When it comes to design, staircases are often given short shrift, dismissed as purely functional aspects of a building. But for me, they are an opportunity—a connection between levels, both metaphorically and literally. And when we apply biophilic principles to staircase design, they become more than a mere link between floors. They transform into an integral part of a space that promotes wellness and a deeper, more meaningful connection to nature. I’ve always found staircases fascinating. What makes them really special, in my view, is their ability (certainly in the way we ascend as well as descend) to connect us with our natural surroundings in a way that few other design elements can. To me, a staircase can be the spine of a building, and when infused with biophilia (the love of nature), it becomes an experience that links inhabitants with their natural surroundings in new and profound ways.
Materials That Capture the Essence of Nature One of the most immediate decisions when creating a biophilic staircase is what materials to use. For me, natural wood is the ideal choice, especially when it is used in its raw form—untreated, unpolished, and without a synthetic protective barrier. Wood in such a pristine state maintains an unfettered authenticity; it is full of character, not to mention texture. I’ve traversed stairways made from reclaimed oak, and I’ve felt the history and warmth in each step. I’ll choose an ascending staircase of raw oak over a barefoot trek on the most flawless, well-sanded, and polished wooden staircase any day. Then again, I’m a wood lover, and the sound and feeling of ascending the staircase inside a wooden structure is beyond compare. Wood, in my experience, is the warmest and most welcoming choice for an interior biophilic staircase. But I recognize that it’s not the only option. Stone is another material that lends itself beautifully to biophilic staircases.
Although steel seems purely industrial, it can also hold relevance in the world of biophilic design, especially when combined with living plants. I encountered a staircase adorned with a railing that was designed to support climbing vines. Impressive, right? The staircase itself, along with the way it interacts with light, can be seen as a work of biophilic art. We all know how important light is when it comes to establishing a certain mood or feeling in a space, and this is especially true for staircases. Natural light is the ideal solution—skylights, large windows, or glass walls can flood a staircase with sunlight and create a shifting system of light and shadow that could almost be thought of as the basic building block of a staircase light sculpture.
The most unforgettable staircase I have ever seen sat right underneath a glass roof. Whether it was morning, noon, or night, the play of light upon the staircase was gorgeous. In the morning, during the week when I was trying to get out of the interview process, I was bathed in soft light that had only just begun to fill the space. In the afternoon, the rays of sunshine were more direct and even more energizing. During the week when I didn’t talk to the sun at all, the light was very golden and felt warm and inviting. At night, the moon was the interior lighting and made the staircase feel, if this was possible, even more ethereal than during the day. The glow of the materials throughout the construction really became apparent at this hour. If there hadn’t been any natural light available, lighting solutions that mimic the quality of sunlight should have been used.
Biophilic design integrates into its principles the components necessary to foster a connection with nature, using spaces such as homes and offices to bring elements of the natural world into our daily lives. Plants are, of course, an essential part of biophilic design. I have seen them used in all kinds of creative ways, from sky gardens on the tops of towers to walls of greenery. But as I wrote in my last piece, one of the biggest opportunities for biophilic design in personal spaces might just be the staircase. In a recent Dwell article, writer Sarah Coffey describes the staircase as “the very core of the home.” And she describes current trends in staircases in such a way that I was left feeling a little breathless.
Even for people who might not want to commit to integrated planters, the addition of potted plants to stairs and landings can achieve a similar effect. In my own designs, I like to position potted plants at stair level so that you can look closely at them as you ascend or descend. Some plants, such as ferns, can thrive in the stair environment, where the humidity from your breath will help them stay healthy. And if you don’t have the kind of space that a staircase offers, you can still enjoy the sensory connection that the sounds and smells of nature provide simply by including a water feature and some strategically placed plants at any other transitional area in your home.
In some cases, I’ve had the opportunity to fully integrate the biophilic staircase with the water feature itself. Picture a staircase that traverses a small pond or stream, in which the sound of running water changes depending on where you are on the stairs. Now, think about the visual spectacle offered by the biophilic staircase itself, in terms of its form, materials, and colors. Not only is the experience fully immersive in terms of the staircase’s relationship to the water feature, but it also engages the stair climber in an interesting way, utilizing more than just visual senses. The cantilevered staircase means that the water feature is extremely well integrated with the stairs in terms of both function and form.
What fascinates me most about biophilic design is its effect on our mental and emotional well-being. Staircases are, by nature, places of movement and transition, but biophilic staircases can also create moments of pause and reflection. I have seen firsthand the way a well-designed biophilic staircase can change how people interact with a space. In one of my projects, a hospital, we designed a large central staircase that connected several departments. The idea was to get people to take the stairs instead of the elevators, and it worked. But what was even more unexpected was how people began to use the space for rest and relaxation. Small seating areas were positioned on the landings, surrounded by plants and natural light, and it became a common sight to see both visitors and staff taking a moment to sit, reflect, and recharge. The staircase had become not just a place of movement but a restorative space.
