The initial encounter I had with a biophilic wall was at a friend’s office. She had renovated the space in a way that went far beyond a mere enhancement of new furniture. The newly debuted biophilic wall, effectively the centerpiece of the room, captivated me more than any painting or work of art ever could. Its presence was so imposing, yet so soothing. I remember being unable to tear my eyes away from it: a whole side of the room was covered with plants, pouring forth vital oxygen and absorbing carbon dioxide. The room could have been a hostage to the kind of sterile office lighting that renders it unsuitable for any human occupation, but here was nature’s answer to that predicament.
Biophilic Walls: A Path to Personal Transformation I was tired of the conventional way of decorating and living in a space that felt like a box. The look of my interior was so ordinary—flat walls, neutral paint tones, and a topography of interior spaces that didn’t invite me in or encourage me to hang out. I needed something more radical, more personalized, in my way of living and in the way my biophilic home embraced me. So I embarked, using biophilia as a tool, on a journey to explore the very nature of pathos, of love for the place I inhabit.
Vertical gardens, or biophilic walls, have more than just visual appeal. They make a powerful impression, but their influence is much more profound. Having one installed in my living room felt like beckoning nature’s presence. It was the plants’ organic chemistry that dazzled me; they were nature, alive, and a different kind of energy pulsed through the room with my “decor.” It was nature’s life force that I had incorporated into my domestic space. A biophilic wall is the supreme remedy for wallflowers.
The Importance of Biophilic Walls for Mental Health
Most people have little idea of just how much their environment determines their cognition, mood, and even their productivity. In the United States, the average person spends over 90 percent of their time indoors. With an increasingly screen-driven lifestyle, we spend more and more of our daylight hours staring at the well-lit blank spaces of our offices and homes. In the past few years, there has been a growing recognition of how matters like light and color influence us. These are aspects of what is called “ambient biophilia.” But biophilic walls take things a step further: They bring a convincing illusion of nature right into your line of sight, whether you’re at Annie’s office at Runaway or at home
If you’re thinking about creating a biophilic wall in your home or workspace, I’d start with something small and manageable—maybe a section of a wall that’s not too big and isn’t right next to any windows, or even a freestanding vertical system. Something not too crazy expansive that you can work up to as you get more comfortable with the idea of having plants in your space and the kind of care they require. Biophilic design allows for that kind of freedom. My wall is more or less an indoor version of a moss-covered tree, with 10 different living plant species, broken down into three types: woodland, tropical, and shoreline ecosystems.
Concerns about the installation and upkeep of living walls can lead some to shy away from this literal manifestation of biophilic design. I’ve heard it said that living walls are finicky and high-maintenance, yet this isn’t the case for the system I’ve experienced. In my research, I found that living walls—like the one I have in my home—often incorporate built-in irrigation systems that do the work of maintaining the wall for you. If you’re going to install a wall, it’s helpful to understand where to place it in order for it to achieve optimal light conditions. After all, even a gorgeous wall can fail to thrive if it’s in a poorly lit location.
The Advantages I’ve Gained Directly There are innumerable benefits to having a biophilic wall, but there are a few that really stand out and have affected my life in a big way. Primarily, the air quality in my home has gotten noticeably better. Plants are natural air filters, and the vertical garden means there’s an area in my home that’s concentrated with greenery and actively doing just that—cleaning the air. I didn’t quite understand the significance of it until a friend with serious allergies came to visit one weekend and breathed a sigh of relief, saying how much easier it was for her in my space to breathe.
The next thing that is impossible to emphasize enough is the appearance of the wall. There is just something about all that greenery that adds an element of softness and complexity to the space that no amount of furniture or decor could replicate. The wall has a starring role during the daytime. It is the place where the light plays with the leaves, and it is where the wall and the desert sun came up with a pretty great bit of choreography. I happen to be home when most of the not-so-basic moves are happening, making the wall not only a focal point for evening chill but also a big part of my daytime respite.
The last reason I am so passionate about biophilic design is the emotional and psychological benefits. When it comes to the wall, I tend to spend a few minutes each morning and evening tending to it. These moments allow me to connect with not just some element of nature that I have personalized in my space, but they also offer me a few meditative or mindful moments. Why is this important? Because I have come to understand that biophilic design is more than just a pretty face; it is an element of place that creates a more meaningful interaction with the natural world, regardless of how built up urban spaces may be.
Integrating All the Components
In numerous respects, biophilic walls express our basic necessity to be near nature. Living in an increasingly urban and technological society, we really need these connections now more than ever to maintain the kind of equilibrium that should be the birthright of all our spaces. And I’ve seen an uptown biophilic wall transform a space, an interaction, even an organization’s work itself.
Every little bit of greenery can help, whether you’re thinking of putting in just a small vertical living wall or are going for a larger-scale installation. Every bit of greenery makes a difference. And it’s not just about the space changing physically. Having a vertical garden in your home impacts your biophilia in a way that’s almost too subtle to detect but too potent to ignore. It reminds you that nature isn’t something we have to leave at the door and which we can invite in and nurture without much effort and a handful of houseplants.
The friend who long ago let me visit her office? She shared with me recently that the biophilic wall was the single best decision she made in her renovation. I couldn’t agree more. The experience of bringing nature indoors feels like both a gift to oneself and a commitment to a healthier, more mindful way of living. And that, to me, is what biophilic design amounts to.
