Introduction to biophilic design concept best examples — biofilico wellness interiors

What follows is a presentation made by Matt Morley to the team at Turner & Townsend in Scotland in October 2022, introducing the concept of biophilic design as a combination of nature + wellbeing + sustainability.

biofilico Founder MAtt Morley in his biophilic home in Barcelona, Spain

An Introduction to Biophilic Design - Nature, Wellbeing, and Sustainability

Biophilic design is a concept that has gained significant attention in recent years, particularly in the fields of architecture, interior design, and urban planning. The term “biophilic” refers to the innate human tendency to seek connections with nature, and biophilic design aims to incorporate natural elements and patterns into the built environment to promote well-being and sustainability. By integrating natural elements such as plants, water features, and natural light, biophilic design creates spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also enhance mental and physical health. This approach fosters a deeper connection to the natural world, making our living and working environments more harmonious and sustainable.

Presentation by Matt Morley to Turner & Townsend in Scotland, October 2022

In a recent presentation to Turner & Townsend in Scotland, Matt Morley discussed the importance of biophilic design in promoting well-being and sustainability in the built environment. Morley highlighted the benefits of incorporating natural elements, such as natural light, natural materials, and natural patterns, into building design. He emphasized that biophilic design is not just about adding plants to a space but involves a holistic approach that considers the social, economic, and environmental impacts of building design. By thoughtfully integrating these elements, biophilic design can create healthier, more productive, and more sustainable environments.

An introduction to biophilic design - nature, wellbeing and sustainability

What follows is a presentation made by Matt Morley to the team at Turner & Townsend in Scotland in October 2022, introducing the concept of biophilic design as a combination of nature + wellbeing + sustainability.

Biophilic design is an innovative approach that seeks to connect building occupants more closely to nature. It incorporates natural elements like plants, water features, and natural light into the built environment. Additionally, it includes natural forms such as trees, flowers, and shells to enhance the connection between built environments and the natural world. This design philosophy is based on the concept of biophilia, which suggests that humans have an inherent affinity for nature. By integrating these natural elements, biophilic design aims to create spaces that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also promote well-being. The health benefits of biophilic design are significant, as it enhances mental and physical well-being through reduced stress, improved mood, and overall greater health and wellness outcomes. This approach is increasingly being recognized for its potential to improve the quality of life in both residential and commercial spaces.

Definition of Biophilia

Biophilia is the innate human tendency to seek connections with nature and living organisms. This concept, coined by biologist Edward O. Wilson, suggests that humans have an instinctual love for nature and that exposure to natural environments can have a positive impact on our physical and mental health. Biophilia is the foundation of biophilic design, which aims to incorporate natural elements and materials into the built environment to promote well-being and sustainability. This includes the use of natural forms, such as trees, flowers, and shells, which have historically been integrated into architectural designs to enhance the connection between built environments and the natural world. By integrating natural elements such as plants, water features, and natural light, biophilic design creates spaces that nurture our inherent connection to the natural world, enhancing both our mental health and overall quality of life.

The Work of a Biophilic Design Consultant in Real Estate and Hotels

Biophilic design consultants play a crucial role in promoting well-being and sustainability in the built environment. Their work involves incorporating natural elements and patterns into building design, as well as ensuring that buildings are designed to promote occupant health and well-being. In the real estate and hotel industries, biophilic design consultants can help to create buildings that are not only sustainable but also promote occupant well-being and productivity. By integrating natural systems and features, such as green walls, water features, and natural lighting, consultants help transform spaces into vibrant, life-affirming environments that support both physical and mental health.

The work of a biophilic design consultant in real estate and hotels incorporating natural elements

As a biophilic design consultant I work across sustainability strategy. I work with real estate developers and hotel groups, and I have a subdivision to Biofilico called Biofit that specialises in gym consultant services, again for real estate developers and hotel groups primarily.

Consultants integrate natural systems into their projects to enhance well-being and sustainability. This involves fostering awareness of ecological processes and incorporating them into architectural design to influence health, productivity, and environmental stewardship. Additionally, they incorporate natural forms, such as trees, flowers, and shells, into their designs to strengthen the connection between built environments and the natural world.

So taking that a level deeper, and now starting to tackle the subject of biophilic design. Any project that comes in could be something like a real estate ESG plan, a sustainable interiors or sustainability for an operational hotel.

what is a biophilic design consultant?

