Biophilic design, which brings nature into buildings, is becoming more popular. It aims to create a closer connection with the natural world and improve well-being. In New York City, the Ford Foundation building has a 12-story atrium filled with trees and plants.
The Brookfield Place shopping center also has an atrium with tall palm trees. Singapore’s Jewel Changi Airport has an indoor forest with 2,500 trees from different countries. It includes walking paths and a large waterfall.
Some buildings, called “greenscrapers,” mix nature with urban design. In Milan, a 44-story building has 800 trees growing on it. In the Netherlands, a low-income apartment building has trees on all sides.
Biophilic designs blend nature indoors
Inside homes, some people are bringing trees right indoors or building around existing trees outside. The goal is to create a natural look and a feeling of calm.
Architect Ryoko Okada says there is “nothing more calming than being surrounded by nature.” She believes a living tree indoors can bring peace and happiness. The KAA Design Group in Los Angeles created a modern home that features the property’s existing trees. They convinced the owners to keep a 300-year-old cork oak as the centerpiece.
However, Okada warns against planting a full-size tree inside without expert advice. The right conditions, like soil depth, light, and temperature, are needed for the tree to thrive and avoid damaging the home. In some cases, parts of trees can be used as natural art pieces indoors.
Kirkpatrick’s team used a burned manzanita tree, painted black, as a striking design element in a home that had experienced a fire.