Biophilic Design and Air, How it Improves Breathing and Thinking

An interdisciplinary inquiry into how integrating natural elements in buildings supports respiratory health, mental performance, and ecological harmony

Abstract

Biophilic design,  the intentional incorporation of natural elements into built environments,  is often discussed in terms of visual aesthetics or emotional well-being. Yet its influence extends deeper, shaping physiological processes such as respiration, stress regulation, and cognitive function. This article explores the scientific connections between biophilic spaces and indoor air quality (IAQ), revealing how living systems in architecture,  plants, natural light, flowing water, organic forms,  can influence both the chemistry of the air and the biology of its occupants. It argues that biophilia is not merely a design trend but a critical component in creating healthy, high-performance environments.

1. Introduction

Can the presence of nature inside buildings change the way we breathe,  and think? This question invites a closer look at biophilic design, which suggests that human beings function better in environments that reflect our evolutionary affinity with the natural world. While often used as a metaphor for psychological comfort, biophilia has concrete physiological effects, particularly on air-related parameters such as oxygen exchange, humidity balance, VOC reduction, and stress-induced respiration. As cities densify and interiors become more mechanically regulated, the absence of natural elements contributes not only to sensory deprivation but also to stagnant air, elevated CO₂, and emotional fatigue. Biophilic design offers a way to reverse these effects,  not symbolically, but biologically.

2. Plants and Air Quality,  Beyond Symbolism

Plants play a central role in biophilic spaces, but their contributions go beyond decoration. Through photosynthesis, plants absorb CO₂ and release oxygen, subtly enriching indoor air and regulating microclimates. More importantly, their roots and associated microbial communities can metabolize airborne pollutants,  especially VOCs. As demonstrated by Wolverton et al. (1989) and later Irga et al. (2018), engineered plant systems with active airflow can significantly reduce VOCs like benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde. While passive potted plants have limited impact, integrated biowalls and plant-based air filters operate as living air systems, modulating IAQ in real time. This transforms plants from ornamental greenery into biological infrastructure.

3. Nature and Respiratory Rhythm

Exposure to natural elements has been shown to regulate breathing patterns. Studies in environmental psychology (Ulrich et al., 1991) have found that views of greenery reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and stabilize respiration. In contrast, sterile or visually barren environments,  especially those with low light or noise pollution,  can trigger shallow, irregular breathing associated with anxiety or hyperarousal. Even indirect nature, such as natural materials, fractal geometry, and biomorphic forms, activates parasympathetic responses, inducing deeper and slower breathing. These effects improve not only subjective comfort but also the physiological efficiency of oxygen uptake and CO₂ clearance.

4. Biophilia and Cognitive Function

The cognitive benefits of biophilic design are increasingly validated. A study by Nieuwenhuis et al. (2014) found that office workers in spaces with natural elements showed 15% higher creativity and task performance. In educational settings, students exposed to biophilic classrooms performed better in memory and attention tasks (Barrett et al., 2015). These outcomes are partially mediated by improved air quality,  through reduced CO₂ and VOCs,  but also by psychological mechanisms: reduced stress, restored attention, and increased mental clarity. Nature immersion appears to replenish depleted executive function, making it easier to focus, problem-solve, and engage socially.

5. Humidity and Microbial Balance in Biophilic Spaces

Plants also regulate indoor humidity through transpiration. In dry environments, this reduces the likelihood of respiratory tract irritation, while in humid climates, certain plant types can stabilize local moisture levels. Moreover, the presence of living systems introduces beneficial microbes that can compete with pathogens, stabilizing the indoor microbiome. As shown by studies in environmental microbiology (e.g., Gilbert and Stephens, 2018), increased microbial diversity in buildings is associated with lower incidence of asthma and allergic diseases. Biophilic elements thus influence not only air chemistry but also biological equilibrium,  creating environments where both humans and microbes coexist in healthier balance.

6. Architectural Implications of Biophilic Air Design

To fully realize the air-related benefits of biophilia, design must go beyond token plants. This includes incorporating natural ventilation pathways, daylighting strategies, flowing water features that humidify and ionize the air, and the use of non-toxic, breathable materials that emit low or no VOCs. Spaces should be zoned to allow interaction with natural elements,  rest areas near greenery, workspaces with natural light, transition spaces with sensory variation. Architects and engineers must collaborate with environmental scientists to create buildings that breathe,  not metaphorically, but functionally,  with systems that adapt to occupancy, pollutant levels, and climatic rhythms.

7. Conclusion

Biophilic design is not a luxury,  it is a biological necessity in the mechanized environments we now inhabit. By integrating living systems into architecture, we enhance not only emotional well-being but respiratory efficiency, pollutant degradation, humidity balance, and cognitive resilience. The air in a biophilic space is not just cleaner,  it is more alive, more regulated, and more attuned to the rhythms of the human body. As we rethink the future of healthy buildings, biophilia offers not just aesthetic inspiration, but scientific grounding for air systems that do more than ventilate,  they nurture.

To explore how biophilic systems are being actively designed to purify air and elevate cognitive health indoors, visit: www.justbreathe.in