Biophilic Design in Urban Apartments

Innovative biophilic solutions must be created to address the design challenges that occur with urban apartments. In urban apartments, there are severe limitations to space due to high density. Natural light is limited in availability and may be completely obstructed by neighbouring buildings and the urban infrastructure. Most urban apartment dwellers do not have access to the outdoors and therefore do not have the opportunity to physically connect with nature. Noise from the street, neighbours and urban activities is consistent and inescapable. However, most people who live in urban apartments spend 90 percent of their lives inside; thus, the quality of their interior environment has a direct relationship with their overall well-being. Therefore, biophilic design is not merely an option for luxury, but is necessary as a method of psychological intervention.

I have spent over ten years developing biophilic solutions for apartment dwellers, and the results of integrating biophilic design into confined urban spaces are truly profound. People who live in very small apartments (as few as 25-30 sq metres) will experience measurable decreases in stress levels, improved sleep quality, enhanced cognitive function and genuine psychological restoration as a result of introducing vertical greenery, optimising natural light and employing organic materials in their design strategy. Because of the limited amount of space in urban apartments, the limitation of space becomes an unintended advantage because it compels intentional design choices. Each and every square centimetre in an apartment must serve a specific purpose, and biophilic components produce an out-sized psychological response when space is limited.

90% indoor time drives demand. By default, urban dwellers are deprived of nature. They work indoors, travel through concrete, and go home to their apartments. Without a connection to nature in their apartments, the total psychological expense is substantial. Biophilic design in apartments is not a luxury item—it is a psychological necessity.

Vertical Greenery and Light Optimisation: Bringing Nature Into The Least Amount Of Space Possible

The main constraint in urban apartments is the amount of floor space available. You cannot devote square footage to gardens. However, you can devote vertical space. Vertical gardens multiply greenery 3x without consuming any floor space. A wall that was previously empty becomes a living ecosystem. This transforms the apartment from being physically constrained to being psychologically expansive.

Living walls are different than floor-based plants. They create focal points visually which cause the viewer to look up and make the space appear taller. They also clean the air by filtering Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Living walls cut VOC pollution from an apartment. For apartment dwellers whose air is recycled through the heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system, this air quality improvement translates directly to better respiratory health and cognitive function.

Implementation of vertical gardens in apartments can range from simple to complex. On a low level of complexity, a couple of tension rods can be hung off a window frame with planters attached to hang vertically. As a medium complexity example, wall-mounted shelves can be purchased at a thrift store for £10-£20 and hold many small potted plants at various heights. At a higher level of complexity, hydroponic systems can deliver nutrients and water to plants automatically. For the majority of apartment dwellers, the medium complexity solution is adequate and inexpensive.

Optimisation of light is equally important in apartment biophilic design. Urban apartments usually have limited window access and neighbouring buildings frequently block direct sunlight from entering the apartment’s interior spaces. Skylights boost natural light 25-50% thereby reducing urban fatigue and improving the resident’s mood during the day and night depending upon the season. For apartment residents in a building that they either own or where renovations can be made to install skylights, the substantial investment in installing skylights is justified as it greatly increases the penetration of natural light into the interior of the space that would otherwise be dark and psychologically oppressive regardless of other design strategies.

For renters or apartment residents where skylight installations are impossible due to structural issues, mirrors can be used to reflect and redirect natural light deeper into the space. Strategically placed mirrors can bounce natural light into the space and increase the light penetration by approximately three metres per mirror. With enough mirrors placed correctly, the light distribution pattern in the apartment can be increased to the extent that the space feels larger, brighter and more psychologically expansive. The cost of the mirrors is minimal—thrift store mirrors can be purchased for £5-£10 and the installation is easy and does not damage the rental unit.

Curtain treatments are important in urban apartment biophilic design. Heavy drapes can block out all the light. If the natural light in the apartment is already limited, eliminating the heavy drapes or replacing them with sheer curtains during the day can increase the available natural light. If privacy is a concern, sheer curtains can filter natural light whilst still blocking the view. Blackout curtains can be installed only in bedrooms to maximise natural light in common areas.

