Forest Bathing is a practice that is not well known in Western culture, but is ingrained in the Japanese culture, philosophy and religion. Literally, the concept stems from the forested areas of Japan bringing forth the idea that you are not separate from nature, but part of it. We are all connected emotionally, spiritually, and physically to our natural surroundings, and even more interestingly, objects that are made from nature are inherently more soothing than objects or materials that are artificial in construct.
Never have we been so far removed from nature. Many of us live in an artificial world, without breathing the outside air, without feeling the sunlight on our skin, sometimes sitting in a small cube or enclosed office never even seeing the outside environment for an entire working day. There are so many adverse effects to list here, but what has been proven is engagement with nature of even a small amount can exponentially improve your wellbeing. Some of the benefits include less stress, lowered blood pressure, improved cardiovascular and metabolic health, less depression, mood enhancements, and improved energy. When you engage repeatedly with nature through your five senses, you begin to draw upon the life enhancing qualities that the natural world provides. This is the foundation of forest bathing, enabling us to live longer, healthier and happier lives.
To provide you with context as to how this relates to biophilic design, let's look at specific uses of natural elements in our built surroundings. This idea of drawing nature and humanity together while merging the indoors and outdoors is not a new concept. It can be seen in many forms of architecture, interiors, and design, for example if we look at the ornamentation carved in the top of columns and pillars, many of the details include naturalistic imagery such as ferns, leaves, birds or fruit. These images create a thematic whole that capture characteristics of growth, organic forms and abundance, creating a powerful connection to the natural world. This principal is also thematically evident in building materials, for example at a residential scale this can translate to choosing wood grain in your cabinetry, natural stone countertops or tiles, and stylized metal imagery that all represent elements we find outdoors. It's the tactile, sensory engagement that evokes a connection.
Never has it been more important - or challenging - to maintain and strengthen our relationship with the earth. We cannot live satisfying lives if we're alienated from it. The key outcome being that the conscious process of design should work in harmony with, not exploit our natural environments, resulting in a mutually beneficial connection between people and nature. Once you've discovered the healing power, make intentional design choices that promote health and happiness.
Comments