Efforts to tackle the climate and nature crisis often focus on policy, science and activism. But according to Will Hayler, founder and CEO of The Blue Earth Summit, real transformation will only happen when entrepreneurs and investors are fully part of the conversation.

Speaking about the philosophy behind the Blue Earth Summit, Will argues that innovation and enterprise are essential if environmental solutions are to move beyond ideas and into the real economy. “If you're really serious about solving problems, you need entrepreneurs in the room,” he says.

Scaling solutions requires capital, markets and commercial incentives. While science and policy define the problem, entrepreneurs are often the ones who turn ideas into practical products and services.

For architects, planners and designers, this represents an opportunity. Across the UK alone, plans to build 1.5 million homes in the coming years will shape the nation’s landscape for decades. Decisions made today about materials, planning and urban design will define the health and sustainability of future communities.

Will believes the design industry should see this not as a burden, but as a privilege.

“People working in climate and sustainability sometimes expect sympathy,” he says. “But I see it differently. It’s lucky you. You’re working at the cutting edge of what the world needs.” Designers, he argues, have the chance to rethink how humanity lives — creating cities that are cleaner, healthier and more connected to nature.

Will is also clear-eyed about the motivations that drive the private sector. “Businesses will only do the right thing if it benefits them,” he says, pointing to the reality that return on investment and competitive advantage ultimately shape corporate decisions.

Rather than criticise that system, the summit aims to work within it. One of its core goals has been to bring together groups that have historically operated in separate spheres. “We wanted to create that connection between third sector and private sector,” Will explains, arguing that NGOs, scientists and businesses must collaborate if environmental progress is to accelerate.

Central to this approach is reframing the narrative around sustainability. Instead of presenting environmental action as a burden, Will believes it should be positioned as an opportunity. In his view, sustainability needs to be understood as a form of upgrade — delivering healthier environments, smarter materials and more resilient systems.

“The sustainability movement is best framed around wellbeing for everyone, forever,” he says.

This shift is particularly relevant in the built environment, where designers, architects and developers are shaping the places where people spend most of their lives. 

Integrating nature into buildings and cities can have profound health benefits. As Will puts it: “People that spend more time in nature are healthier than those that don't. So how can you bring that into your design and sell it as an upgrade?”

At the same time, he believes the next wave of environmental innovation will focus heavily on circular systems and resource efficiency. “Waste management is a massive, massive issue at the moment,” he notes, pointing to the need for designers and entrepreneurs to rethink materials and production processes.

Will is optimistic about the direction of travel. Clean energy, he argues, is abundant and increasingly affordable. “Energy is free and abundant, through the sun and through the wind,” he says, imagining a future powered by renewable systems. If innovators, investors and designers can work together, he believes the outcome could be transformative. “The future can and should be radically better than what we have today.” 

Chapter 1 — Opening and Guest Introduction (0:00 – 0:42)

Chapter 2 — Will’s Background and the Blue Earth Summit’s Purpose (0:42 – 4:03)

Chapter 3 — The Summit’s Focus, Leverage, and the Role of Entrepreneurship (4:03 – 9:32)

Chapter 4 — Building a Bridge: Business, NGOs, and the “Upgrade” Narrative (9:32 – 16:38) 

Chapter 5 — Regenerative Design, Biophilia, and the Built Environment (16:38 – 21:33)

Chapter 6 — Scaling, Investment, and Cross‑Border Opportunity (21:33 – 29:53)

Chapter 7 — Nature-Based Design, Health, and the Big Vision (29:53 – 40:22). 

To find out more and register your interest in the Blue Earth Summit visit:

 www.blueearthsummit.com

Have you got a copy of the Journal? You can now subscribe as a member of the Journal of Biophilic Design or purchase a gorgeous coffee table reference copy or PDF download of the Journal journalofbiophilicdesign.comor Amazon and Kindle. 

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all of our podcasts. 

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We spend about 90% of our lives indoors, yet our cities, offices and homes are rarely designed with the biological reality of that fact in mind. That disconnect between humans and the natural systems we evolved within is becoming harder to ignore. Biophilic Design is a growing movement in architecture and planning, which argues that bringing nature back into the built environment is not a luxury or aesthetic flourish but a public-health, economic and social necessity.

