The Rise of Biophilic Design

Singapore Changi Airport

As the direct and visible effects of humanity’s impact on the natural environment grow and the populations of our cities explode, the integration of natural elements into urban environments, known as biophilic design, has become more than just an aesthetic choice. It’s a vital strategy for stabilizing local ecosystems while elevating the human experience of city life.

As someone who grew up during the Frutiger Aero era (still wild to me that they gave this aesthetic a name), and with a mother who ensured our home had a minimum of ten houseplants, the infusion of nature into space has always just felt right. Whether it was watching her tend to her “babies” or even my own futile attempts to keep a bonsai alive, there was just something about nature in our space that brought peace. Little did I know there is science at play to it all and while the ability of houseplants to clean the air in your home may be well overstated, the ability for trees, green walls, green roofs, and other forms of natural infrastructure to cool and clean the air of a city cannot be.

Research has consistently shown that incorporating natural elements into urban spaces offers significant mental health benefits. Exposure to greenery can reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance cognitive function. A study highlighted by INTEGRIS Health found that biophilic design can strengthen community bonds and promote social interaction, an underrated contributor to collective well-being in an increasingly digitized world.

Beyond mental health, biophilic design directly benefits local ecosystems. Urban greenery purifies the air by absorbing pollutants and producing oxygen. It mitigates flooding, supports pollinators, and combats the urban heat island effect by reducing surrounding temperatures. According to research cited by Citygreen, vegetation in cities provides environmental services like cleaner air and water, flood defense, and natural shade.

But these attributes are just the beginning.

The real aspiration, in my estimation, is for cities to achieve what I call environmental transparency - a condition in which the physical form of a city disrupts the natural ecological cycle so little that it is, in effect, invisible. An environmentally transparent city doesn’t dominate the landscape, it dissolves into it. Most hard surfaces are permeable, returning rainwater directly to the water table. Rooftops host pollinator gardens or sky parks, offsetting the land footprint lost to development. Wildlife corridors and green infrastructure are intentionally designed into the built form. Architecture plays host to life.

Certainly, achieving this point is a complex feat, but there are cities around the globe that are further along this path than others.

So-called "forest," "park," or "garden" cities are uniquely positioned to embrace biophilic design due to their existing natural assets. Atlanta, with its expansive tree canopy and rich biodiversity, is a prime example. Other cities making strides in this space include:

• Singapore – Renowned for its commitment to integrating nature into urban design.

• Oslo – Known for its vast urban forests and access to natural green space.

• Portland – Celebrated for its environmental ethos and extensive park system.

• Vancouver – Recognized for sustainability leadership and ecological planning.

  
  

These cities have a foundational advantage, but proximity to nature is only part of the equation. The real challenge lies in embedding nature into the built environment itself.

To build truly biophilic and environmentally transparent cities, we must reorient our policies, zoning codes, design standards, and development incentives. Regulations should actively encourage green infrastructure, require ecological integration in new construction, and protect legacy green spaces. Every level of urban design, from the neighborhood scale to the individual parcel, must prioritize ecological function.

Singapore offers a compelling model. The city-state has taken biophilic integration seriously for decades. Its approach includes:

• Green Roofs and Vertical Gardens – Many buildings in Singapore feature living architecture, not just on rooftops, but across entire façades. These elements help lower ambient temperatures and purify the air.

• Park Connector Network – A continuous web of green corridors links major parks and preserves, enabling both human and wildlife mobility across the city.

• Supertree Grove – These iconic, tree-like structures are vertical ecosystems that generate solar power, support diverse plant species, and serve as a symbol of innovation through nature.

  
  

Singapore’s success is a living model of what biophilic design looks like when it’s not just a trend, but a governing philosophy.

Whenever the day comes that cities around the world begin to merge with their natural environments versus stand out from them will be a significant turning point towards a healthier relationship with our planet and even ourselves.

Embracing biophilic design should never be just about beautifying urban spaces, it should be at its core, about building sustainable, livable cities that foster well-being for both residents and the ecosystems that surround them.