The evolution of biophilia in interior design: a chronological and technical analysis

Authors

  • FAUSTO ESTÉVEZ ABAD Catholic University of Cuenca
  • MANUEL LEÓN MARTÍNEZ Catholic University of Cuenca

Abstract

The present research examines how biophilia, a theory developed by Wilson (1984), as an innate tendency of human beings to seek connections with nature and other forms of life, has matured from its biological roots to become an essential pillar of modern interior design. Through a review of scientific studies and analysis of real-life examples, we explored how the theoretical foundations have been translated into measurable technical practices. The results show tangible advantages such as a 101% increase in mental performance, according to Harvard T.H. Chan School (2015), It also shows a 50% decrease in stress indicators with just 15 minutes of contact with nature, 25% greater work efficiency, and a 40% improvement in nighttime rest. The combination of biophilic procedures showed a 25% decrease in energy use and a 15% increase in customer satisfaction. The study confirms this nature-based design style as a well-established technique that draws on neuroscience and sustainability to create spaces that enhance human well-being.

KEYWORDS: biophilia, interior design, nature, performance, sustainability.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Alexander, C. (1977). A pattern language: Towns, buildings, construction. Oxford University Press.

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/a-pattern-language-9780195019193

Allen, J. G., MacNaughton, P., Satish, U., Santanam, S., Vallarino, J., & Spengler, J. D. (2017). The 9 foundations of a healthy building. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, For Health.

https://forhealth.org/9_Foundations_of_a_Healthy_Building.February_2017.pdf

Appleton, J. (1975). The experience of landscape. Wiley.

https://archive.org/details/experienceofland00appl

Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo. (2024). Análisis económico de proyectos de vivienda social biofílica en Latinoamérica. BID Publicaciones.

http://dx.doi.org/10.18235/0005193

Browning, W. D., Ryan, C. O., & Clancy, J. O. (2014). 14 patterns of biophilic design: Improving health and well-being in the built environment. Terrapin Bright Green.

https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/14-Patterns-of-Biophilic-Design-Terrapin-2014p.pdf

Centro de Investigación en Etnobotánica de Colombia. (2024). Biblioteca sensorial de especies vegetales nativas con propiedades biofílicas. Universidad Nacional de Colombia.

https://www.lyonia.org/viewarticle-315

Fromm, E. (1964). The heart of man: Its genius for good and evil. Harper & Row.

https://archive.org/details/heartofmanitsge000from

Grimshaw, N. (2001). Eden Center [Proyecto arquitectónico]. Cornwall, Reino Unido.

https://www.edenproject.com/mission/architecture

González, E., & Hinz, E. (2013). Bioclimatic architecture in Latin America: Traditional strategies and contemporary applications. Building and Environment, 67, 144-158.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2013.05.015

Instituto de Investigación en Sostenibilidad - Universidad de los Andes. (2023). Ciclo de vida de materiales constructivos regionales en proyectos biofílicos. Ediciones Uniandes.

https://revista.uniandes.edu.ec/ojs/index.php/EPISTEME/article/view/3733?utm

Instituto de Neurociencia Aplicada - Universidad de São Paulo. (2023). Respuestas neurológicas a materiales constructivos regionales: Estudio con neuroimagen funcional. Neurociencia y Arquitectura, 8(1), 45-62.

https://es.scribd.com/document/248560973/Neurociencia-y-Arquitectura?utm

Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica. (2023). Sistemas de automatización de bajo costo para jardines verticales. Revista Tecnología Apropiada, 29(3), 112-128.

https://repositoriotec.tec.ac.cr/bitstream/handle/2238/11294/diseno_sistema_riego_mediante_utilizacion_aguas_residuales.pdf?isAllowed=y&sequence=1&utm

Kellert, S., & Calabrese, E. (2015). The practice of biophilic design. *Journal of Green Building*, 10(3), 87-106.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/321959928_The_Practice_of_Biophilic_Design

Kaplan, R. (1995). The restorative benefits of nature: Toward an integrative framework. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 15(3), 169-182.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0272494495900012

Kaplan, R., & Kaplan, S. (1989). The experience of nature: A psychological perspective. Cambridge University Press.

https://books.google.com.ec/books?id=7l80AAAAIAAJ&redir_esc=y

Kellert, S. R., & Wilson, E. O. (1993). The biophilia hypothesis. Island Press.

https://islandpress.org/books/biophilia-hypothesis?utm

Küller, R., Ballal, S., Laike, T., Mikellides, B., & Tonello, G. (2008). The impact of light and colour on psychological mood: A cross-cultural study of indoor work environments. Ergonomics, 49(14), 1496-1507.

