Four Biophilic Architecture Projects Showcase Nature-Integrated Design

Biophilic design, rooted in Erich Fromm's concept of 'biophilia' and Edward O. Wilson's 1984 hypothesis, aims to improve well-being by incorporating nature into built environments. Four recent projects exemplify this approach. CapitaSpring in Singapore, a 280-meter, 51-story tower by BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group and CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati, houses over 80,000 plants in a vertical oasis with a Green Oasis and Sky Garden. Welcome in Milan, designed by Kengo Kuma and Stefano Mancuso, is a biophilic office complex at Parco Lambro featuring plazas, open-air courtyards, terraces, and greenhouses; construction began in 2021 and is expected to finish by 2024. The ENEL headquarters in Rome, renovated by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel (ACPV), targets LEED and WELL Gold certifications across 80,000 square meters, integrating green areas and a gym, with completion in 2024. Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore, by RMJM and CPG Consultants, opened in 2010 and won the 2017 Biophilic Design Award; it overlooks Yishun Pond and features planted terraces, rooftop gardens, and a green courtyard.