A biophilic design consultant may help architects or interior design teams to define a specific wellness concept, they may play an active part in concept development or concept design but in such cases they cede all creative control to the architects or designers.

What’s really interesting about biophilic design, is that it sits at the intersection of green buildings and healthy buildings. Biophilic design, sort of inter-weaves through both of those worlds, sitting somewhere between the two.

Biophilic design consultants often incorporate natural patterns and natural forms into their projects to create sensory-rich experiences. These patterns reflect nature-inspired colors, shapes, and structures, enhancing aesthetic appeal and promoting wellness by connecting inhabitants with their environment.

So right away from the more strategic piece up top, where I’m working hand in hand with the developer on a building certification project such as LEED, BREEAM or WELL, biophilic design pops up in the credits check list, and recognition is given for incorporating it.

So within the building certifications, that something like GRESB, within a real estate portfolio would expect you’d find biophilic design there.

The same with workplace wellness. And then obviously, within both green buildings and healthy buildings, there are “access to nature” credits, as well as specific “biophilic design” credits.

While I’m not designing for credits or for certifications but these standards do help to push the industry in the right direction a lot of the time, and then demand comes from there.

Why use a biophilic design consultant?

So clients will recognize that this topic is something they need to address as part of their real estate development or hotel development project, then ask how they can bring nature into what they are designing. The architects or designers may not always have the in-house resources for this type of work, in which case a consultant is required to help fill the gap.

Incorporating natural shapes can enhance visual complexity and create a more harmonious environment that resonates with natural patterns, thus improving the overall aesthetic and emotional well-being within a space. Consultants often integrate natural forms, such as trees, flowers, and shells, into architectural designs to strengthen the connection between built environments and the natural world.

For example, there are plenty of options to create biophilic wellness concepts within a healthy building strategy, or if you like ‘set pieces’ - smaller, multi sensory areas or rooms within a far wider project where you’re able to really push the biophilic design angle through.

what is biophilic design?

So what is biophilic design exactly? Well, it’s a design strategy intended to reunite indoor and outdoor worlds through the use of natural materials, forms, textures, colors, patterns, light, sometimes even breezes, we can think of natural ventilation strategies in certain parts of the world, you can also increasingly find the use of specific scents and sounds as part of the mix too. This includes incorporating natural forms such as trees, flowers, and shells into architectural designs to enhance the connection between built environments and the natural world.

We’re introducing or reintroducing the natural world back into our buildings and interiors, with the aim of positively impacting occupant wellbeing, whilst always respecting the environment. Access to views of natural landscapes can enhance human well-being, reduce stress, and contribute positively to the overall design of both interior and exterior spaces. It wouldn’t really make sense for me to do this stuff, if I was then having a negative impact on nature. The whole concept is bringing nature into the built environment so that gives us a cyclical approach whereby I also need to think about how I do that in a sustainable way.

Balancing wellbeing and sustainability in biophilic design

A project could be more wellness oriented, or occupant wellbeing oriented, and it can be sustainable but if there isn’t nature in there, then it wouldn’t be biophilic design. Natural forms, such as trees, flowers, and shells, have historically been incorporated into architectural designs to enhance the connection between built environments and the natural world.

Obviously there’s quite a lot that can happen in the healthy building and green building space that doesn’t involve nature. But when there is that all important element of nature, then that’s our magic sauce for biophilic design.

what are the responsibilities of a biophilic design consultant?

As context, I’m clearly working in this space between developers on the one side, and architects on the other. And then a lot of what I’m doing is, is helping project managers, Quantity Surveyors and the interior designers or architects to get a sense of how this will happen, how much it costs, and also trying to iterate along the way. This includes integrating natural forms, such as elements that mimic trees, flowers, and shells, into the design of spaces.

Often the client is more or less on board by the time I get involved because they’ve made an effort to reach out, they recognise a gap in their team resources and are looking to fill it in an efficient manner.

what are the benefits of biophilic design?

We can identify benefits both for people and for planet. On the people side the benefits include enhanced mood, generally making feel people just that little bit happier about spending time in any give space within a building. Incorporating natural forms, such as trees, flowers, and shells, into architectural designs also contributes to these health benefits by enhancing the connection between built environments and the natural world.