To me, the transformative power of biophilic design is most clearly seen in its application to everyday spaces, like our staircases. While I appreciate a good-looking stair, I know beauty alone isn’t enough. Staircases need to be healthy. And the kind of healthy our staircases can be speaks to an innate human need that’s seldom addressed by traditional architecture. Tim D. Brown, of IDEO, describes one part of that need, reminding us in his book “Change by Design” that our brains aren’t designed to work in comfortable, climate-controlled spaces all day long.
Every time I see a well-designed biophilic staircase, I am reminded of our almost primal bond with the natural world. Stairs take us up and down, and they are usually not places one stops to enjoy. But with biophilic staircases, the design allows for a moment of pause and reflection. One might even call it an opportunity for mindfulness. I experienced this when I visited a public library in my hometown. On the way to my destination, I approached a wide, sweeping staircase that led up to the second floor of the library. On either side of the staircase were long trough planters full of soft moss-like plants, delicate ferns, and pockets of herbs that sweetened the air.
I frequently think about how our rapidly moving culture has turned us into a nation of detachment, moving through spaces that, deprived of our presence, become mere containers for our activities. Yet, in my line of work, I’ve seen how seamlessly integrating natural elements into what we design allows people to experience a stronger connection with their environments. Case in point: the biophilic staircase in a workplace setting. We often think of staircases as transitory. Yet, I find it fascinating that some workplaces have embraced a vision of the staircase as a serene, even meditative, space—a reaction to the perennial problem of monotony in office life.
Sustainable Biophilic Staircases: A Look at This Design Opportunity
Biophilic design almost always aligns with sustainability, and staircases offer a prime opportunity to implement both concepts. Designs that embrace biophilia often involve the use of natural materials, and what staircase could be more natural than one made of trees? Wood is often dismissed as an option for sustainable staircases because of the deforestation issue. However, if the wood is harvested in a way that ensures it can renew itself (like with a lot of species found on the West Coast), and if the design embraces local materials and doesn’t use too many exotic species, wood becomes one of the most pleasing and sustainable options. Biophilic staircases offer a perfect opportunity to realize the not always present axiom: “staircases can be sustainable without negatively impacting appearance or performance.”
The plants selected for staircases can enhance sustainability. Ideal are the arid-land plants—the native plant species of the southwestern United States—that thrive in our stairwells (see Photo 6). Succulent and sedum species constitute a significant part of these native plant communities. A stairwell in my office serves as a vertical garden that is home to these biophilic design elements. The plants require very little water and nearly zero maintenance and have rendered our stairway a part of the pathway to nature. Their presence here, though, does more than just plant the stairway en vivo. It makes a substantial contribution to the building’s energy efficiency. And in design, this is our path to a decarbonized future.
Creating for Variety: Distinct Strategies for Biophilic Staircases
What I appreciate most about biophilic design is how adaptable it is. No two biophilic staircases need to be alike, and that’s fortunate because the environments in which we design stairs are nowhere near uniform. I’ve encountered biophilic staircases in various forms, from towering urban high-rise office buildings to mountain-recessed, timber-framed homes. The freestyle nature of my staircase designs has yet to result in any two being identical. Still, the identical philosophy undergirds the various strategies I use to create these often-overlooked and sometimes-misunderstood elements of biophilic architecture.
In rural and natural environments, I prefer staircases that blend seamlessly into the landscape. In a recent project, a vacation house nestled in a forest chose a staircase made from locally quarried stone—natural steps rising organically from the earth, among native ferns and mosses. It was a perfect choice: the structure feels like it’s always been there, part of the local landscape and not a human-made imposition. As for residential staircases, I’ve also worked on biophilic designs and much prefer when the designs have personal elements. I’ve worked with a family who wanted to include a living wall along their staircase. We designed it so that each family member could choose plants to contribute. In time, the plants were all different—just like the family.
Biophilic staircases are more than a mere design trend—they embody a philosophy that invites nature back into the urban environment. They aren’t just pretty; they have purpose. The purpose of a staircase is inherently linked to nature. Both are about moving between levels. The biophilic staircase acknowledges this fundamental link while also integrating numerous other naturalistic principles across its various dimensions. Staircases are inherently dynamic structures, too; they’re all about movement and changing form during the course of one’s ascent or descent. As a design element, the biophilic staircase achieves one of the primary goals of biophilic design: to delight and surprise the user. The biophilic staircase is an invitation to not only get to the next level but also to experience nature again in the dense urban environment.