Alexandra Bowen, founder of the Biophilic Design Community on LinkedIn, puts it bluntly: “Our minds and bodies evolved over thousands of years to thrive in nature. If we’re indoors almost all the time, we have to be deliberate about reconnecting with it.”

Her argument echoes a growing body of research suggesting that the benefits are measurable. Studies cited by designers show that access to daylight and views of nature can improve cognitive performance and memory recall by around 15%, while hospitals with natural light have reported 41% shorter patient stays. In schools, improved ventilation has been linked to 14% better maths scores and significantly reduced sickness absence.

00:00 Introduction to Biophilic Design and Community Engagement

03:47 Alex's Journey into Biophilic Design

06:11 The Holistic Approach to Biophilic Design

12:46 Understanding the Science Behind Biophilic Design

18:03 The Importance of Authentic Biophilic Design

21:17 Moving Beyond Aesthetics in Biophilic Design

27:31 Overcoming Barriers to Implementing Biophilic Design

39:24 Biophilic Design Across Different Scales

51:59 The Future of Cities and Biophilic Design

Yet despite the data, the messaging around biophilic design is often muddled and sometimes even contradictory. On the one hand, the concept is gaining traction in sustainability frameworks and workplace strategies. On the other, it is frequently reduced to a checklist: a plant in the corner, a “green wall”, or a scattering of faux foliage.

Alex calls out the “Frankenstein approach”, where offices and restaurants install plastic plants to simulate nature. “We’re bringing petroleum-based materials indoors to try to feel closer to nature. It misses the point,” she says. “True biophilic design is rooted in living systems and science, not just visual symbols.”

The stakes go beyond aesthetics. Poor indoor environments carry enormous economic costs. In the United States alone, the annual cost of poor indoor air quality has been estimated at $75bn. Meanwhile, nature-based infrastructure such as urban green spaces, wetlands or tree canopies, can be 42% cheaper than traditional “grey” infrastructure and deliver 36% more value when broader benefits such as air quality, biodiversity and public wellbeing are taken into account.

Still, many planners and developers remain wary. The first barrier is cost, or rather, the perception of it. Biophilic features are often seen as expensive add-ons, vulnerable to being “value (or rather cost)-engineered out” of projects. But advocates argue this misses the bigger picture.

“People focus on the initial cost,” Alex says, “instead of the compounding returns over a building’s lifetime.” Those returns can include improved employee productivity, lower healthcare costs, reduced energy use and increased property value.

Another barrier is language. As urban societies become further removed from the natural world, even the vocabulary that describes it is fading. Words such as river, moss or meadow appear less frequently in everyday discourse than they once did, while technological metaphors dominate. That loss of language reflects a deeper cultural shift and one that makes reconnecting people with nature harder.

There is also a structural challenge within design professions themselves. Modern architecture has often prioritised form over ecological function, producing cities where, as critics have long noted, you can travel thousands of miles and encounter the same glass boxes, chain stores and climate-controlled interiors. The result is what urbanists call the “geography of nowhere”: places that feel interchangeable and detached from their landscapes.

Biophilic design proposes a different starting point. Instead of asking what to build on a site, designers ask how nature already works there and look at its climate, ecology, history and culture. This approach, rooted in the concept of genius loci, or “spirit of place”, emphasises designing with the land rather than imposing upon it.

It also extends beyond architecture into community life. When it is done well, biophilic design can strengthen social connection and a sense of belonging in cities. Public spaces that integrate natural systems, trees, water, biodiversity and seasonal change, tend to encourage interaction and stewardship. People are more likely to care for places they feel connected to.

In practice, the shift can start small. Sometimes it is as simple as rearranging a workspace, so people face a window rather than a wall. At larger scales, it may involve redesigning entire districts around green corridors, urban forests or restored waterways.

But advocates say the most important change is mindset. Biophilic design works best when integrated from the beginning of a project, not added at the end. That means involving architects, planners, engineers, ecologists and communities in collaborative workshops — and treating nature as essential infrastructure, not decoration.

The debate is only likely to intensify as cities grapple with climate change, mental-health challenges and declining biodiversity. If the built environment is going to support healthier lives, it must reflect the ecosystems that sustain us.

We’re not separate from nature. We are nature. Biophilic Design is the key which reconnects us to that vital truth.