It’s interesting the effects on cognitive function too as it helps restore concentration levels and gives the mind a bit of a rest before, for example, going back to work or study.

Nature connection, obviously, has been linked to feelings of vitality, ergo having more nature around generally makes occupants feel good. That connects with mood again, and reduces stress and anxiety.

Whereas on the environmental side biophilic design can deploy a whole array of sustainable materials to help improving the indoor air quality with all these plants coming into play removing or indeed completely avoiding toxic substances by specifying natural, non-toxic materials. I’m minimizing my environmental impact while hopefully making something that looks good too.

There is lots out there around biophilic design’s impact on anxiety, effectively reducing anxiety and stress whilst it enhances and improves cognitive function. So again, concentration levels and creativity are the two to focus on as benefits.

It’s quite hard to quantify that sometimes. But there’s research studies on direct exposure to nature. And that could be going for a walk in the park or spending time in a forest. Then there are research studies, specifically on biophilic design. A lot of what we do is correlated from studies focused on spending time in nature and then effectively, we’re doing our best to recreate that or bring elements of that indoors.

Biophilic design in residential developments

The video above was a residential real estate development in Canary Wharf called The Wardian by EcoWorld Ballymore. Biofilico basically created this indoor green environment as a pre-opening sales and marketing activity with the team at The Wardian, then we did some research around people spending 30 to 60 minutes in there during their lunch hour, mostly visiting from Canary Wharf, so they were busy professionals. The design incorporated natural forms such as trees, flowers, and shells to enhance the connection between the built environment and nature.

We recorded various data points such as how they felt when they arrived, vs when they left, their perceived levels of stress or anxiety, again, upon arriving upon departure, or perhaps unsurprisingly, you generally make people feel a bit happier when they spend time in this beautiful green glasshouse with birdsong, natural aromas, plants and all sorts of little hacks that we could use.

I think more than anything, it was the data around productivity and creativity that stood out. So they had some tasks that they could do, at the end of this time that they spent in this biophilic space, and some quite tangible data that came out of the other side of that we did that with the University of Essex, in fact.

what are the key concepts of biophilic design?

DIRECT BIOPHILIA - PLANTS AND NATURE

Firstly, you’ve got plants and landscaping. In fact, most people think effectively, that’s all it is. I think, if anything I’m aiming to show that there’s considerably more to it than that, for example, representations of nature, so indirect forms of nature, so not literally a plant but other ways of evoking nature. Biophilic design also incorporates natural forms, such as elements that mimic trees, flowers, and shells, to enhance the connection between built environments and the natural world.

So clearly, plants is kind of a big one, everyone thinks of vertical garden walls, clusters of pot plants from the ceilings, indoor gardens, rooftop gardens, hydroponic farms of lettuce leaves, and things that can then be harvested on a weekly or bi weekly basis. And that all is very much kind of the common baseline for all of this.

INDIRECT BIOPHILIA - REPRESENTATIONS OF NATURE

Then there’s quite a bit further we can go from non living versions of nature, such as wall murals, wallpaper, artworks, mosaics, there’s lots of indirect representations like that, that we can use. And they’re especially useful in areas where facilities management is going to be difficult, or they’re challenged by putting in life elements of nature, and especially if it’s a lower ground space with no natural light. So in that case, I kind of flip away from direct biophilia to an indirect version.

ECO MATERIALS

Lots of materials we do go quite deep into the health and sustainability aspect, combing form and function. We can even get into bio-based materials, there’s a whole myriad of natural materials that we can use that also conveniently give you a certain natural aesthetic. So that would be a big piece of biophilic design that also conveniently connects with both healthy building strategies and sustainable interiors.

SOUND

As I mentioned, sounds, this is a friend of mine from Glasgow in fact, he’s done a biophilic sound project for the Kimpton Hotel, where he created a whole series of soundscapes, he went into forests recorded the sounds of just being in a forest, and then introduce those into a hill hotel room into the Kimpton hotel, in fact, so hotels hospitality, showing quite a serious interest in this now, largely for its sort of calming and restorative effects. Hotels are certainly getting on board.

SCENT

Scent, there’s quite a lot you can do around trying to recreate the smells of the forest. And then yeah, there’s a conversation with the the MEP consultant in how we get that done into the ducts without damaging the indoor air quality. But when it works, it can be quite a nice extra feature. And you’d be surprised how sound and scent in addition to the visual stuff.

