Biophilic Sauna Design
It is a very fun word - but even more fun concept that we at Koselig love! Biophilic design is a way for humans to connect with nature within our built environments. Without realizing it, we are naturally drawn to nature; the warmth of the sun, movement of leaves, birdsong in the trees the calm we feel while on a hike or watching the rain.
Biophilic design has three foundational elements
direct connection to nature - experience of nature such as; sunshine on your face, smell of rain, watering houseplants, arranging flowers in a vase, seeing a fire crackle and embers radiate
indirect connection to nature - things that evoke sense of natural world such as; natural materials, natural lighting, natural colors, shapes and finishes
experience of space and place - spatial features that reflect what is in nature such as; cozy corners that resemble cave of refuge, large window to outdoor view that draws your eyes to horizon, green space that reminisces forest follage
Benefits of biophilic design
Interacting with nature and engaging our senses in our natural environment is closely linked to our mental and physical wellbeing
Office design that incorporates biophilic design has been proven to increase engagement, support productivity and lead to employee retention
Home design that incorporates biophilic design creates a living environment that is calm and restorative, lowering blood pressure, reducing stress and irritability, boosts self esteem, improving mood and encourages healthy lifestyle.
Study in 1984 found that hospital patients with views of nature recovered more quickly compared to patients who had no view of nature.
6 principles of biophilic design & how it influences our sauna design
Living Plants - make spaces more calm, inviting and transform spaces into living sanctuaries. Plants are also natural humidifiers and refresh the air by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing fresh oxygen. Plants obviously cannot live in a hot sauna - but there is definitely space in a changing room, adjoining bathroom or living space. We also leverage low-to-no maintenance plant options with preserved moss and air plants to introduce living greens.
Views - the easiest way to connect with nature, is to look directly at it. We love designing and building saunas that feature large windows with views that draw your eye to ever changing nature scenes outside; mountain range, still lake, moving river, vast fields, forest, garden, ocean waves. Sauna allows time and space to be reflective and grateful - natural views allow us to center our thoughts and clear our minds to center on these thoughts. If you do not have a beautiful view outside of your sauna, we can work on designing a simple green space and do not underestimate the power of natural light.
Materials and decor - organic forms and materials ground us to nature and engage our senses. Brass, leather, clay and linen - calm and sooth our minds and bodies. Creating natural variation and contrast that represents the beauty we experience in our natural environment. Our design for changing rooms, saunas and additional wellness spaces is grounded in natural materials such as stone tile floors, clay or rattan pendant lighting, brass planters, stone fountain, wool rug etc.
Colors - color has a significant impact on how we feel in a space. Color is also very subjective to each person, what is calming to one person may not be to the next - this is why we love partnering with clients to design a space customized to them and their preferences. Some people prefer bright, light spaces to clear their minds and feel rejuvenated. Where as others prefer dark, moody spaces to promote a sense of calm and relaxation. We work with you to figure out how you interpret and experience colors from everything to the wood hues for walls and benches to potted plants to sauna towels.
Shapes - nature is comprised of organic and curved lines and forms, which contrasts what we experience in our modern spaces with straight lines. In our design, we find where we can introduce natural shapes to create a space that allows us to feel at rest. We may introduce organic planters, organic shaped mirror or natural baskets in the changing room. In the sauna, we can integrate circular windows and curved bench design inspired by nature.
Ambiance - ‘the feeling of a space’ can be the mood of a room, lighting, air quality, temperature, sound and smell. All of these elements are at play in a sauna space. We intentionally design sauna spaces to promote rest and wellness, ensuring high performance heat, steam and ventilation. Intentional use of natural light from windows, LED lighting that resembles natural light as well as introducing natural smells and sounds to assist senses in connecting with the world outside of the sauna.
If you made it to the bottom of this article - I hope you are feeling inspired and empowered to design a sauna that allows you to connect with yourself and nature.
Sources:
Nature Style - Cultivating wellbeing at home with plants by Alana Langan & Jacqui Vidal of Ivy Muse