References: 

Connect with Alexandra direct here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandrabrower/

Biophilic commmunity: https://www.linkedin.com/company/biophilic-design/

Learn Biophilic Design Course:  https://learnbiomimicry.com/biophilic-design

Walla dalla Costa: https://www.tawarc.com/new-page

ROBERT BRAY ASSOCIATES: https://robertbrayassociates.co.uk/ (who Alex mentioned she did the SuDS workshop with in Bristol)

Have you ever wondered why we feel so alive when we’re surrounded by nature? Why certain textures, materials, or natural elements spark deep emotions within us? The truth is reconnecting with nature through thoughtful design is a necessity, it is how we restore our bond with the earth and the more we do this, the more we are shaping a new way of living that sustains us all. 

Polish craft and innovation is going to take centre stage at Collect 2026 which opens in London on 25 February this year 2026. Nature connection, craft and design is taking centre stage.  Biophilic Design helps people reconnect with nature. I am also a maker and artist (I sculpt, weave, sketch, etc), and for me, creating things with natural materials gives me a direct connection to nature and our planet. In this podcast we speak with the curator of this year’s Collect Corinne Julius and one of the Polish artists featured during the show. We explore the significance of biophilic design, the metamorphosis of Polish craft, and the role of materiality in art. The conversation also touches on the challenges of the craft industry in the context of climate change and the importance of tactile experiences in our lives. Can slow craft be the antidote to the disconnection and environmental crisis we face today? 

Have you noticed when you touch a rough piece of wood, a cool stone, or a warm fibre, something stirs inside? That tactile experience connects us directly to natural material grounding us amidst what can sometimes be quotidian chaos. It’s not accidental that craft practitioners, like Anna Bera, choose wood, stone, and clay to create, natural biophilic materials conduct our senses directly to our well-being and consciousness.

Anna, a Polish artist from the mountains, explains it beautifully: 

“Working with natural materials is like engaging in a dialogue with the earth.”

She crafts large-scale sculptures from wood, embracing imperfections, knots, and fungi. Her work isn’t flawless in the mass production sense; instead, it’s alive, real, and deeply connected.

Contrast that with the sterile, sanitised surfaces of modern mass-produced objects. They’re designed to be invisible, to blend into the background. But Anna’s work demands you notice — it beckons tactile engagement, invites you to touch and reflect.

Natural materials are imperfect, and that’s what makes them beautiful. Their flaws tell stories—of growth, decay, evolution. When we embrace this, we find healing, grounding, and a fresh perspective on our relationship with nature.

Corinne Julius, the curator of the Metamorphosis exhibition, champions the idea that craftsmanship embodies deep intellectual effort and storytelling. She believes that authentic craft can challenge our fast-paced, disposable culture. “Craft is a form of soft power. It shows us that beauty can win minds and hearts, making deep environmental and social issues approachable.” Her exhibitions, like Metamorphosis showing at Collect this year at Somerset House in London, celebrate transformation of materials, of countries, of ideas. The craftspeople and artists she showcases, like Alicia Patanowska or Marcin Rusak use their work to COMMENT. Their pieces question consumption, waste, and sustainability through poetic, tactile means. A tile that’s thrown, cut, reassembled; a flower encased in resin—each reflects an urgent truth: We can transform waste into wonder, making us see the world differently, inspiring us to act consciously.

So what is the biggest barrier to more craft specification? We have been disconnecting from nature more and more over the last two hundred years especially. Our built environments, homes, school, offices and hospitals, are often cold, uniform, and disconnected from the rhythms of the natural world. No wonder stress skyrockets, mental health suffers, and our environment degrades. Biophilic design flips this script. It’s about embedding natural elements, wood, plant life, water, into our daily spaces. Think of the Polish artists who create immersive installations from living plants, or designers reimagining architecture with curving, organic shapes that mirror the human body.

As Anna says: "We need more biomorphic shapes, fewer harsh lines, more presence of trees and nature in our surroundings." Her work, touching even those with sight impairments, demonstrates how materiality influences well-being. Touching a rough wood sculpture can ground you, calm you, reconnect you with your roots.

Corinne agrees: “In a world obsessed with speed and perfection, slow craft and natural materials are an antidote. They remind us who we are—living, breathing, interconnected.”

This of course is the heart of biophilic design.