LIGHT

Light as well can all make a massive impact in a pretty short time. So we’ve been in sort of a lobby area of a building, or in the waiting room of a spa before going into a treatment space. All of these elements can have quite a tangible impact on how someone perceives that experience. And really that’s what what I’m aiming for - having a positive impact on how they feel as they spend time in that space before they move on to wherever else they’re going.

BIODESIGN

Bio-Design is arguably one of the more avant garde aspects of biophilic design. So what we can do now is use products that have actually been grown or that are made of purely bio based materials. biofabrication would be the act of of growing a product. You might have heard of mycelium, which is effectively a mushroom based or mushroom root base material. You can see a friend of mine there in New York who’s creating a mold for a lampshade with straw husks.

So while some of these things can feel a little fantastical, as with so much stuff, give that five or 10 years and I think you’ll see that it becomes quite a central piece of of sustainable interior design, green building and also biophilic design, which is already adopting it as part of kind of biomimicry, which is the concept of deliberately recreating and cross fertilizing between nature and industrial design, or indeed architecture.

BEAUTY

It’s difficult to define beauty at the best of times but natural beauty is this other thing that when it’s there, you just kind of know it. And that’s really a challenge to the architects and designers, obviously balancing the costs and the budget, but it can often be a visual piece that just has that little something that nourishes the soul in some small way.

SET PIECES / MULTI-SENSORY

We’re seeing things like healing gardens in care centers, and restorative spaces and corporate offices in Silicon Valley. We’re increasingly seeing these small set pieces of biophilic design areas or spaces within a building, or in a courtyard of a building, that really push the whole wellness angle, and also serve to do a whole bunch of other things in terms of biodiversity, rainwater management, for example.

HERO group offices in Switzerland - Biofilico consultancy project 2018

Use of Natural Light in Biophilic Design

Natural light is a crucial element in biophilic design, as it provides a direct connection to the natural environment. Additionally, incorporating natural forms such as trees, flowers, and shells into architectural designs enhances this connection. The use of natural light in design can have numerous benefits, including improved mood, reduced stress, and increased productivity. Biophilic design strategies that incorporate natural light include the use of large windows, skylights, and solar tubes. These features allow natural light to penetrate deep into buildings, reducing the need for artificial lighting and creating a more natural and welcoming environment. By maximizing the use of natural light, biophilic design not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of a space but also fosters a healthier and more sustainable living and working environment.

Incorporation of Natural Elements in Design

The incorporation of natural elements in design is a key principle of biophilic design. Natural elements, such as plants, water features, natural materials, and natural forms, can be used to create a sense of connection to nature. Biophilic design strategies that incorporate natural elements include the use of green walls, living roofs, and natural stone. These features can help to reduce stress, improve air quality, and promote a sense of well-being. By bringing the outdoors inside, biophilic design transforms interior spaces into vibrant, life-affirming environments that support both physical and mental health.

Connection to Nature in Interior Spaces

Creating a connection to nature in interior spaces is a critical aspect of biophilic design. This can be achieved through the use of natural materials, natural light, natural elements, and natural forms. Biophilic design strategies that promote a connection to nature in interior spaces include the use of natural colors, textures, and patterns. These features can help to create a sense of calm and relaxation, reducing stress and promoting well-being. By thoughtfully integrating elements that evoke the natural world, biophilic design fosters a harmonious and restorative atmosphere within built environments.

HERO group offices in Switzerland - Biofilico consultancy project 2018

Biophilic office interior case study

This is an office Biofilico worked on for a natural foods group in Switzerland, in fact, a couple of years ago, again, working with local interior designers, advising them on all the eco stuff. And it really went quite deep, because they had a lot of technical issues in that space. As you can probably tell, it’s a round shaped building. And effectively a concrete and glass block. And they have real issues with acoustics. Natural forms, such as elements mimicking trees, flowers, and shells, were integrated to address these technical issues and enhance the space.

So a lot of the work we were doing was around. Yeah, acoustic dampening and bringing some of the outside world in at the same time. So doubling up in a sense, not just thinking about the visuals, but also about how we could bring more light into the core of the building, and get rid of some of their pretty serious acoustic problems or echoes going up through the atrium to the top floor.

