As a child, I abhorred going to the hospital. The cold, impersonal nature of the facility made me feel small. The piercing fluorescent lights amplified my eery feelings and attested to an uncomfortable sensation of sterility. But my experiences visiting newer healthcare facilities that adopted principles of biophilic design have changed my view entirely. A world of difference exists between my memory of the old children’s hospital, for example, and the personable, naturally lit, green space that is the new clinic I’ve since visited. My first real experience with biophilic design in a healthcare setting sparked a deep interest in the forces at work behind this phenomenon, so much so that I’ve made it the focus of my academic research.
The biophilic design incorporates natural elements into constructed environments, creating spaces that are not just functional but also good for the people who inhabit them. This is especially important for those who dwell in healthcare facilities, where the salutary effects of biophilic design work directly on patients, providing them with the environments conducive to healing. Biophilic design is good for the economy as well, making all kinds of financial sense. It does this by intertwining three types of value: direct value, indirect value, and the very important third way—healthcare.
For centuries, the link between nature and health has been well known and respected. The concept is simple: people just feel better when they’re around nature. Biophilic designers tap this knowledge when they create atmospheres in medical buildings. Physical plants, water features, sunlight or representations thereof, and natural materials like wood and stone all help to form environments that feel good when you’re in them, hospitals where you have the right not to feel like a nervous wreck, and serious upticks in calm and well-being for the people who are stuck there.