Biophilic Design with Oliver Heath

On 3rd March 2020, Bespoke Careers London welcomed interior design and television presenter Oliver Heath to the head office to discuss Biophilic Design and creating spaces that bring us closer to nature.

Contrary to popular opinion, biophilic design isn’t just about popping a few plants around the room and calling it a day. Oliver describes “Biophilic design is about humans and how you put them in direct /indirect spaces with nature”, and with the population spending 90% of their time indoors and in urban environments, it becomes clear that we need to find ways to increase our contact with nature and the natural elements and take advantage of their benefits. 

The presentation opened with a look at why our mental health and well-being is so important, particularly within the working environment. 90% of business costs are in staff salaries and benefits, with only 9% being from rental costs and 1% in energy costs. The WELL Building Standards implement a system that monitors the effects of buildings on a human’s mental health - focussing on 7 concepts - Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Fitness, Comfort and Mind. With this in mind, Biophilic Design helps to offer an approach to creating buildings and spaces that respond to our human needs.

Oliver continues by highlighting the factors why well-being and design are having such a huge impact in this day and age. A 2017/18 HSE study found that stress accounts for 44% of all work-related ill health causes and 57% of all working days lost due to ill health. A more recent study by the World Health Organisation predicted that stress-related illness will be the primary cause of sickness by 2020.

Finally, the presentation concluded by looking at the future of Biophilic design - at biomorphic forms and the use of different textures and natural patterns in design alongside other design principles that can be applied to existing and new buildings, interior and exterior spaces alike and how to implement these on a range of scales and budgets to have the best impact. 

If you’d like to learn more about Oliver Heath and the concept of Biophilic Design - visit his website and resources page here.

To see the pictures from the event click here.