Biophilic Facade in Built Environment
Faseela K.A
16054019
Mangalam School of Architecture and Planning,
Kottayam, India
faseela159@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Biophilic design is a concept used in the construction
industry to improve building’s connections to the natural
environment through the use of direct nature, indirect
nature, and spatial and spatial conditions. The purpose
of this study was to understand the concept: Biophilia
and its applications in architectural buildings. Whenever
it is tied to architecture, biophilic design can work to
bridge the gap between human nature and create
balance. The aims of the biophilic design is to restore
natural stimuli in the built environment to maintain, re-
establish and enhance physiological, cognitive and
psychological connections to the natural world. This
paper is to articulate the relationships between nature
and the built environment so that we may experience the
human benefits of biophilia in our design application.
And also, to unfold the values ascribed to biophilic
facade within research, and thus bring forward a clearer
and more nuanced understanding the roles and potential
of biophilic facade in built environment.
INTRODUCTION
The term Biophilia consists of two words ‘Bio: nature’
and ‘Philia: love or affinity’ expressing the relationship
between nature, science and the built environment so
that we can experience its benefits. Biophilic design is a
reflection of the relationship between man and nature,
which is architecturally transformed into a built and
landscape space. The biophilic concept circumvents the
belief that humans have a biological need to connect
with nature on a physical, mental, and social level and
that their connections affect personal well-being,
productivity, and social relationships. Biophilic design
can reduce stress, improve cognitive function and
creativity, improve our well-being. Designing a biophilic
facade by combining living plants and a building facade
implements the idea of using nature.
HISTORY AND ORIGIN
Biophilic design have been seen in architecture from as
far back as the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Neo-
Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar II built hanging
gardens alongside a large palace known as The Miracle
Ar. Sneha Jose
Asst. Professor,
Mangalam School of Architecture and Planning,
Kottayam, India
josesneha84@gmail.com
of Mankind. The Hanging Gardens probably did not
really “hang” in the sense of being suspended from
cables or ropes. Hanging gardens probably aren’t really
“hanging” in the sense that they’re hung from cables or
ropes. The name comes from an inaccurate translation of
the Greek word kremastos or the Latin word Pensilis,
which means not just "hanging" but "over", as in the
case of a terrace or balcony.
Erich Fromm was the first person who expressed the
term biophilia in The Anatomy of Human
Destructiveness. Later, Stephen Kellert and Edward
O.Wilson worked together and published The Biophilia
Hypothesis (Kellert, S & Wilson, E. 1995). This lead
Kellert to establish the idea of biophilic design and
published a book in 2008 named Biophilic Design: The
Architecture of Life. He referred to it as The Architecture
of Life (Kellert, S.2008) through embracing its theory
that nature gives life to the human mind. Biophilic
design incorporates nature within buildings to provide
psychological comfort. Kellert divide biophilic design
into six elements, they are:
 Environmental feature
 Natural shapes and forms
 Natural pattern and processes
 Light and space
 Place-based relationships
 Evolved human-nature relationships.
BASIC PATTERNS OF BIOPHILIC DESIGN
Biophilic design can be divided into three categories
which provides a framework for understanding and
allow a wide variety of strategies in the built
environment.
1. Nature in a space
 Visual Connection with Nature.
 Non-Visual Connection with Nature.
 Non-Rhythmic Sensory Stimuli.
 Thermal & Airflow Variability.
 Presence of Water.
 Dynamic & Diffuse Light.
 Connection with Natural Systems.
2. Nature Analogues
 Biomorphic Forms & Patterns.
  Material Connection with Nature.
 Complexity & Order.
3. Nature of the Space
 Prospect.
 Refuge.
 Mystery.
 Risk/Peril.
CASE STUDIES
1. Titan Integrity Campus, Bangalore
Titan Integrity Campus is a 6.5-acre corporate office
building with a lake to the east and a road to the north.
The design has a special connection to the land and the
adjacent lake. The idea is to take advantage of every
possible view of the lake shore, making all users viewers
of this peaceful setting.
Figure 1 Titan Integrity Campus (Source: archdaily.com)
Observations:
 Presence of green courtyards and green terraces –
Reduce heat.
 Feels the presence of water body while inside the
building, through sound and breeze. Water whether
at rest or in motion, strokes human spirit.
 Large openings to allow breeze inside the building –
Natural ventilation
 Lake Bio is designed towards the east side of the
area, which corresponds to the existing lake and
would feel like an extension of it.
 A green wall on the west side protects the building
from the strong western sun.
 Green buffer zone in between green wall and usable
spaces further cuts off the radiation.
 Green terraces are an extension to indoor office
areas that allow you to work outdoors and stimulate
interaction in the midst of flora and fauna.
 The five atriums of the campus connect vertically all
the floors of the basement, bringing in natural light
and creating a single community, cohesion and
encouraging interaction between different
departments.
 Cascading green terraces gives a feeling of elevated
ground at every level.
2. Malabar Headquarters. Calicut
The site of Malabar Headquarters was steep sloping site
facing to west. The design is resolved as a series of
levels along the contours which reduces the intervention
on site to a minimum.
Figure 2 Malabar Headquarters (Source: theplan.it)
Observations:
 Used interesting patterns of terracotta jails and
greenery defining the facade.
 Strategically placed balconies with large trees and
vegetation on the western facade cut off the intense
sun and create a green buffer.
 Periodically placed wooden trellises functions allow
climbers to grow, which helps cut off intense
sunlight in conjunction with the western facade
double glazing.
 Natural vegetation enters the interior through
splashing balconies and a central landscaped
backbone with a dense green space, providing
opportunities for social interaction and increasing
the psychological well-being of workers.
 Integrity inherent in the use of materials combined
with contextual design helps to create a highly
sustainable building that is inextricably linked to
nature.
3. The Regimented House, Malappuram
The building comprises two floors. The ground floor of
the primary building has an overlap of formal and semi-
formal activities, while the other part of the home has
two bedrooms, one on each floor, accessed by a
staircase. The dining area is connected to the central
courtyard by a bridge in the middle of the home.
 Malabar KMC
Titan Regimented
Functions Headqua cooperate
Integrity house
rters building
Provide
Provide
green
vertical
courtyard Brings the Exterior
Visual garden in
s and landscaped facade
connection the facade
Water courtyards of with
with nature of the
body various types plants
building

