We spend so much of our time in buildings: human-made structures built for functionality. Four walls and alternating hues of white, gray, and maybe a pop of color if we’re lucky. Unless a building’s design is intentionally created with inspiring moments in mind, there isn’t a whole lot of room for creativity to run rampant. But when we step outside, creativity is sure to sprout. Instead of being boxed in, the doors are thrown open to experience the world beyond concrete walls, cubicles, and even our homes.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency says Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors on average. It makes sense that people want to bring lush greenery and landscapes that mirror the great outdoors inside. You see this tendency to reach for nature everywhere: from your friend who has an entire room dedicated to various plants (each in their own unique pot) to gorgeous murals of the countryside splashed across the walls of a children’s hospital.

The History of Biophilic Design

Bringing the outdoors in is not a new concept. However, sprucing up interior spaces with designs that echo nature is a fairly recent endeavor. Called biophilic design, this idea has roots stretching back to the 1960s, grown by social psychologist Erich Fromm and his green thumb. Zhong, Schroder, and Bekkering state that Fromm coined the term biophilia “to describe the ‘love of life that explained two fundamental tendencies of living organisms.’”

The term did not gain much popularity until 1984, when Edward O. Wilson penned his book Biophilia, according to the study by Zhong, Schroder, and Bekkering. Wilson “defined biophilia as the innate tendency to focus on life and lifelike processes … and emphasized that  biophilia is ‘the innately emotional affiliation of human beings to other living organisms.’” Later iterations of biophilia budded into ideas like biomimicry, defined by Oxford Languages as “the design and production of materials, structures, and systems that are modeled on biological entities and processes.” Both have become increasingly popular in building architecture over the last 50 years.

Urban areas get makeovers with mini-parks bursting with shrubs and flowers stationed alongside parking lots. A roof gets green paint to give that pop of color – harkening back to the days when we battled outdoor elements in much closer proximity than we encounter today. Skylights dot the ceiling at your local art shop, inviting sunlight to peek in. Living walls of plants become main indoor features. Even still images of the natural world make an appearance where they otherwise would never be seen.

Instead of drab shades of gray, manufacturers are helping to pull those dreams from the imagination of designers and architects into the real world. Aside from looking pretty, the effects of biophilic design seem to have positive effects on our mental and physical health as well. Two theories point to biophilic design as a possible positive indicator of well-being, although more research is needed:

• The stress recovery theory, which says “exposure to nature could reduce negative emotions and foster recovery from physiological stress and health problems,” mentioned in Zhong et. al’s study from Ulrich.
• Place attachment theory, which “further illustrates that connecting to the local natural environment by incorporating regional features … thereby realising personal identify, belonging, and cohesion,” from Manzo by way of Zhong et. al.

How to incorporate biophilic design with Cornell rolling doors. 

Nature scenes have a positive effect on our minds and emotions. This indirect experience of nature brings valuable benefits to urban settings, where it can be more difficult to incorporate live plants and natural landscapes.  

Our vibrant vinyl graphics let you customize your commercial door with brilliant designs, artwork, or photography. Enhance your interior or exterior with our graphics, featuring a premium gloss opaque finish for a smooth, paint-like look. Designed to endure the rigors of everyday use, our vinyl designs last, creating a calming atmosphere for years to come. 

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