re:design

Said American marine biologist and writer Rachel Carson. What if you could reap the benefits of going out into a forest while being indoors where most of us spend the majority our time? First termed by German social psychologist Erich Fromm in 1964 and popularized by American biologist Edward Wilson in 1984, biophilia—“the love of living things” in Greek—was a reaction against nature-isolating urbanism.

Biophilia is humankind’s innate biological connection with nature. In architecture and design, such spaces can reduce stress, improve cognitive function and creativity, improve our well-being, and expedite healing. Buildings overflowing with plants cast a bucolic picture but true biophilic architecture is more than just an image. It involves integrally incorporating plants, flowing water, biodiversity, natural materials, and plenty of sunlight into everyday spaces.

Even in the world of hotels, biophilic design can bring a revolutionary approach to interiors, fostering a multisensory connection with the world around us. Take, for example, Innit Lombok, set on a secluded stretch of white-sand beach in Lombok.
 Designed by renowned Indonesian architects, Andra Matin, Gregorius Yolodi, and Maria Rosantina, the seven-beach-house haven harmoniously blends with its natural surroundings while incorporating unique architectural designs, such as having sand-floored open-space living and dining areas on the ground floor of the villas.