Cross-ventilation cuts AC usage 30%. For apartment residents, cross ventilation can be achieved by opening windows on opposite sides of the apartment. This can help to reduce the reliance on mechanical HVAC systems and improve the air quality in the apartment, whilst providing the psychological experience of connecting to the outside world. Even in noisy urban environments, the short term experience of cross ventilation can be psychologically relieving.

Design and Materials Strategy: Creating Connections to Nature in Small Spaces

Biophilic elements should be spread out across all rooms in an apartment—not concentrated in one area. Since the living room is typically the space where most time is spent, it is an ideal place to begin implementing biophilic design strategies. However, bedrooms can benefit from biophilic elements as much as the living room. Additionally, kitchens and even bathrooms can benefit from biophilic elements.

Balconies and terraces, if they are available, are key biophilic infrastructure for urban apartment dwellers. Rooftop gardens supply restaurant herbs. Whilst small balconies may not be able to support large gardens, they can support vegetable gardens, herb gardens or flowering plants. The psychological benefit of growing your own food on your balcony is significant. Beyond growing food, balcony gardens slash energy 20-40%. Vegetation planted on balconies can act as a thermal barrier moderating temperatures, reducing wind speed and improving the local microclimate. In warm climates, the vegetation on the balcony can reduce the need to run air conditioning. In cold climates, the vegetation on the balcony can provide some degree of thermal buffering. The energy savings are tangible, and the biophilic benefit is amplified.

In urban apartment biophilic design, the choice of materials should emphasise natural and non-toxic options. Porotherm brick walls offer insulation plus strength and durability. If you are renovating an apartment or if you have control over the materials that are selected for the renovation, selecting natural materials such as wood, cork, stone and natural fibre textiles offers a tactile connection to nature, and supports the biophilic principle of sustainability through reuse.

Removable elements can provide biophilic benefits for urban apartment dwellers who do not have permission to make permanent changes to their apartments. Examples of removable elements that can provide biophilic benefits include peel-and-stick wallpaper with a nature theme, natural fibre rugs, wooden shelving units that do not require holes to be drilled into the walls. These removable elements can transform the space whilst adhering to rental agreements that prohibit permanent modifications. The psychological impact of having nature inspired materials in an apartment is measurable—even when the materials are removable.

Lush lobbies extend dwell time. In apartments, this can be achieved by creating alcoves with plants, designing seating areas that are surrounded by greenery, creating zones that provide both openness and psychological safety. This is especially true in open plan apartments where visual privacy is limited.

Cost Implementation and Scaling: Biophilic Design for Every Budget

The cost barrier to implementing biophilic design in urban apartments is mostly psychological and not based on financial reality. Mirrors double plant impact free. To develop a comprehensive biophilic transformation of an apartment costs much less than £200 and produces measurable improvements in psychological well-being for all the biophilic dimensions that were studied—stress reduction, improved sleep quality, mood improvement and cognitive function improvement.

The starting point for developing a biophilic apartment design is always plants because they are relatively inexpensive, effective, and forgiving. Low-light tolerant plants (such as Pothos, ZZ Plants, Peace Lilies and Snake Plants) will grow reliably in apartments with limited natural light and require minimal maintenance. These plants can be purchased for £3-£7 each at garden centres or supermarkets. These plants can be easily multiplied from cuttings; thus, one plant purchased can generate dozens of plants at no additional cost. Strategically placed throughout bedrooms, living areas, and kitchens, these plants create visible greenery and air quality improvements without expensive landscaping or professional installation.

Vertical implementation of plants can multiply the visible impact of plants without consuming valuable floor space. Tension rods costing £5-£10 can be mounted on the window frame to hang multiple planters. The effect is similar to a living wall. Shelves from thrift stores can be mounted on the wall for £10-£20 and can hold dozens of small potted plants at varying heights to create visual interest and layers of greenery. For renters, adhesive strips can be used to temporarily mount the shelves with no damage to the walls. The cumulative cost of vertical greenery is minimal whilst the visual and psychological impact is dramatic.

