principles and offer inspiration for your own designs.
1. Bosco Verticale, Milan, Italy (Residential)
Designed by Stefano Boeri, Bosco Verticale (Vertical Forest) is a pair of residential towers cloaked in over 20,000 trees and plants. Each balcony functions as a micro-forest, with greenery absorbing CO2, reducing noise, and cooling the building.
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Biophilic Elements: Green walls (direct experience), natural ventilation (spatial quality), and plant diversity (indirect experience).
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Impact: Residents report improved air quality and a stronger connection to nature, despite living in a dense urban center.
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Lessons for Students: Bosco Verticale shows how biophilic design can transform high-rise living. Consider how greenery can be integrated into urban housing projects, even on a smaller scale.
2. Amazon’s The Spheres, Seattle, USA (Commercial)
The Spheres, a workplace for Amazon employees, is an indoor rainforest with over 40,000 plants, glass domes, and natural light. Designed by NBBJ, it fosters creativity and relaxation.
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Biophilic Elements: Indoor gardens (direct experience), dynamic light through curved glass (direct experience), and wooden walkways (natural materials).
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Impact: Studies show employees in biophilic workplaces like The Spheres experience lower stress and higher productivity, aligning with 2025’s focus on well-being.
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Lessons for Students: The Spheres highlight the value of biophilic design in offices. Try designing a workspace with a central green atrium for your next studio project.
3. Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore (Public)
This hospital integrates biophilic design to aid patient recovery, with rooftop gardens, indoor plants, and water features creating a healing environment.
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Biophilic Elements: Green roofs (direct experience), water features (direct experience), and open courtyards (spatial quality).
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Impact: Research indicates patients in biophilic hospitals recover faster, with reduced stress levels, showcasing the health benefits discussed in our first article.
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Lessons for Students: Public buildings benefit immensely from biophilic design. Explore how to incorporate nature into civic spaces like libraries or community centers.
These projects demonstrate that biophilic design isn’t one-size-fits-all—it adapts to context, function, and user needs. As students, you can draw inspiration from their bold yet practical approaches.
Challenges of Implementing Biophilic Design
While biophilic design offers immense benefits, it comes with challenges that architects must navigate. Understanding these hurdles prepares you to address them in your own work.
1. Cost
Living walls, high-quality natural materials, and advanced lighting systems can be expensive.
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Solution: Architects use modular green walls or low-cost materials like reclaimed wood to reduce expenses. For students, focus on affordable interventions like potted plants or DIY biomorphic patterns.
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Example: Small-scale projects like the Eden Project’s pop-up green installations show how biophilic design can be budget-friendly.
2. Maintenance
Plants and water features require ongoing care, from irrigation to pruning.
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Solution: Low-maintenance plants (e.g., succulents) and automated systems minimize upkeep. Students can research plant species suited to their project’s climate.
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Example: The Bullitt Center uses drought-resistant plants to reduce maintenance demands.
3. Space Constraints
Urban sites often lack room for greenery or large windows.
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Solution: Vertical gardens, compact water features, or reflective surfaces maximize biophilic impact in tight spaces. Students can experiment with foldable or modular green elements.
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Example: Singapore’s compact PARKROYAL on Pickering uses sky gardens to integrate nature into a dense urban plot.
4. Client Resistance
Some clients prioritize cost or aesthetics over biophilic benefits.
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Solution: Architects present data on long-term benefits (e.g., energy savings, health improvements) to build a case. Students can practice articulating these benefits in project presentations.
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Example: The Spheres’ success has inspired other corporations to adopt biophilic design, proving its value.
By anticipating these challenges, you can design biophilic spaces that are practical and persuasive, even in constrained contexts.
Student Tips: Experimenting with Biophilic Design
As an architecture student, you don’t need a real-world commission to explore biophilic design. Here are actionable ways to apply these techniques in your academic and personal projects:
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Studio Projects: Design a small space—a classroom, café, or bus stop—with at least two biophilic techniques, like a green wall and natural light. Document your process to show how you balanced aesthetics and function.
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Model Making: Create a physical or digital model of a biophilic interior, using materials like balsa wood or 3D-printed biomorphic forms to mimic natural textures.
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Material Research: Visit a local supplier or salvage yard to source sustainable materials like reclaimed wood or stone. Incorporate them into a mood board for your next project.
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Sketching Challenge: Draw a biophilic-inspired room, such as a study nook with plants and skylights. Focus on one technique (e.g., natural materials) and annotate how it enhances the space. Share your sketch on our forum or social media with #BiophilicStudentDesign.
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Site Analysis: Visit a local building and identify opportunities for biophilic retrofits. Could a lobby benefit from a water feature? Could a classroom use more daylight? Present your ideas in a short proposal.
To get started, try this exercise: Sketch a 100-square-foot room that incorporates a green wall, natural light, and one natural material. Consider how these elements affect the user’s mood and the space’s sustainability. Post your sketch on www.architecture-student.com’s comment section—we’d love to see your ideas!
Conclusion: Nature as a Design Partner
Biophilic design is transforming how we experience interiors, proving that nature isn’t just an outdoor luxury—it’s a vital part of our built environment. By using techniques like green walls, natural light, and biomorphic forms, architects are creating spaces that heal, inspire, and sustain. For architecture students, these practical applications offer a playground for creativity, letting you experiment with nature-inspired solutions in your coursework and beyond.
This is the second article in our biophilic design series at www.architecture-student.com. Next, we’ll dive into a case study on how biophilic design is revolutionizing urban workspaces, with a deep look at a project like Amazon’s The Spheres. In the meantime, start exploring biophilic techniques in your own designs. What’s one way you could bring nature indoors in your next project?