The Polish crafts scene, with its optimism and innovation, exemplifies a can-do attitude. Corinne points out:  “When we collaborate properly with craftspeople, we create spaces and products that are sustainable, soulful, and inspiring."But it’s not enough just to wish for it. We need action, whether in architecture, fashion, or daily choices. How?

Specify handmade, natural materials in projects.

A wooden table with visible grain, a ceramic vessel with imperfections. These aren’t flaws, they’re stories.

Support artisans who work with sustainable practices.

Their work embodies a dialogue with nature.

Prioritise slow, thoughtful craftsmanship over mass-produced sameness.

It’s a rebellion, a stand against waste and environmental destruction.

Educate and inspire others to value authenticity.

Share stories, visit workshops, touch materials—rediscover the power of doing.

As Corinne says  "Join exhibitions, follow artists, advocate for crafted materials. That’s how shifts occur."

Every piece of authentic craft, every natural material, and every mindful space transforms our lives and our world. We can’t afford to wait for systemic change alone; we must start with our own choices and specification.

Visit Collect 2026 for more inspiration, and especially Metamorphosis curated by Corinne Julius, showcasing the work of Polish artists and experience the tactile, interactivity and beauty that is in handmade craft.

Let’s champion slow craft, embrace imperfections, and reconnect with nature’s wisdom. Because if enough of us do, we can change the story—crafting a future rooted in sustainability, beauty, and genuine human connection.

Want to see the full exhibition?

To find out more about Collect, get tickets, and also explore the UK-Poland Season and learn more about the artists featured during this programme visit: 

https://www.craftscouncil.org.uk/collect-fair/

https://www.britishcouncil.pl/en/programmes/uk-poland-season-2025

Corinne Julius Freelance journalist, critic, broadcaster and curator she has a special interest in contemporary craft and design. She was for many years a reporter and producer on BBC Radio’s Woman’s Hour, made features for Radio 4 and contributes to the Arts programme ‘Front Row’. 

Anna Bera,is a multidisciplinary artist from Lechów in the Świętokrzyskie Mountains, Poland, specializing in functional art.  She runs her studio in Warsaw, where she creates predominantly large-scale works in wood. In her work, Anna focuses on the sensory perception of the materiality of the world.

Emergency departments are some of the most punishing workplaces in healthcare. Clinicians move in seconds from breaking catastrophic news to families, to resuscitating a dying patient, to reassuring a parent whose child has a simple fever. We rightly talk a lot about patient experience. We talk far less about what these relentless environments do to the people who work in them.

A pilot study published in the Journal of Biophilic Design suggests that something as simple as one minute of looking at nature-based art can measurably ease that burden.

The research was led by emergency physician and US Army major Dr Anant Shukla at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire, with  Dr Harman Gill , an emergency and critical care physician, as senior researcher. Their lived experience in A&E (ED) is the backdrop to the work.

Gill recounts a single shift that started with the emergency delivery of a baby girl in the middle of a chaotic winter flu season. Within 40 minutes, the new mother was in catastrophic postpartum haemorrhage. The same team that had just celebrated a new life found themselves fighting to save another. Then, as he points out, they must walk into the next cubicle – whether it’s a heart attack or “just the sniffles”, and deliver the same standard of calm, competent care. What happened 20 minutes earlier is invisible to the next patient, but not to the clinician’s nervous system.

Shukla describes the ED as “controlled chaos”, windowless, noisy, metal and plastic surfaces, a “cave” in the hospital basement. During Covid, he noticed something striking, upstairs, patients on certain wards with views of nature or biophilic art were using less narcotic pain medication. Staff downstairs had nothing similar. “We do so much for patients and visitors,” he says. “Why not for clinicians?”

From that question came a this experiment: could just one minute  of viewing biophilic art shift clinicians’ emotional state in a meaningful way?

The study

In the ED’s staff “cave”, one wall was given over to large-scale photographs of local New Hampshire landscapes: a mountain stream, autumn foliage, a cluster of birch trees in winter, a calm pond. The works, by a local photographer, were intentionally familiar – the sort of scenes you could walk out and see within a few miles of the hospital.