Biofilico concept design for ecology room in a corporate office

office ecology room concept design

This is one Biofilico was working on for a tech giant, I don’t think it’s going to happen in the end sadly but it was a big Silicon Valley player who wanted an ecology room in all of their offices - a space that these knowledge workers could spend 20 or 30 minutes in, that was entirely eco friendly and that would allow them a space to be, rather than to do. Incorporating natural forms such as trees, flowers, and shells into the design was a key element in creating this eco-friendly space.

As much as anything, I found that a really interesting example of where the tech companies are at now and how biophilic design connects with their vision of workplace wellness in particular, obviously, it’s a company that has plenty of budget for such things. And yet, it is clearly a sign of what’s to come in terms of where these corporate offices are going.

So you don’t need a lot of space, it could be just 50m2 but it can still become a calling card in terms of attracting workers back into the office, for example, post COVID.

Biofit designed gym at Karolinska Institutet Medical University, Stockholm, Sweden

university eco gym and mental health wellness space

This is a Biofit designed biophilic eco gym space within the Health Promotion unit in the Karolinska Medical University in Stockholm. Natural forms, such as elements that mimic trees, flowers, and shells, are incorporated to enhance mental well-being. It was really just a piece of unused workspace for graduate students and staff, in fact, at the Medical University, and they asked me to create a fun, interactive area where people could go and do a quick workout or just do some stretching and break away from the otherwise monotonous hard work that they’re all doing at the Medical University.

Karolinska are a very innovative and forward thinking research university in that sense. They’ve got a lot of their own researchers working on biophilic design, so perhaps not too surprising that they were willing to commission something like this for student mental wellbeing.

Beulah residences, Melbourne

Residential Real estate and biophilic design

Some residential examples from around the world. This is currently where it’s at - offices went ahead of the rest, took the lead, but now residential developments are coming round to the benefits of biophilic design too. Incorporating natural forms such as trees, flowers, and shells into architectural designs enhances the connection between built environments and the natural world. There is the CapitaSpring building on Raffles Place in Singapore by Bjarke Ingels Group for example, based in Denmark but with offices around the world.

Residential developers are looking for ways to stand out from the crowd. In London it’s interesting to see how many examples are appearing in urban areas like Canary Wharf, so a business district, or in a high-end residential area like Chelsea that is already quite leafy and verdant.

Shui on Works, PRC, by M Moser

workplace design and biophilia

Workplaces is really where it all began, because Silicon Valley were the first movers on biophilic design. Natural forms, such as trees, flowers, and shells, are often incorporated into architectural designs to enhance the connection to nature in workplaces. And so it was, in a sense, the influence from the west coast first, but it’s taken hold in the co-working sector in London for example.

The new plans for a massive Google building in New York represent a huge investment, with CookFox NYC behind the biophilic architecture and design there. In Milano there is Welcome Milano by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma where the whole concept is around biophilic design, that’s for developers Europa Resorse.

Dentista Amsterdam, Netherlands

medical facilities and healthcare with biophilic design

Medical centers now increasingly have healing gardens, a form of direct exposure to nature, while dental clinics are also incorporating this into their interiors, along with cancer care hospitals, care homes and hospitals. Natural forms, such as trees, flowers, and shells, are integrated into these designs to enhance the connection between built environments and the natural world.

So again, largely it’s playing on the restorative wellbeing card - the restorative benefits of access to or exposure to nature. Clearly it’s a bit more serious in these cases, as in, it’s not just an aesthetic decision, it’s more of a functional design strategy.

There’s a specific emotional response that the biophilic designers are looking for when they when they do this.

Same with education in that it can both be an interesting way to engage with kids in schools as well as universities. Natural forms, such as trees, flowers, and shells, are elements that engage students and promote well-being. Again, Karolinska Universitet have got vertical garden walls all around their medical university, they were an early adopter of biophilic design.

If you could design a school today, and you have the option to incorporate an element of nature, especially in a dense urban environment, I think most of us would rather have that for our kids, and give them some access to nature, anything is better than nothing.

Even if you haven’t got an outdoor space, then biophilic design basically solves that problem by bringing nature indoors. It can never fully recreate experience being outdoors, but you can get pretty close. And the kids love it!