Brings sound
Sound
of nature Modulatio
and
Non – Can feel inside the n of light
Figure 3 Regimented House (Source: archdaily.com) breeze
visual the building, and air
from
connection movement Feel the through
Observations: water
of air seasonal the
body
 The building is a simple but formal built form, and shifts of building
the extended front yard and backyard, surrounded by winds
the demarcated of the hard landscape. Natural
thermostat by
 A landscaped access field was added to blur the create an
Reduce
keeping the
transition between the lush landscape and the Thermal the heat Adequate
adequate internal
seemingly rigid building. and air flow on micro
micro temperature
variability western climate
 The layout of the home is designed to maximize the climate
facade
comfortable
possibility of cross ventilation, adapting to changes throughout
the year
in wind seasons in the area. As a result, the residence
acts as a natural thermostat, keeping the indoor Providing
temperature comfortable all year round. opportunit
ies for
 The material palette and interior of the house were Reduce
social
refined towards simple minimalist possibilities to stress Maintain the
interaction
provide a unique experience of the spacious spaces level and good
s and social
Psychologic also gives ambiance
that combine with the landscape. enhances interactio
al health good inside the
the ns
ambiance building
psycholog
4. KMC Cooperate office, Hyderabad to
ical
workers
wellbeing
of the
employees

Pollution Produce fresh air and reduce dust.

controlling Acts as buffer to reduce noise.
Aesthetic Gives good and attractive appearance to the building.

Figure 4 KMC Cooperate office (Source: archdaily.com)
Observations:
 The idea of a biophilic facade as an energy saving
and visually striking device.
 The building contains double skin.
 The exterior facade consists of a custom-cast
aluminium frame with aquaculture platforms
integrated to grow many plant species.
 The main part of the facade is the idea of a double
layer, which allows the modulation of light and air
through the building.
 The use of a green wall is mainly aesthetic, not
performative.
Comparisons
Analysis
 Biophilic facade works as more than just an aesthetic
adornment.
 Protection against solar radiant heat.
 Reduction of glare.
 Blur the transition between exterior and interior.
 Reduction of noise by sound absorption.
 Reduction of dust by filtering the air.
 Stabilization of the micro climate.
 A regulating effect on humidity.
 Cooling by a ventilated space between green cover
and wall or roof.
 Reducing the need for air conditioners.
Techniques for creating Biophilic Facade Figure 7 Bio wall installation plant pellet.
(Source: picuki.com)  Its mini version can
There are two main categories of green walls: green
used in indoor
facades and living walls. Green facades consist of
spaces.
climbing plants that either grow either directly on the
wall or, more recently, on specially designed support
4. Linear Green/Pergola  Ground -cover
structures. With a living wall, modular panels are often
System varieties can also
made of stainless-steel vessels, geotextiles, irrigation
be grown.
systems, substrate, and vegetation.
 No accumulation
of dirt or dry
Type Advantages branches or leaves
1. Living Wall System  100% vegetation get accumulated.
cover.  Looks attractive
 Good control over from all sides.
inbuilt irrigation  Easy irrigation and
Figure 8 Liner pergola system drain.
and drains. (Source: pinterest.se)
 Wide range of
plants choice.
 Can be used for
Figure 5 Living wall (Source:
creating manicured 5. Green String System  Can be used in
livewall.com) pattern also. outdoor- hot and
 Sound absorbing is dry climatic
facilitated. conditions also.
 100% modular and  Frequent irrigation
can be installed and is not required.
reinstalled any  Outdoor
number of times. applications are
successful even in
2. Living Wall System with  Low light Figure 9 Green string system north India over
Hydrophilic foam environment. (Source: pinterest.se) facades.
 Can be used for  Manicured
creating manicured patterns are
pattern it is highly possible to
flexible and even a maintain.
single plant can be
arranged 6. Urban forest and root  Water proofing
effortlessly. anchorage and roots barrier
 Gives immediate  Anchor fasteners
Figure 6 Hydrophilic foamed
living wall (Source:
effect as modules  Staging for root
omrania.com) are pre-planted and anchors
grown.  Air pruning
 Less susceptible to  Oxygenation of
pests and diseases. roots zone

3. Bio wall system for  This is simple and

outdoor installation versatile Bio-wall
system solution for
all sizes and scales
of installation. Figure 10 Bosco Verticale Milan
 Modula and easy (Source: alamy.com)
installation.
 Flexibility in size
and shape.
 The size of planting
is large enough to
support very wide