Biophilia describes the innate connection humans have with nature and living things—connections that are evidenced to exhibit measurable positive health benefits among people young and old. Accordingly, biophilic design involves the interplay of advanced research in environmental psychology, neuroscience, and endocrinology with the practical application of nature-inspired elements across the breadth of the built environment.
In its report “14 Patterns of Biophilic Design,” Terrapin Bright Green, an environmental design consulting firm, identifies patterns in nature that can be applied in interior and exterior environments for the purpose of addressing universal issues of human health and well-being. These include visual connection with nature, presence of water, dynamic and diffuse lighting, materials connections, and space patterns that support a natural sense of refuge, mystery, risk/peril, and/or awe.
For owners and operators of senior living communities, it can seem like the path of least resistance to incorporate plants and nature-inspired patterned textiles and call it biophilic design, but this is only a surface-level intervention. Holistic biophilic design—that is, design that looks at the whole user experience rather than only one or two elements—targets specific health outcomes initiated by intrinsic responses to nature that are deeply embedded within human biological cycles and systems (circadian rhythms, heart rate and blood pressure, stress hormone levels, and immune system). Thoughtful biophilic design offers a lens through which designers, owners, and operators can improve the health of residents, caregivers, administrators, and visitors.
Though the research supporting biophilic design applies fairly universally (across age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomics, upbringing, etc.), designers can identify which health impacts are most critical to senior populations and use biophilic interventions to intentionally create spaces that nurture, inspire, comfort, and heal relative to their unique needs. Common yet specific health conditions that impact user experience can be attenuated, at least in part, by asking which experiences of nature support the desired health outcome(s).
For example, loss of visual acuity is common among seniors with several age-related conditions (e.g., diabetes, macular degeneration, glaucoma) and has been associated with increased risk of premature death. To help temper this risk, design can incorporate biophilic applications of dynamic and diffuse lighting that integrate fenestration and daylight with electric lighting design, color palette, and partition opacity. These strategies can improve visual clarity through the provision of appropriate light levels, adequate contrast between light and shadow, and light from more than one source in a given space.
Hypertension, too, is a prevalent condition among many seniors in the United States. Biophilic interventions such as regular access to vegetation and water features (patterns that Terrapin identifies as visual connection with nature and presence of water) can help reduce systolic blood pressure for improved control of hypertension and, thus, the potential for a lowered risk of cardiovascular disease.
Making a plan
With such health outcomes at front of mind, leveraging early planning and incorporating small-scale, meaningful interventions can guide the design process and make it easier to achieve those outcomes. In addition to considering the user group, a plan should consider the day-in-the-life biophilic experience of senior residents, including dwell time and recurrence of experiences, and how a given biophilic design pattern may support health outcomes relevant to space type or activity (e.g., stress reduction in communal spaces versus healthy sleep patterns in residential units). Having a well-documented biophilic design plan can also be used for projects pursuing LEED or WELL certifications.
Early planning for cost-effective biophilic experiences is especially necessary for spatial elements such as those that impact structural components, ceiling heights, and views. For example, enclosed courtyards with nature and water features, whether indoors or outdoors, can support seniors’ autonomy and agency with safe and controlled access at any hour while enabling caregivers to observe from a distance. This type of intervention would need to be incorporated early in a project and potentially be integrated with other building systems to remain cost effective.
Also important is for operators of senior living communities to get involved early in the process to help designers understand which biophilic interventions are likely to be easy or difficult to maintain, particularly in the face of budget constraints that may change over time. Early involvement can also help operators understand the “why” behind design decisions and increase the likelihood that these biophilic interventions will be memorialized in the facility guidelines so that staff are aware of and can operationally maintain them.
Strategic interventions
Opportunities for incorporating the patterns of biophilic design can seem limited when working within the confines of older buildings, specifically, but successful approaches are about quality over quantity. For existing communities where renovations are minimal in scale, a few well-planned, tactical interventions can be very effective. These smaller, strategically placed interventions, also known as “biophilic acupuncture,” aim to elevate the biophilic experience without commandeering large budget sums or square footage. Some strategies worth considering include:
• Nooks and crevices along a building’s interior or exterior can be used to create micro restorative experiences—pleasant, engaging, and potentially beloved surprises in a resident’s routine. Several strategies, such as a non-visual connection with nature, a presence of water, or perceptions of mystery may be the most effective patterns for activating the space. For example, in a living room or dining space, artwork that changes diurnally or seasonally via changes in natural light, temperature, or air movement can be more engaging than static artwork and stimulate contemplation, curiosity, or even conversation.
• In instances where a community’s location doesn’t benefit from compelling or awe-inspiring views, designers can refocus the view toward interior spaces that are enhanced with natural analogues, materials, textures, and lighting. This might include incorporating design elements such as dimensional wood wall finishes in a dining venue or stone accents on a fireplace. These types of interventions provide indirect connections to nature while having a positive impact on heart rate variability, blood pressure, creativity, and comfort.
• To prevent falls, senior living environments are often designed as single-level spaces, contradicting the experience of natural environments that are not flat. By adding stepped access (in conjunction with gradual ramping), a raised area can offer residents the dignity of risk. In biophilic design, this is known as the risk/peril pattern—an identifiable threat coupled with a reliable safeguard. Within a senior living environment, the incorporation of a single step is less intimidating than a series of stairs and can be designed in a way that allows residents to use it or avoid it, depending on their abilities or preferences.
Being intentional
Many seniors live in one community for several years, with many likely spending most if not all their time within the same building or neighborhood. By intentionally designing spaces that incorporate a deeper level of biophilic patterns, it’s possible to create environments that are mentally and physically engaging and enhance the physical and emotional well-being of residents.
Catie Ryan is director at Terrapin Bright Green (New York). She can be reached at [email protected]. Lara Slavkin is partner and interior designer, senior living interiors market, at RDG Planning & Design (St. Louis). She can be reached at [email protected]. Jay Weingarten is partner and architect at RDG Planning & Design (Omaha, Neb.). He can be reached at [email protected].