Clinicians, doctors, nurses, advanced practice providers and residents, could, when they had a moment, scan a QR code next to the artwork. They completed a brief validated survey (using the Daniels Five-Factor Measure of Affect) rating how they felt “right now” on items such as calm, at ease, anxious, tired, gloomy, annoyed. They were then instructed to look only at the art for one minute, using a timer on their phone, and repeat the survey immediately afterwards.

In a level 1 trauma centre, even getting people to pause for sixty seconds is a challenge. Yet enough staff participated over time for the team to analyse pre‑ and post‑scores using standard statistical tests.

Key findings of the biophilic art study

The results were modest in scale but statistically robust, especially given the small sample and chaotic setting:

-  Anxiety fell from an average score of 2.6 to 2.0 , with a p‑value of  0.003  (meaning only a 0.3% likelihood this was due to chance).

-  Calm increased from 3.6 to 4.3  (p =  0.02 ).

-  Feeling “at ease” increased from  3.3 to 4.0  (p =  0.003 ).

- Negative feelings such as feeling *gloomy*, *tired* and *annoyed* all showed statistically significant decreases.

In plain language: after just one minute of viewing nature imagery, clinicians felt less anxious, less gloomy and calmer and at ease, in a way that is extremely unlikely to be explained by random fluctuation.

The researchers are careful not to oversell this as a cure for burnout. No picture can fix under‑staffing, moral injury, or a broken healthcare system. But it can, as Gill puts it, create a “mandatory pause”, a tiny, biophilically designed, evidence‑based intervention that gives staff a momentary psychological reset.

What this means for A&E design

If a single minute in front of one picture can move the needle, what might a genuinely biophilic emergency department achieve?

At present, most EDs, in the US and UK alike, are buried in basements, windowless, acoustically harsh and visually sterile. Design decisions are dominated by managerial concerns, like where to put trolleys, equipment, computers. By contrast, high‑performing companies like tech firms deliberately shape workplaces to support focus, recovery and creativity.

This research can help empower staff and designers to argue for change. Windows where possible, daylight‑mimicking lighting where it isn’t, local and seasonal nature imagery, quieter materials, designated biophilically designed micro‑spaces where staff can pause and look at something other than a monitor or a curtain track.

Clinicians are not an endlessly replaceable resource. They are human beings, carrying enormous emotional loads on behalf of the rest of us. If we expect them to bring their best selves to our worst days, the least we can do is design emergency departments that give them a chance, even if it begins with just one minute and one view of nature.

Journal of Biophilic Design, Issue 18, Interior Design (2025), pp. 50-61 “Impact of a brief viewing of biophilic art on the affective wellbeing of clinicians in the Emergency Department”

To read the research paper, please download The Journal of Biophilic Design, Issue 18, Interior Design (2025) here: https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/shop/journal-of-biophilic-design-issue-18-interior-design-digital-download or buy a high quality coffee table reference Book version here: https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/shop/journal-of-biophilic-design-issue-18-interior-design-printed-coffee-table-reference-copy

Have you got a copy of the Journal? You can now subscribe as a member of the Journal of Biophilic Design or purchase a gorgeous coffee table reference copy or PDF download of the Journal journalofbiophilicdesign.comor Amazon and Kindle.

Book tickets and join us in PERSON and LIVE STREAMED Biophilic Design Conference and you can watch on catch up! www.biophilicdesignconference.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all of our podcasts. 

Listen to our podcast on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube and all the RSS feeds.

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We have a climate crisis, housing shortages, and increasing urban disconnection, we need a pioneering radical approach to development that puts nature and human flourishing at its core. Human Nature, led by Joanna Yarrow, are creating living, breathing ecosystems that challenge how we normally go about urban design.

"We've boxed ourselves into a corner by having the starting point that we are separate from nature," Joanna explains. Places should not just exist alongside nature, they should be fundamentally integrated with it.

Human Nature has identified three critical place typologies that could transform how we live. These are urban neighbourhoods, rural clusters, and new settlements. Their flagship project, the Phoenix in Lewes, East Sussex, demonstrates what's possible when we reimagine development.

"Places aren't just buildings. They are infrastructure, streets, parks, alleyways, rivers – a collection of components that includes hardware like pavements and water systems, and software like community services."

The Phoenix project is a testament to this holistic approach. Spanning 7.9 hectares of former industrial land, it will become the UK's largest bio-based development, featuring 685 homes constructed primarily from natural materials like timber, hemp, and lime.

