Biophilia Hypothesis – What Is It? And Why Does it Matter in Design?

Biophilic design draws on a simple premise: human beings evolved in nature, and we function better when our built environments reflect that connection.

For businesses, the implications are significant. Thoughtful integration of natural elements into corporate and hospitality spaces has been shown to improve wellbeing, increase retention, and elevate the experience of everyone who enters.

This guide explores the principles behind biophilic design, examines how leading spaces are putting it into practice, and outlines how to bring these elements into your own environment.

As Metropolis Magazine articulates it, biophilic design is rooted in the recognition that our species evolved in response to the natural world – not to artificial or human-created environments.

This goes well beyond adding a few potted plants to a reception area. True biophilic design is a holistic approach, interwoven throughout an entire space, that draws on our innate connection to the natural world to create environments where people genuinely thrive.

That connection has never been more relevant. As we spend increasing amounts of time in built environments, the spaces that acknowledge our biological relationship with nature consistently outperform those that don’t.

For our corporate clients, the fundamental goal is to create environments that work for people as biological organisms inhabiting modern structures.

The residence gardens at Raffles OWO are a good example – not only a considered landscape design, but a space where the team was involved in planting on Earth Day 2024, making the biophilic ethos part of the culture, not just the décor.

Effective biophilic design encompasses air-purifying plants, natural light, water features, living materials, and elements that evoke the rhythms of the natural world. It requires collaboration between architects, interior designers, and florists from the outset – because even the most beautifully constructed interior falls short if the living elements don’t align with the space, survive its conditions, or prove sustainable to maintain.

This is precisely where our expertise sits. We advise on what will thrive in your specific environment and ensure the natural elements enhance rather than complicate the space.

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Yale social ecology professor Stephen Kellert established the foundational framework for biophilic design, organising it into three categories that can be applied to any environment.

The most immediate category – actual contact with natural elements: light, air, water, plants, natural landscapes, and fire. In practice, this translates to floor-to-ceiling windows that maximise daylight, water features that introduce movement and sound, and living plants, trees, flowers, and foliage that bring a space to life.

Where direct contact with nature isn’t possible, its representation and evocation can achieve a remarkable effect. Natural materials such as wood and stone in furnishings and structures, artwork that depicts landscape and organic forms, earth-toned colour palettes drawn from stone and terracotta, naturalistic shapes, and simulated natural light all fall within this category.

Colour is one of the most immediate and impactful tools. A considered palette of natural neutrals provides a calm foundation, while seasonal accents in flowers and foliage allow the space to evolve throughout the year without structural change.

Curvilinear furnishings and organic forms – as opposed to rigid right angles – also contribute to a more naturalistic environment, softening interiors and echoing the shapes found in the natural world.

The third category addresses how a space feels to move through and inhabit. It encompasses prospect and refuge (the balance between open views and sheltered, nurturing areas), organised complexity (layered detail that rewards attention), transitional spaces that connect interior and exterior environments, ease of movement between areas, and a sense of cultural and ecological attachment to place.

Transitional spaces are a particular area of interest for us – the thresholds between indoors and out where planting, light, and natural materials can create a seamless flow that blurs the boundary between built and natural environments.

Not every element of the framework will suit every organisation. The most effective approach is to identify which aspects will have the greatest impact on your specific space and the people who use it.

Some of the most compelling examples of biophilic design demonstrate how natural elements can be integrated at every scale – from entire building concepts to the details of a single interior.

Amazon’s The Spheres in Seattle remain one of the most ambitious expressions of biophilic design in the corporate world. Three interconnected glass conservatories house over 40,000 plants from more than 30 countries, creating a working environment that feels closer to a cloud forest than a conventional office.

Designed by NBBJ Design, the structures demonstrate that biophilic principles can operate at the most ambitious architectural scale – and that the investment in living, breathing workspaces delivers measurable returns in employee engagement and wellbeing.

This residential development on the Isle of Dogs is one of London’s most striking examples of nature-integrated living. Residents enjoy a pool surrounded by lush tropical planting, while mature trees serve as a central design feature throughout the communal spaces.

The Wardian demonstrates how biophilic principles can shape an entire residential experience – not as an afterthought, but as the organising idea around which the architecture and interiors are designed.

