mental Health benefits of biophilic indoor environment in virtual reality - harvard research study
A review of Harvard’s research into the wellbeing benefits of a biophilic space experienced through virtual reality
Four virtual reality office layouts. Note: indoor green incorporates green plants, water, natural materials and biomorphic shapes into indoor space; outdoor view incorporates long-distance natural view and daylight into indoor space through windows; combination incorporates biophilic elements from indoor green and outdoor view.
Source: Effects of biophilic indoor environment on stress and anxiety recovery: A between-subjects experiment in virtual reality. Harvard study.
Harvard has delivered two different studies on the wellbeing benefits of exposure to a bioiphilic space in an online world, the first in 2019 and a follow-up study in 2020, both of which explore the benefits of biophilic interiors experienced through a virtual reality headset.
A biophilic design consultant perspective
Why is this of interest to us as biophilic design consultants? We already work with a combination of direct biophilia (live plants or a fish tank for example) and indirect biophilia (analogues such as botanical wallpaper or inspirational landscape photos) in our projects as biophilic designers and healthy building experts yet as we enter the age of Web 3.0 and the Metaverse, it is surely pertinent to consider the potential of online, virtual reality worlds that incorporate biophilic design too.
biophilic design in online worlds
Specifically, could we reasonably expect these virtual worlds to offer some or all of the mental health benefits of real world exposure to biophilic design? How much of these benefits are lost or diluted as we move down the value chain from direct biophilia in the real world, to indirect biophilia in the real world and into this emerging third category of biophilia in a virtual world?
benefits of biophilic design examples in online worlds
In summary, the Harvard studies show that biophilic elements in the online environments experienced by participants did increase physiological stress recovery by lowering blood pressure, heart rate and anxiety levels in respondents, as we might expect by inferring from real world biophilic design studies.
The implications of this are profound, consider an fast-paced office environment where no natural light or nature views are available, no park or gardens nearby and no budget available for a complete biophilic interior fit-out of the space but there is scope to create a virtual reality pod for stressed out staff to relax in when they need a break.
By providing a biophilic virtual world for them to spend time in, we can now predict, thanks to this rigorous Harvard research, to have a tangible impact on stress recovery and anxiety levels.
Interestingly, the study also highlights how certain biophilic design examples were more effective than others for certain types of task. For example window access provides stimulation for creativity but having no window may be better for tasks that require deep concentration.
harvard research into biophilic environments
In the Harvard 2019 VR study - https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ina.12593 - the methods deployed were as follows:
4 types of rooms (3 biophilic, one non biophilia) each repeated in an open and enclosed environment
Natural elements: "visual connection with nature" and "dynamic and diffuse light"
Green plants, access to natural light and view
Natural analogues: "biomorphic forms and patterns" and "material connection with nature"
Products made/looked like natural materials, furniture w/biomorphic shapes
Combined: combination of both
research results of virtual reality biophilic interior spaces
Participants in open biophilic spaces had more physiological stress reduction than in enclosed biophilic spaces
Participants in enclosed biophilic space had higher creativity score increase than in open biophilic spaces
Increased green exposure = significant decreases in blood pressure
Natural elements and combination had highest increase in RMSSD (stress relief)
Biophilic environments increased creativity due to their calming influence
Window access= better for creativity (more stimulation)
No window = better for concentration tasks (more attention for task)
Participants preferred natural light, having a view, and indoor plants over natural materials (wood) and biomorphic forms
Participants spent most of their time looking at biophilic elements
Fig. 2. Experimental procedure. Note: IEQ: indoor environmental quality; BP: blood pressure; STAI: State-Trait Anxiety Inventory; HRV: heart rate variability; SCL: skin conductance level.
Source: Effects of biophilic indoor environment on stress and anxiety recovery: A between-subjects experiment in virtual reality. Harvard.
Review of the follow-up study into mental health benefits of biophilic environments online
In the Harvard 2020 virtual reality study into the impact of biophilic environments in a virtual reality context - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019336347 - the methods deployed were as follows:
4 rooms made up of a non biophilic space, an indoor green space, a space with an outdoor view onto a natural landscape, and a combination of biophilic interiors and views out onto nature
Window vs. no window (big difference in office spaces)
Outdoor view: long distance natural views of trees, grass, water, daylight (windows positioned same place as living walls in indoor green), intangible elements, natural light
Biophilic tangible elements
Indoor green: living walls, potted plants, water (fish tank), natural materials/biomorphic shapes, tangible elements
research results of exposure to biophilic environments in virtual reality
RMSSD (stress relief)
Non biophilic vs. Indoor green: 2.1% faster indoor green (sig. Better recovery in this environment)
Heart Rate Levels : throughout recovery pd, biophilic settings caused faster recovery
70% of the time in Indoor green people had a complete recovery of heart rate
72% of the time in combination people had a complete recovery of heart rate
General Trends
Indoor green more physiological stress recovery
Improves participant blood pressure the most (along with all biophilic conditions)
Outdoor view: more anxiety reduction
Combination: between the two
Improved both (2nd best for both)
Baseline stress conditions were either met or went even lower under biophilic conditions