Living Bakkali, Valencia, Spain

restaurants and cafes with biophilic design

Restaurants tend to opt for even more creative interpretations of this theme. Whether it’s using foliage wallpapers, they just seem to have a much less constrained brief. Natural forms, such as elements that mimic trees, flowers, and shells, are often incorporated to create unique and inviting spaces. So they can literally build it into the shape and format and structure of the building.

Again, just a few examples of how you can do things like SILO in London, that’s a zero waste, fully sustainable restaurant that has won all manner of awards, and is subtly biophilic in its interiors, without being too obvious.

I think places like that are sort of the cutting edge of where this is all going. They’re using biomaterials, some of those funky ones that we mentioned earlier, and really pushing the envelope in terms of what’s out there and how far this thing can go. Because the end of the day, if all of this is just decorating with plants, I think at some point, people would have got fed up or it would become commonplace. So it’s about ensuring that biophilic design evolves.

CBD retail with biophilic design

CBD retail obviously is all in North America for now but this is a real low hanging fruit for biophilic designers. And again, assuming that the legislation changes in other countries, too, then I think you’ll see very much the same approach as CBD stores take hold in the UK and Europe as well over coming years - biophilic design is a perfect fit for this type of product.

We can identify a pared back, minimal interior space with lots of nature, but very deliberately professional in style, and avoiding the stereotype of what we might imagine a CBD store to look like. Incorporating natural forms such as trees, flowers, and shells into the design can enhance the connection between built environments and the natural world.

Natural Materials in Design

Natural materials, such as wood, stone, and bamboo, are a key component of biophilic design. These materials can be used to create a sense of warmth and comfort, often enhanced by incorporating natural forms like trees, flowers, and shells. Biophilic design strategies that incorporate natural materials include the use of reclaimed wood, natural stone, and bamboo flooring. These features can help to reduce stress, improve air quality, and promote a sense of well-being. By choosing materials that reflect the beauty and resilience of the natural world, biophilic design creates spaces that are both aesthetically pleasing and environmentally responsible.

Biophilic Design Patterns

Biophilic design patterns refer to the various ways in which natural elements and patterns can be incorporated into building design. These patterns can include the use of natural light, natural materials, and natural patterns, as well as the incorporation of natural features, such as plants and water features. For example, large windows and skylights can flood a space with natural light, while green walls and indoor gardens bring the beauty of nature indoors. Natural materials like wood and stone add warmth and texture, creating a more inviting and comfortable environment. By using these patterns, biophilic design not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of a space but also promotes well-being and productivity.

Creating an Indoor Jungle

Creating an indoor jungle is a fantastic way to incorporate biophilic design principles into your home or office. This can involve adding a variety of plants, using natural materials, and incorporating natural patterns into your space. Features such as living walls, indoor gardens, and water features can transform an ordinary room into a lush, vibrant environment. The benefits of creating an indoor jungle are numerous, including improved mental health and well-being, increased productivity and creativity, reduced stress, and improved air quality. By surrounding yourself with natural elements, you can foster a deeper connection to nature, making your indoor spaces more harmonious and life-affirming. Whether you’re looking to create a small green corner or a full-scale indoor jungle, biophilic design can help you achieve a healthier, more sustainable living or working environment.

Famous Buildings that Incorporate Biophilic Design Principles

There are many famous buildings that incorporate biophilic design principles. Natural forms, such as trees, flowers, and shells, are often integrated into these designs to enhance the connection to nature. Some examples include:

• The Amazon Spheres in Seattle, Washington: This innovative workspace features a lush, tropical environment with over 40,000 plants, providing employees with a direct connection to nature.

• The Bosco Verticale in Milan, Italy: A residential building covered in over 20,000 plants, Bosco Verticale exemplifies how urban living can be harmoniously integrated with natural elements.

• The One Central Park building in Sydney, Australia: This building features a cantilevered heliostat that reflects natural light into the structure, enhancing the natural lighting and creating a vibrant living environment.

• The Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore: By incorporating natural elements and materials, this hospital creates a healing environment that promotes patient well-being and recovery.

These buildings demonstrate the potential of biophilic design to promote well-being, sustainability, and a connection to nature. By integrating natural light, natural elements, and biophilic design principles, these structures serve as inspiring examples of how the built environment can enhance human health and happiness.