A masterclass in how biophilic elements can transform a commercial interior. The moss wall serves as a living focal point, perfectly complemented by carefully placed blooms that introduce seasonal colour. Textured seating and sand-toned rugs complete an environment that feels grounded and inviting – a space where natural materials and living elements work together to create something greater than the sum of their parts.

Biophilic design in a corporate setting is an investment in your people and, by extension, in the long-term success of your business.

Plants improve air quality by removing pollutants and toxins. In office environments, they can filter harmful compounds such as formaldehyde and benzene – substances commonly found in carpets, furnishings, and building materials. This helps reduce the risk of ‘sick building syndrome’ and can measurably lower absence rates.

For more on this, see our journal entry: NASA Study Reveals Best Air-Cleaning Plants For Your Home

Access to natural elements and green space has been consistently linked to reduced stress, improved confidence, and a more positive mental outlook. For organisations competing to attract and retain talent, a workspace that actively supports mental health is no longer a differentiator – it is an expectation.

Natural light plays a critical role in regulating melatonin production and circadian rhythms, directly influencing energy levels and focus. Maximising access to daylight – through open-plan layouts, strategically placed windows, and glass partitions – is one of the most effective productivity investments an organisation can make.

Where natural light is limited, circadian lighting systems that adjust colour temperature and intensity throughout the day offer a compelling alternative.

Environments that keep people connected to nature throughout their working day foster a greater sense of belonging and loyalty. When employees feel genuinely well in their workspace, they produce their best work and are far less likely to look elsewhere.

First impressions form in a fraction of a second. Natural elements that create an immediate sense of life, vitality, and care communicate something powerful about an organisation’s values – to clients, customers, and prospective employees alike.

Our nature-inspired window display for Bulgari is a good example of how biophilic elements can reinforce brand identity at the point of first contact.

The investment varies widely depending on scope. For new builds, the most effective approach is to involve architects, interior designers, and florists from the earliest design stages, so biophilic principles are integrated structurally rather than applied cosmetically.

For established spaces, meaningful impact can be achieved at any scale – from a considered programme of living plants and seasonal floral displays to more substantial interventions such as living walls or water features. Biophilic design can also be incorporated into event branding, creating memorable environments that reinforce your identity.

Whether you’re working with an existing space or designing from scratch, biophilic elements can be introduced at every level of ambition.

For immediate impact, consider maximising natural light by keeping window treatments open, introducing air-purifying plants, incorporating nature-inspired artwork, developing outdoor spaces for breaks and informal meetings, improving natural ventilation, and addressing acoustics with materials such as acoustic ceiling tiles.

For more substantial interventions – particularly during construction or refurbishment – strategically placed windows that frame calming views, water features, living walls, and transitional indoor-outdoor spaces can transform the character of a building entirely.

The key is intention over volume. A single, beautifully executed element – seasonal blooms that change with the calendar, for instance – can have more impact than a scattered collection of unrelated natural features. Consider what you’re trying to achieve and how sustainable the approach is for your organisation.

Our floral designs for Daphne’s London demonstrate how considered botanical elements can define the personality of a space.

The measure of success is always the effect: how the design complements the architecture and the positive impact it has on the people who inhabit the space.

Whether you’re commissioning a new biophilic scheme, refreshing an existing one, or looking for ongoing maintenance of living installations, we bring both the horticultural expertise and the design sensibility to ensure the result is exceptional.

Our work with clients including Raffles OWO, Bulgari, Mark’s Club, The Ivy Club, Tatler, Kate Spade NY, and LK Bennett has given us deep experience in creating biophilic environments that align with the most discerning brand identities.

Call us on +44 20 3389 9609 or email contact@bloominghaus.com to discuss your space.

1. The Best Potted Blooms for Your Office
2. Tips On Planning a Successful Corporate Event
3. How to Choose Flowers for Your Corporate Event
4. A Biophilic Tour of London (PDF Map)

For more on our sustainability initiatives, including the tree planting at Raffles OWO, visit our sustainability page.

We are also admirers of Gary Grant’s living wall on the Rubens at the Palace Hotel in Victoria – at 350 square metres, London’s largest vertical plant installation and a remarkable example of biophilic design in the public realm.