But this isn't just about sustainable construction. It's about redesigning entire lifestyles. "We want to create the optimal precondition for a better, healthy, and more sustainable way of life." This means designing neighbourhoods where car dependency becomes unnecessary, where food production is integrated, and where nature isn't an afterthought but the central organising principle.

Her background – growing up in a 64-acre working wood in Sussex – deeply influences her approach. "Nature was my playground," she recalls. This personal connection translates into a professional mission to mainstream sustainable living.

The challenge, she argues, isn't technological. "Most of this is not rocket science. Most of this has been done already. We don't need to reinvent the wheel." Instead, we need collective will and a systemic reimagining of development.

We should review the concept of “developers” to be not just extractive profit-makers, but as stewards with critical societal duty. "You are shaping people's lives for decades, generations to come. What a responsibility."

Everyone can contribute to change. "The power sits with all of us to weave this into our everyday life.” This might mean walking a different route to work, engaging with local green spaces, or challenging existing development models.

The benefits extend far beyond environmental considerations. These nature-integrated spaces promise improved mental health, community connection, and a sense of belonging that modern developments often strip away.

"Wouldn't it be wonderful, if our schools had forests instead of fences? If our walk to work included fruit trees, flowers, and bird song? If our homes and offices could breathe without us needing to open a window?"

Projects like the Phoenix prove such transformative development is possible. By demonstrating viable alternatives, Human Nature is creating blueprints for a regenerative future. We can redesign our built environment to enhance not compromise both human and natural systems.

https://humannature-places.com/

Bonus show notes: Advice for Developers to Design Better, Based on Joanna Yarrow's insights:

1. Shift Your Mindset

- Stop seeing development as unit production and profit extraction

- Become "stewards" rather than "extractors"

- Recognise that you're shaping lives for generations, not just building temporary structures 

2. Embrace Holistic Design

- Don't just design buildings, design entire "places" that include:

  * Infrastructure

  * Streets

  * Parks

  * Community services

  * Green spaces

- Consider the entire ecosystem, not just the physical structure 

3. Prioritise Collaboration

- Practice "deep collaboration" with:

  * Local communities

  * Specialist architects and designers

  * Environmental experts

  * Interest groups

- Be transparent and open-source about your learning and processes 

4. Focus on Positive Impact

- Design with three core considerations:

  * Climate positive outcomes

  * Nature enhancement

  * Human flourishing

- Create places that inspire and enable sustainable living

5. Think Beyond Traditional Boundaries

- Consider different place typologies:

  * Urban neighbourhoods

  * Rural clusters

  * New settlements

- Customise design to specific bioregional contexts

6. Integrate Nature Seamlessly

- Don't treat nature as an "other" or additional feature

- Centre nature in every design decision

- Create multi-sensory experiences that connect humans with natural systems

7. Enable Sustainable Lifestyles

- Design spaces that make sustainable living:

  * Easy

  * Attractive

  * Accessible

- Reduce car dependency

- Incorporate food production

- Create green corridors and natural infrastructure

8. Engage Communities

- Run collaborative design processes

- Host community events and design festivals

- Seek input and co-creation from local residents

- Be propositional, not oppositional

9. Think Long-Term

- Stay involved beyond initial construction

- Consider how places will be lived in and managed over decades

- Create flexible, adaptable designs

10. Be Ambitious and Brave

- Challenge existing development models

- Learn from international best practices

- Don't be afraid to pioneer new approaches

As Joanna powerfully states: "We need to both inspire and enable a healthier, positive, lower impact, more sustainable way of life."

How Shall We Live?”  - Human Nature’s research collaboration focusing on how to create new settlements with positive impacts - with Arup, Heatherwick Studio, White Arkitekter and others - Link herehttps://drive.google.com/file/d/134fqrlGzislmGF4wFJ8n3Zl3j-QI9bfC/view

Joanna Yarrow is the Chief Impact Officer at Human Nature, a sustainable placemaking company dedicated to designing, building, and operating places that make sustainable living easy and attractive.

Previously, Joanna served as the Global Head of Sustainable & Healthy Living at IKEA, where she led initiatives to make sustainable living affordable, attractive, and accessible worldwide. She has also held leadership roles at M&C Saatchi Group, co-founding M&C Saatchi LIFE, a strategic creative consultancy focused on mainstreaming sustainable living. She has also authored several books on sustainable living, and you might have seen her on TV too.

