natural wonder

From habitat magazine - issue 37, nature-inspired design

Create good-natured spaces by following the principles of biophilic design.

Ever questioned why you relax when you sit beside the sea or how the sound of rain helps you drift off? Do you wonder why you still feel great after a tiring hike in the forest or a backbreaking day in the garden?

The idea that being close to nature makes us feel better is nothing new, but psychologist Erich Fromm first gave it a name in 1973. Fromm's term 'biophilia' is the theory that humans need a connection to their natural environment to feel happy and content. In a nutshell, biophilia is the idea that increasing exposure to nature is good for your mind and body.

Numerous psychological and physiological studies have tested this hypothesis over the years. In one, American hospital patients exposed to views of nature healed faster and needed less pain relief than those without a connection to greenery. In another study, Canadian researchers found the presence of wood in interior spaces, such as exposed beams, timber flooring or timber furniture, to be stress-relieving, lowering participants’ blood pressure. Due to these positive results, it’s not surprising the architecture and design world has readily adopted biophilic design principles. With a palette of Resene paints and wood stains, you can infuse your indoor and outdoor spaces with calm.

Window to the soul

Look out the window, says interior designer Megan Harrison-Turner. It is an excellent place to start when introducing nature-inspired design. “In New Zealand, our vegetation is often a lush green, while in Australia, the greyed-off colour of eucalyptus is quite dominant. Look at what’s in your backyard. Say there’s a Japanese maple outside, maybe there’s a way to incorporate some of its elements with a Resene paint colour – there’s even a wood stain called Resene Japanese Maple,” says Megan.

Colours of nature

Blue, white, green and brown are the most dominant colours on planet Earth. But the ocean is never one tone of blue. “Consider thinking beyond a solid colour,” says Lisa Day of Day Architects. “The natural world very rarely has one solid colour in any one place. Any landscape painter can tell you just how many hues are involved in the colours of a lake or forest.” Resene FX Paint Effects Medium is a way to create a multi-tone or limewashed look when painting a room. For example, to recreate the colour variation in mudbrick or limestone, start by applying a basecoat of a darker colour such as Resene Biscotti. Then paint a topcoat of Resene FX Paint Effects Medium mixed with Resene Quarter Thorndon Cream.

It’s easy being green

Humans are one of the few species with trichromatic vision – the ability to distinguish blues, greens and reds. One theory is that it’s an adaptation that helped our ancestors gather ripe fruit and palatable vegetation. In daylight, human eyes detect the colour green more than any other, and perhaps this is why studies have shown the human nervous system feels calmer in the presence of green. There are many Resene greens to choose from – including deep greens such as Resene Jurassic and Resene Karaka emulating ancient forests to cloudy greens such as Resene Ravine.

Rebecca Long, Resene Senior Architectural Representative, suggests looking for greens in places other than tree foliage. “Resene Tarzan is a gold-edged khaki that celebrates nature’s radiant, mossy depths. Tint it into Resene SpaceCote Low Sheen for a smooth, natural finish,” she says. To create the colour variation seen in nature, use a few different greens – painting plant pots and furniture – but choose the primary wall colour wisely.

“It is surprising how greyed-off a colour needs to be before it’s considered restful,” says Megan. “Dirtier grey-greens are the best colour for the walls of a biophilic space. For instance, sage greens such as Resene Tasman are more muted and serene than cuisine greens, such as Resene Parsley, which has yellow tones to make it energising. A related colour scheme or tonal colours will be more restful.” Other restful greens include Resene Paddock, Resene Rivergum, Resene Yucca and Resene Spanish Green.

Try texture

Nobody’s perfect, even Mother Nature. A key element of biophilic design is texture since irregularity and imperfections make the look more realistic. Create texture through flooring, textured Resene wall paints, Resene wallpapers, or even net curtains, which dapple the light, emulating sunlight through foliage. “It is essential to think about the texture of surfaces that stimulate your senses and catch the light,” says Lisa.

Texture can affect the way we move through a space, she explains. “Our bodies have a kinaesthetic response to texture, moving slowly past rough surfaces and quickly past smooth surfaces – this, too, is an intuitive human response to our environment.” Resene Sandtex Mediterranean effect is a textured paint that can be tinted to a wide range of paint colours to create a dynamic, textured surface, great for highlighting shadows on the wall. Shadows reflected on texture are often far more interesting than those on a flat surface. Panelling and battens are other ways to create shadows and depth.

Introducing houseplants is an easy way to bring nature indoors – but many plants suffer stress when used in interiors because they are kept in the wrong conditions. Two main reasons indoor plants run into health problems are lack of light and overzealous watering. To test if your plant needs watering, touch the soil with a finger. If the earth clings to it, there’s likely enough water.

To test the light, see if there’s enough light at different times of the day to cast a shadow – if not, your room might be too dark. A simple rule for beginners is to pick plants with thick glossy leaves such as the ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia), monstera, phalaenopsis orchid, mother-in-law’s tongue, dracaena or even a pony palm.

Terracotta pots are ideal for cacti or ZZ plants, which don’t need much watering. Seal terracotta pots in Resene Aquapel & Terracotta Sealer inside and out before painting in your favourite Resene colours.

Projects: Kate Alexander, Megan Harrison-Turner, Annick Larkin, Vanessa Nouwens
Words: Emma Rawson
Images: Bryce Carleton

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