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Biophilic Design – loosely translated as nature-inclusive design – is a design philosophy that puts our intrinsic connection with nature at the center. People nowadays spend 90% of their time indoors. (source)
It is therefore no wonder that we feel better in buildings that bring a touch of the outdoors inside.
Biophilic design integrates natural elements into interior spaces – from daylight and green plants to water features and images of landscapes – to create an environment that promotes our well-being.
In practice this means that we become happier, more creative and more relaxed in spaces that feel as if we are closer to nature. An interior with natural materials, a view of greenery or a ceiling that suggests the blue sky appeals to a deep human feeling. The result: a better mood and an environment that feels more pleasant. Biophilic design is therefore more than a trend – it is a proven way to create healthier, more productive and more inspiring environments.
In hospitals and healthcare institutions, biophilic design is increasingly applied as part of a Healing Environment. A Healing Environment (literally: “healing surroundings”) is a healthcare environment that promotes patient recovery and reduces stress. Classic research shows, for example, how powerful a natural element can be: patients with a view of trees from their hospital bed recovered faster and needed less pain medication compared to patients who looked at a brick wall. (source)
Biophilic design builds on this principle by imitating the positive stimuli of nature indoors as well. Natural daylight and images of the open sky play a big role here. Studies show that both real nature and realistic simulations have a measurable effect on the well-being of patients. Large windows, but also virtual windows or illuminated photo panels with a blue sky and clouds, help to lower stress and anxiety in patients. In a healthcare environment with a scanner or an operation prep room, an OpenCeilings sky ceiling can give a feeling of calm and space to someone lying under the scanner. The soft “sunlight” shining through such a panel and the visible clouds distract from medical equipment and provide a calming focal point.
In other words: a high-quality nature panel such as those from OpenCeilings does something special in our brain – it triggers a deep relaxation response. No wonder that more and more hospitals invest in this kind of biophilic design elements to create a healing environment in which patients feel more comfortable and staff enjoy their work more.
OpenCeilings responds to this with products such as Dynamic Daylight panels that imitate natural daylight in places where there are no windows. Imagine an emergency department where people work 24/7 under harsh fluorescent lamps – with Dynamic Daylight you bring a soft, diffuse light that moves with the rhythm of the day. A fresh blue tint in the morning, bright white light in the afternoon, and warmer amber-colored light towards the evening. This supports the day-night rhythm of both patients and healthcare staff. An OpenWindow can offer a virtual view in waiting rooms or treatment rooms, for example of a calming forest or a beach. Such applications make the healthcare environment more human and less clinical. And that pays off: a calm, positive patient experience can contribute to faster recovery and higher satisfaction.
Not only healthcare, but offices too reap the benefits of biophilic design. We all know the feeling of an inspiring walk outside during the lunch break – a moment to recharge. Biophilic design brings that recharged feeling to the work floor itself. An inspiring work environment in which natural elements are incorporated can drastically improve the well-being of employees. An international study (Human Spaces) has shown that offices with biophilic design elements have 6% more productive employees, who are moreover up to 15% more creative. (source)
Those are figures that attract attention: an investment in greenery, daylight facilities and nature decor can pay for itself in the form of more efficient and inventive teams.
But how exactly does that work? A simple example: a dynamic lighting panel in the ceiling that imitates the course of the sun, such as the OpenCeilings Dynamic Daylight panels, ensures that people do not sit under the same artificial glow all day. Instead, employees subtly experience the transition from morning to afternoon light, which supports the biological clock and counteracts fatigue in the middle of the day. Scientists call this circadian lighting – light tuned to our 24-hour rhythm – and they see that it can contribute to better sleep and fewer depressive feelings among employees. (source)
In addition, biophilic design stimulates creativity and concentration. Offices furnished with natural materials, green plant walls or nature visuals give our mind micro-breaks and inspire. An OpenWindow screen with a view of a snowy mountain landscape can, for example, stimulate the imagination in a brainstorming room. A sky ceiling in the meeting room gives the feeling that there is “air” and space, which can contribute to freer thinking. People are visually oriented – a boring gray wall does little, but a sky-blue cloudy sky with blossom and tree branches immediately gives the space a different energy.
Finally, a biophilic office simply raises well-being at the level of satisfaction: employees feel better at their workplace. They have less of an idea that they are locked up in a building. This can help to attract and retain talent; a modern company that cares about a pleasant, healthy work environment presents itself as an attractive employer. An investment in, for example, OpenCeilings daylight solutions or a beautiful green indoor garden in the atrium is therefore also an investment in the human capital of the organization.
Biophilic design is something you really have to experience to believe. Do you want to see with your own eyes how an OpenCeilings sky ceiling or OpenWindow changes your space? Experience it yourself and discover the impact on well-being and ambiance! Request our demo case today via our website and receive a complete set of samples at your location. Try out different light scenes and nature images – you will be amazed at the effect on the space and on the people who stay in it.
Do you have specific wishes or do you want to know what the best solution is for your project? Please contact us for no-obligation advice and request a tailored quote. Our team is ready to work with you to create a healthy, inspiring environment that attracts people and demonstrably pays for itself in well-being and performance.
Bring the healing power of nature indoors – with OpenCeilings, Biophilic Design becomes reality!