Have you got a copy of the Journal? You can now subscribe as a member of the Journal of Biophilic Design or purchase a gorgeous coffee table reference copy or PDF download of the Journal journalofbiophilicdesign.comor Amazon and Kindle.

Book tickets and join us in PERSON and LIVE STREAMED Biophilic Design Conference and you can watch on catch up! www.biophilicdesignconference.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all of our podcasts. 

Listen to our podcast on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube and all the RSS feeds.

https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/

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Welcome to this special episode of the Journal of Biophilic Design podcast. 
We’re really excited to share this feature from our very first Biophilic Design Conference, which took place at the iconic Barbican Centre in London. It was a landmark moment — the UK’s first-ever conference dedicated entirely to biophilic design — and we were joined by an amazing lineup of experts, designers and researchers exploring how connecting people and nature through design can transform our buildings and cities. 

This year’s conference is back — bigger and better than ever — at Westminster Central Hall in London on Sunday, 17th November. https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/biophilic-design-conference  Join us for a day of inspiring talks, interactive sessions, and meaningful connections with the people who are shaping the future of design for wellbeing, sustainability and climate resilience.

This special edition of the Journal of Biophilic Design podcast is a podcast recorded by our friends at Workplace Geeks, Ian Ellison and Chris Moriarty. 

Host Ian Ellison sets out to explore a big question: Is biophilic design simply good design, or something we need to intentionally spotlight because of its unique importance to people, place and planet?

In this deep dive, Ian speaks with a host of experts and thought leaders — including Dr Nigel Oseland, Dr Sally Augustin, Oliver Heath, Prof Harriet Shortt, Mark Catchlove, Dr Vanessa Champion, Matthew Burgess, Chloe Bullock, and Prof Geoff Proffitt — to unpack the science, theory, and lived experience behind biophilic design.

You’ll hear:

The psychological and evolutionary roots of our natural affinity for nature.

Insights from the UK’s first Biophilic Design Conference and what made the Barbican such a fascinating venue.

Real-world examples of biophilic design in action — from workplaces and clinics to urban spaces and beyond.

Tune in to reflect, challenge assumptions, and join the ongoing conversation: is biophilic design just a feel-good concept, or is it the future of how we should be designing every environment?

Book tickets to the 2nd Biophilic Design Conference - join us in PERSON and ONLINE 

https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/biophilic-design-conference

Session schedule : https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/-2025-conference-sessions

Connect with the Workplace Geeks community:
Share your thoughts using #WorkplaceGeeks or email [email protected].
Follow @WorkplaceGeeks on LinkedIn and subscribe for more thought-provoking insights on workplace and design. To listen to the original visit https://www.buzzsprout.com/1933353/episodes/16903582-biophilic-design-buzzword-or-big-deal-a-workplace-geeks-investigation

They also have a listener survey live at the moment, with prizes, so do the survey too, that would be superb https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/WGls2025sv/

Have you got a copy of the Journal? You can now subscribe as a member of the Journal of Biophilic Design or purchase a gorgeous coffee table reference copy or PDF download of the Journal journalofbiophilicdesign.comor Amazon and Kindle. 

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all of our podcasts. 

Listen to our podcast on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube and all the RSS feeds.

https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/

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"The way we've conceived cities for the past 100 years has been far too extractive, far too one-dimensional. We need cities that are more productive, multi-dimensional, and adaptable." Ludo Pittie leads WSP’s 75-strong UK landscape and urban design team, guiding  the company’s landscape strategy and design thinking, and is also driving a global WSP exploration of ‘the Future Ready Landscape’ which strives to anticipate future needs, and embed adaptable design practices to create sustainable places that are ready for today and tomorrow. 

Urban spaces should be biophilic interconnected systems that prioritise human and ecological wellbeing. This goes beyond traditional sustainability, we need regenerative design, an approach that doesn't just minimise harm, but actively restores and enhances natural systems.

The 15-minute city concept reimagines urban living. "It's about providing essential social needs locally," Ludo explains. "Access to schools, food production, healthcare – all within a 15-minute radius. It's about creating communities that can truly thrive."