Gardening on the balcony can also scale in terms of cost. A basic herb garden can be established for £15-£20 and will yield fresh herbs for several months. The cost of establishing an herb garden will pay for itself many times over through grocery savings and stress reductions. Adding vegetables or flowering plants to the balcony garden will cost proportionately more money, however, the cost will still be far lower than purchasing a commercially prepared balcony gardening kit.

Second hand markets can be a source for accessing natural materials for biophilic design at a lower price point than purchasing new. Secondhand markets cut costs 70%. These materials can provide a tactile biophilic benefit and contribute to the biophilic principle of sustainability through reuse.

Improvements to lighting in an apartment can be accomplished at little or no cost. Mirrors from thrift stores can be purchased for £5-£10. Replacing or removing curtains can be done at no cost. Opening windows for cross-ventilation can be done at no cost. Improvements to light quality and psychological well-being can be accomplished through these methods without a monetary investment.

Biophilic design in urban apartments can be scaled to fit a variety of budgets. An initial investment of £100 can result in measurable improvements in psychological well-being. An investment of £500 can result in a comprehensive biophilic transformation of the apartment. An investment of £1,000 can include the installation of skylights, the use of vertical garden systems, and the selection of upgraded materials. However, the initial investment can achieve meaningful psychological benefits and therefore biophilic design can be implemented regardless of the size of the budget.

When an apartment is located in a building where renovation is possible, larger investments can be made in biophilic design. Vertical facades cool 2-3 degrees and mitigate the urban heat island phenomenon in densely populated apartment buildings. Large-scale biophilic design interventions in urban buildings can enhance the benefits of biophilic design for individual apartment residents and improve the neighbourhood conditions.

Case studies have demonstrated the ability to scale biophilic design in urban apartments. Tulum and Kochi layer gardens for 360-degree contact with nature. These designs incorporate biophilic design elements throughout the entire building including circulation spaces, common areas and individual units to create comprehensive nature immersion. The costs associated with these designs are substantial, however, the transformation is also substantial.

Biophilic urbanism enhances biodiversity 2x. Investments in biophilic design in apartments can result in measurable increases in property values, attract quality tenants and reduce operating costs through reduced energy consumption.

Conclusion: Biophilic Apartments as Urban Necessities

Urban apartments present significant and measurable constraints that must be acknowledged and addressed thoughtfully: the limited space resulting from urban density, the limited natural light as a result of neighbouring buildings, the limited or non-existent outdoor access for most residents and the constant noise pollution from urban environments. However, these constraints do not preclude biophilic design implementations. Rather, they force biophilic design to be implemented with maximum psychological impact and efficiency. Each and every square centimetre of apartment space must serve a number of purposes. Every design decision has consequence. Biophilic components in urban apartments produce out-sized psychological responses because they are implemented with intentionality and precision.

For urban apartment residents who spend 90% of their lives indoors, biophilic design fundamentally changes the psychological experience and daily well-being of the residents. Vertical greenery transforms bare walls into living ecosystems that clean the air and provide visual interest. Optimising light improves alertness, regulates circadian rhythms and improves the mood of the residents. Natural materials provide a tactile connection to nature and create a sense of psychological comfort. The use of prospect and refuge patterns in apartment layouts creates a sense of psychological safety and visual interest. Collectively, these elements create urban apartments that support human flourishing in spite of the constraints of urban density.

Due to the accessibility of biophilic design for apartments regardless of income or type of residence (rental or owned) and the relative affordability of implementing biophilic design solutions (whether the budget is £100 or £10,000), biophilic design can be applied to urban apartments across a wide range of economic realities. Regardless of the size of the budget, biophilic design solutions can produce measurable improvements in the psychological well-being and stress reduction of urban apartment residents. Urban apartments do not have to be sterile, disconnected, psychologically depressed places that disconnect occupants from nature. Urban apartments can be transformed into nature-connected sanctuaries that promote the health, psychological wellbeing, productivity, and genuine life satisfaction of residents.