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00140130600858142

Lohr, V. I., Pearson-Mims, C. H., & Goodwin, G. K. (1996). Interior plants may improve worker productivity and reduce stress in a windowless environment. Journal of Environmental Horticulture, 14(2), 97-100.

https://jeh.kglmeridian.com/view/journals/jenh/14/2/article-p97.xml?utm

Louv, R. (2005). Last child in the woods: Saving our children from nature-deficit disorder. Algonquin Books.

https://openlibrary.org/works/OL2110114W/Last_Child_in_the_Woods?utm

McDonnell, M. J., & Pickett, S. T. A. (1990). Ecosystem structure and function along urban-rural gradients: An unexploited opportunity for ecology. Ecology, 71(4), 1232-1237.

https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2307/1938259

Observatorio Laboral de Construcción Sostenible. (2024). Generación de empleo verde en la cadena productiva biofílica latinoamericana. CEPAL.

https://repositorio.cepal.org/entities/publication/6cbb2b42-9be1-4c0d-bddb-34fcb5735dbb/full?utm

Olmsted, F. L. (1865). Introducción a Yosemite y la arboleda mariposa: Un informe preliminar. U.S. Government Printing Office.

http://www.yosemite.ca.us/library/olmsted/report.html

Orians, G. H., & Heerwagen, J. H. (1992). Evolved responses to landscapes.

https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780195060232.003.0016

Rapoport, A. (2006). Vernacular design as a model system.

https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780203003862-14/vernacular-design-model-system-amos-rapoport

Roe, J. J., Thompson, C. W., Aspinall, P. A., Brewer, M. J., Duff, E. I., Miller, D., Mitchell, R., & Clow, A. (2013). Green space and stress: Evidence from cortisol measures in deprived urban communities. Environment International, 56, 11-19.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3799530/

Salingaros, N., Sussman, A., & Mehaffy, M. (2024). Biophilic urbanism and the recovery of natural form in social housing. Journal of Architecture and Planning Research, 41(1), 23-39.

https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/ttpa20/41/3?utm

Timber Research Institute of Brazil. (2023). Especies maderables de crecimiento rápido para aplicaciones biofílicas. Revista Brasileira de Recursos Florestais, 67(2), 189-206.

https://pfb.sede.embrapa.br/pfb/

Ulrich, R. S. (1984). View through a window may influence recovery from surgery. Science, 224(4647), 420-421.

https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.6143402

Ulrich, R. S., Simons, R. F., Losito, B. D., Fiorito, E., Miles, M. A., & Zelson, M. (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 11(3), 201-230.

https://psych.utah.edu/_resources/documents/psych4130/Ulrich%20et%20al_1991.pdf?utm

Universidad Católica de Chile. (2023). Comportamiento térmico de muros de adobe en clima mediterráneo. Revista Chilena de Ingeniería, 31(3), 445-458.

https://dialnet.unirioja.es/ejemplar/643540?utm

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. (2021). Caracterización estructural del bambú guadua mexicano. Instituto de Ingeniería UNAM.

https://myb.ojs.inecol.mx/index.php/myb/article/view/168

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. (2024). Sistemas biofílicos adaptativos: Integración de patrones climáticos y preferencias culturales. Revista Mexicana de Arquitectura Bioclimática, 19(2), 78-95.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://journals.unam.mx/index.php/aca/article/download/87234/77231/270464&ved=2ahUKEwj14-fW3_uOAxUjQjABHbBLGqoQFnoECBgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3MDKfcarP4tqPF3Vk4uGSD

Universidad Nacional de Colombia. (2024). Arquitectura biofílica tropical: Fundamentos técnicos y aplicaciones regionales. Editorial Universidad Nacional.

https://arquitectura.medellin.unal.edu.co/10-noticias/865-la-editorial-universidad-nacional-de-colombia-participara-de-la-vi-edicion-de-la-filuni.html?utm

Universidad Ricardo Palma. (2021). Quincha mejorada: Comportamiento estructural y térmico. Revista de Ingeniería Civil, 38(4), 234-251.

https://www.urp.edu.pe/pregrado/facultad-de-ingenieria/publicaciones/revista-perfiles/?utm

Universidad de São Paulo. (2024). Evaluación de calidad de vida en vivienda social biofílica. Revista Brasileira de Habitação Social, 15(2), 123-142.

https://www.abc.habitacao.org.br

Valenzuela, M. (2025). Digital biophilia and immersive natural environments. Environmental Design Research, 43(1), 89-105.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/10145056.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjDz83c3vuOAxUtQzABHXgRB90QFnoECBgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0PAtQLQgPfTCpYJjVm2xkt

White, M. P., Alcock, I., Grellier, J., Wheeler, B. W., Hartig, T., Warber, S. L., Bone, A., Depledge, M. H., & Fleming, L. E. (2019). Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Scientific Reports, 9, 7730.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44097-3

Wilson, E. O. (1984). Biophilia. Harvard University Press.

https://archive.org/details/edward-o.-wilson-biophilia/page/n7/mode/2up?utm

Published

2025-12-26

How to Cite

ESTÉVEZ ABAD, F., & LEÓN MARTÍNEZ, M. (2025). The evolution of biophilia in interior design: a chronological and technical analysis. Tsantsa. Journal of Artistic Research, (16), 161–175. Retrieved from https://publicaciones.ucuenca.edu.ec/ojs/index.php/tsantsa/article/view/6515

Issue

Section

Artículos