Human Response to Nature

Using Biophilia in Furniture and Furnishing Design to Evoke Human Response

What is Biophilia? It is a term created by E.O. Wilson to describe "our sense of connection to nature and other forms of life."  In our built environment, architects and designers have been finding ways to incorporate plants into our spaces.  Green roofs and green walls (shown in fig.1 and 2 below) have been invented to enhance our connection with nature within their built environments. 

I can say that, historically, furniture designers have been creating Biophilia furniture, because there were evident of connection with nature in the furniture.   From the trip to high museum, I saw a lot of furniture from the past were made with wood.  Hence, designers would carve nature elements such as animals or plants motifs into their designs (shown in fig.3.)  As technique and technology improves.  I feel that the Biophilia furniture should offer more in terms of visual connection. 

In my opinion, Biophilia furniture of the modern day should be able to connect the users to natural mentally and physically, therefore ones could see, smell and feel nature.  Recently, designers have found new ways to incorporated nature into our furniture.  For example, the growing chair by Michel Bussien (shown in fig.4).  

The chair has a polycarbonate frame which is filled with living plants.  

Furthermore, the shower mat (shown in fig.5) has a rubber base which houses different types of moss.  The moss would provide a soft surface to stand and they would take in all the water drops from your body when you exit the shower. 

I also feel that Biophilia furniture does not have to be entirely made with natural materials, or they could be made by manmade materials.  As long as they could represent, remind or connect humans with nature in some way, then they would be Biophilia furniture.  For example, (fig.6) shows some pebbles inspired cushion designs.  Although the cushion would not have the hardness of the pebbles, but it could still visually connect the users to the nature.  

Another example I have experienced is that, every time I see or lay into a hanging swing chair, it would automatic remind me of the beach and the palm trees.  

Reference-

http://dallasgreenbuildingalliance.com/planning-design/design-strategies/green-wall-technologies/

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/07/chinas_learning.php

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/furniture.htm

http://fashiontribes.typepad.com/main/2006/12/stylehive_buzz__4.html

http://www.thegreenchildren.org/tgcf/foundationpress/tag/history/