Green Architecture – Architecture Student Chronicles

Case Study: The Impact of Biophilic Design in Urban Workspaces

May 27, 2025 by Architect

In our biophilic design series, we’ve explored the principles of bringing nature into architecture and the practical techniques architects use to create nature-inspired interiors. Now, let’s zoom in on a real-world example that showcases biophilic design at its most ambitious: Amazon’s The Spheres in Seattle, USA. This iconic workplace, designed by NBBJ, is a testament to how biophilic design can transform urban workspaces, boosting employee well-being, creativity, and sustainability. For architecture students, The Spheres offers a masterclass in balancing bold vision with practical execution. This article dives into the project’s biophilic elements, its measurable impacts, and the lessons you can apply to your own designs. By the end, you’ll be inspired to reimagine workspaces as vibrant, nature-infused environments—and maybe even sketch one yourself.

The Spheres: An Overview

Opened in 2018, The Spheres are three glass-domed structures integrated into Amazon’s urban campus in Seattle’s Denny Triangle. Unlike traditional office buildings, The Spheres are an indoor rainforest, housing over 40,000 plants from 30 countries, winding pathways, and collaborative workspaces. Designed to foster innovation and relaxation for Amazon employees, the project embodies biophilic design’s core mission: to reconnect people with nature in densely built environments.

In 2025, The Spheres remain a global benchmark for workplace design, especially as companies prioritize employee mental health and sustainability post-pandemic. The project’s success lies in its seamless integration of nature into a high-tech, urban setting, proving that biophilic design can thrive even in corporate contexts. For students, The Spheres offer a case study in how architecture can address modern challenges—stress, disconnection from nature, and environmental impact—while creating functional, inspiring spaces.

Biophilic Design Elements in The Spheres

The Spheres incorporate a range of biophilic design strategies, drawing from the principles we discussed in our first article: direct experience of nature, indirect experience of nature, and experience of space and place. Below, we analyze the key elements that make The Spheres a biophilic masterpiece.

1. Direct Experience of Nature: Indoor Rainforest and Greenery

At the heart of The Spheres is its lush indoor ecosystem, featuring trees, ferns, orchids, and epiphytes across multiple levels. The planting scheme mimics a tropical rainforest, with a 60-foot “Rubi” ficus tree as a centerpiece.

Indoor Rainforest Ecosystem | Direct Experience of Nature: Indoor Rainforest and Greenery

Implementation: Plants are supported by custom irrigation and climate control systems, maintaining humidity and temperature akin to a natural forest. Living walls and hanging gardens maximize greenery in vertical spaces.
Impact: The dense vegetation provides a visual and sensory connection to nature, reducing stress and enhancing mood, as supported by studies like those in Scientific Reports (2019) showing nature exposure lowers cortisol levels.
Student Takeaway: Consider how vertical greenery can transform small spaces. In a studio project, design a compact atrium with a living wall to mimic this effect.

Biophilic Design in Practice: How Architects Are Bringing Nature Indoors

May 28, 2025May 19, 2025 by Architect

Biophillic Design - nature integration in the living space

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.

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.
Example: The One Angel Square office in Manchester, UK, features a living wall in its atrium, purifying air and calming employees.
Student Application: In studio projects, design a small green wall for a café or library, considering plant types and maintenance needs.

Principles of Green Architecture and Sustainability

October 29, 2011 by Architect

Green Buildings and Infrastructure

“Green Buildings for creating a Green environment” is what I would say. Generally, the term “Green Buildings” is understood in a wrong way. As in, the people have a wrong understanding about the term “Green Buildings”. Green Buildings does not just imply on creating huge lawns and making the building look green in colour.

CII, Hyderabad (Example of a Green Building in India)

It is all about making the environment green and create a healthy atmosphere inside the living space which also has an impact on the outside surroundings.

Vegetation, Landscaping is definitely a part of Green Building Design but that is not all which would make the building green.

In this article, we are going to discuss the goals of Green Buildings or rather I should say the “Principles of Green Buildings”.

If we are successful in achieving these principles, we will definitely be able to successfully design not just “A green Building” but also create a Green environment.

Earlier we discussed, various Passive and Active features of Green Building Design. Passive Features form an indispensible part of Green Building Design. That is the most primary and important step to be achieved in order to create a sustainable and Green environment.

Introduction to Architecture | Era of New Architectural Styles

July 26, 2011 by Architect

Introduction to Architecture | Architecture Style of the 21st Century

What is Architecture??

“Arch”- a form of construction and “tecture”- the surface of the structure.

Architecture is defined as designing the structures with respect to their interiors, exteriors and also the surroundings of the structure. It is considered as a form of art and science.

People who have the creative ability of imagination and then transforming it into concepts go for Architecture. If along with creative genius, a person is coupled with the technical aspects of construction, any kind of design made by such an Architect could be very well and easily be executed since the Architect himself would understand the technicalities involved in the execution of a specific design.

Architects give a certain feel to the space depending on what structure it is. Their understanding of architectural factors such as mass, texture, use of colours, use of appropriate materials, play of light and shadow in the interiors to create illusion etc.

Two major goals are to be accomplished in Architecture:

Functional aspect
Aesthetic aspect

That is, along with structure being functional, the structure also has to be aesthetically appealing which would make the people want to appreciate the structure.

If we study the history of Architecture, we will see that a lot of architectural styles flourished in different parts of the world and were then modified with the changing lifestyles of the people.

Some architectural styles were plan specific, some were elevation specific, some flourished because of the available materials in that particular era etc.

It is very crucial for Architecture students, Architects and all the designers to understand and feel the essence of real Architecture.

Architecture is not just designing buildings, it is an art of integrating the design of buildings with its surroundings which would include its environment and the Urban fabric.