04 Nov Terrazzo in Biophilic Design: Connecting to Nature
What is Biophilic Design and its Core Principles?
Biophilic design is an architectural and interior design approach that connects elements of the natural world into a built environment to enhance human well-being. It brings nature indoors through materials, vegetation, lights, and spatial design, helping people feel more connected to their surroundings.
Core Principles of Biophilic Design
1. Direct Experience with Nature
Adds real natural elements such as sunlight, air, vegetation, water, and fire into the built environment.
2. Indirect Experience with Nature
The use of natural materials, colors, patterns, and imagery that evoke nature, even when direct elements are not present.
3. Experience of Space and Place
Emphasizes spatial organization that mimics natural environments, using scale, complexity, and wayfinding to create a sense of exploration and comfort.
Example: Biophilic design using open windows, natural materials, and indoor plants.
How Biophilic Design Benefits Human Health?
Biophilic design positively affects both physical and mental health. Bringing natural elements into daily environments reduces stress, supports cognitive performance, and enhances emotional well-being.
- Reduces Stress
- Natural elements help calm the mind, lower blood pressure and heart rate, and reduce stress hormone levels.
- Improves Focus and Creativity
- Research (Human Spaces, 2015) shows that biophilic workspaces can boost productivity by 6% and creativity by up to 15%.
- Enhances Happiness and Social Connection
- Exposure to nature promotes happiness, strengthens social interactions, and reduces anxiety (Science Advances, Vol. 5, No. 7, 2019).
- Promotes Healing
- Patients with views of nature recover faster and report less stress, according to the Journal of Environmental Psychology.
Example: Workplaces can enhance mood and productivity through biophilic design
Examples of Biophilic Design in Indoor Spaces
Biophilic design uses natural elements to create a health-focused habitat.
- Green Walls & Vertical Gardens
- Furniture and Flooring Made from Natural Materials
- Indoor Water Features
- Large Windows & Skylights
- Organic or Biomorphic Forms
How Terrazzo Supports Biophilic Design
Terrazzo is a composite material, either poured in place or precast, made from natural or recycled aggregates (such as marble, granite, pebbles, or glass). Common applications of terrazzo include flooring, stairs, countertops, and wall finishes. Its natural composition and design flexibility make it an ideal medium for biophilic interiors.
Direct Nature Connection
Terrazzo provides a tactile link to the Earth through its composition. Aggregates can be locally sourced to create a meaningful “connection to place”, grounding the design in its geographical context.
Indirect Nature Connection
Terrazzo is a versatile material that also supports indirect experiences of nature through:
- Biomorphic Patterns: Terrazzo can be inlaid with patterns that mimic natural forms, such as water and leaves.
- Natural Color Palettes: Epoxy terrazzo is available in any color, offering earth tones or nature-inspired hues.
- Wayfinding Patterns: Custom terrazzo patterns can subtly guide movement through visual cues.
- Feature Walls and Art: Artists can add terrazzo murals of landscapes that provide a powerful, aesthetic connection to nature.
Example: Palm Trees embedded into the terrazzo floor
Why Choose Terrazzo for Biophilic Design
Durability and Sustainability
Terrazzo is exceptionally durable, long-lasting, and low-maintenance. Its lifecycle performance supports sustainable building goals – a key aspect of biophilic design’s mission. Many terrazzo systems use zero-VOC resins and recycled aggregates, supporting green building goals and contributing to healthier indoor air quality.
Aesthetic Integration
Terrazzo’s reflective surface enhances natural light, while its color and pattern options complement a nature-inspired palette. Designers can even embed natural materials or integrate plant features within terrazzo installations for a unique visual and sensory experience.
Example: Artist Joan Weissman specializes in terrazzo floor designs for public buildings. To evoke a connection with nature and reflect the local environment, she incorporated botanical motifs that bring the outdoors inside and establish a strong sense of place. Watch her video describing her terrazzo artwork: Colores: a Production of NMPBS
Guidelines for Integrating Terrazzo into Biophilic Design
- Select aggregates and binder colors that reflect natural stone typologies or extend organic patterning.
- Pair terrazzo with plants, wood, and wide views to reinforce the nature connection.
- Use terrazzo in high-traffic areas where both durability and design cohesion are essential.
- Leverage terrazzo’s customization to create flowing, nature-inspired patterns.
- Consider sustainability by specifying low-emitting binders to contribute to indoor environmental quality.
Example: MSY Airport in New Orleans uses both direct and indirect connection to nature with indoor vegetation and imagery of the local landscape.
Conclusion
Terrazzo is a highly effective material for implementing biophilic design. Its composition of natural aggregates provides a direct link to the geological world, while its design flexibility allows for the creation of indirect natural patterns and colors. The material’s inherent durability, sustainability, and health-positive attributes make it a strategic choice for architects and designers seeking to create built environments that foster a deep, restorative connection to nature.
Seeking a design consultation. A Concord Terrazzo Company representative is available to discuss your next project. Contact us today!