Biophilic Design – My Personal Aesthetic

Looking around my space, I compiled many of the ways I can characterize it: In terms of colors, I like many shades of green, wood, white, and warm white light. Many of the shapes tend to be very simple, as the furniture throughout my room tends to involved many straight lines and either sharp corners or slightly rounded edges. I also tend to follow a maximalism mindset, where I have tried to fill every wall of my room with something, floor to ceiling. The image below is a picture of my desk as viewed from the doorway to my room.

After some investigating, I found what I believe to be the best fit for my personal Aesthetic: Biophilic Design. Biophilic design is an interior aesthetic that integrates natural elements to create a harmonious and calming environment. Rooted in the idea that humans have an innate connection to nature, this style incorporates abundant greenery, natural materials like wood and stone, and earthy color palettes dominated by greens, whites, and warm neutrals. Soft, warm lighting enhances the organic ambiance, fostering a sense of relaxation and well-being. Beyond aesthetics, biophilic design aims to improve mental and physical health by increasing air quality, reducing stress, and enhancing overall mood. This is achieved through indoor plants, large windows that invite natural light, or nature-inspired textures. Below is another shelf in my room that incorporates some of these ideas.

Biophilic design draws inspiration from several major 20th-century design movements that emphasize simplicity, nature, and functionality. Modernism influenced its open spaces, minimalism, and seamless indoor-outdoor connection, often seen in large windows and natural materials. Organic Architecture, pioneered by Frank Lloyd Wright, promoted harmony between buildings and nature, encouraging the use of wood, stone, and natural light. Scandinavian design contributed its love for minimalism, light colors, and cozy natural textures, while Mid-Century Modern introduced clean lines, warm wood tones, and an emphasis on bringing nature indoors through houseplants and open layouts. Later, sustainable design further reinforced biophilic principles by prioritizing eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient spaces. Together, these movements shape biophilic design into a style that is both aesthetically pleasing and deeply connected to the natural world.

I think my long standing love for nature has influenced my personal aesthetic quite a bit. Since I live in an apartment complex in a metro area, being able to move some of the natural world into my own space helps me feel comfortable and more connected to nature. I plan to use parts of this aesthetic to inspire my final project.

For my final project, I want to create something that fits into my space, but draws from other areas as well. On material I would really like to use is glass blocks, which is a material I have always been fascinated with and wanted to use to create something, like a lamp or table.

Along with using glass blocks, I plan on taking design inspiration from mid-century modern furniture, especially since it can be closely related to biophilic design. While I do not know exactly what my project will look like, I am excited to start designing and sketching different ideas that incorporate the things I mentioned above. The glass block lamps below, sold by Kismas, show how I might go about lighting the glass blocks.

Credits:

Cover image: Taken by me

Image 1 and 2: Taken by me

Image 3: Marazzi USA

Image 4: https://classic-arch.com/articles/achieving-biophilic-design-with-classic-products/

Image 5: https://www.reddit.com/r/nostalgia/comments/kte2ok/architectural_glass_blocks/

Image 6: https://frameweb.com/product/lamp-01-kismas