Covid-19 unexpectedly accelerated this perspective. Locked down populations rediscovered local green spaces. At the same time our connection to nature has diminished by 60% over two centuries. The pandemic became an unexpected reset button, highlighting the critical importance of accessible, high-quality green environments.

But transforming cities requires more than good intentions. We need for innovative financial frameworks that recognise nature's intrinsic value. Natural capital approaches are emerging, attempting to quantify ecosystem services previously taken for granted. "We haven't been putting a monetary sign on what nature provides," he says. "We've just extracted and taken nature for granted." Plus, the economic benefits of more nature and biophilic placemaking helps provide equal access to high-quality green spaces, which we know can improve public health, reduce NHS pressures, mitigate climate impacts, and create more resilient, socially cohesive communities.

Practical examples are already emerging. Projects like Manchester's Greater Manchester Environment Fund and initiatives in Copenhagen and New York demonstrate how cities can integrate nature-based solutions. In New York, green infrastructure plans showed returns ten times higher than traditional engineering approaches, at a third of the cost.

The future of urban design isn't about uniformity, but about "hyper-local solutions to global system change". Each city, each neighbourhood needs its own nuanced approach, respecting local ecology and cultural distinctiveness. In addition, we should be designing public spaces that balance people, planet, and place; continuing interdisciplinary collaborations, particularly with ecologists and water engineers; and maintaining a spirit of continuous innovation and learning. Community engagement is paramount. Successful urban restoration isn't imposed from above but co-created with local residents. Emerging stewardship models, like community interest companies managing green spaces, show promising alternatives to traditional top-down management. 

Looking towards 2050, we have cause to be optimistic. "We've never had so many mechanisms at our disposal," he says. Regenerative design could be the bridge connecting different disciplines, creating holistic solutions to complex urban challenges. Just imagine a world where everyone has a view of nature from where they live, with high-quality green spaces within a 10-minute walk. This would fundamentally reshape our relationship with urban environments.

Ludo will be speaking at the Biophilic Design Conference on 17 November, Click here to find out more and book your online and in person tickets (plus watch on catch up!): https://journalofbiophilicdesign.com/biophilic-design-conference

To find out more about some of the project that Ludo was speaking about in the podcast look at:  

https://www.wsp.com/en-gb/hubs/future-ready-landscapes

https://www.wsp.com/en-gb/projects/islington-council-and-wsp-explore-pathways-to-finance-nature-in-cities

https://www.wsp.com/-/media/insights/uk/documents/wsp-biodiversity-in-the-city.pdf

https://www.tcpa.org.uk/areas-of-work/new-towns/long-term-stewardship/

https://barkingriverside.london/

https://commonland.com/4-returns-framework/

https://naturetownsandcities.org.uk/

https://mayfieldpark.com/

https://www.wsp.com/en-gb/projects/earls-court-development

https://www.c40.org/case-studies/c40-good-practice-guides-copenhagen-cloudburst-management-plan/

https://www.nyc.gov/site/dep/environment/cloudburst.page

https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dep/downloads/pdf/water/stormwater/green-infrastructure/nyc-green-infrastructure-plan-2010.pdf - key take away: “the overall cost of the Green Infrastructure Plan would be approximately $5.3 billion, $1.5 billion less than the $6.8 billion required for the Grey Strategy”.

“After a 20-year period, DEP estimates that New Yorkers would receive between $139 million and $418 million in additional benefits through reduced energy bills, increased property values, and improved health”

SUGi creates pocket forests that breathe life into urban spaces. Founded in London and now operating in over 50 cities worldwide, SUGi uses the innovative Miyawaki method to transform small urban areas into thriving, biodiverse ecosystems.

In a space the size of a tennis court, they can plant approximately 600 trees that grow rapidly, creating a mature forest in just a fraction of the time nature would typically require. Adrian Wong, UK Forest Lead, explains, "If nature did it naturally, it usually takes 150 to 500 years for a forest to mature. We supercharge that process."

At the heart of SUGi's success is soil restoration. "Without a living, healthy soil, we can't do what we're doing," Adrian emphasises. They meticulously prepare urban sites by aerating the ground, introducing beneficial organisms like mycelium and worms, and creating a nutrient-rich environment that supports rapid growth and biodiversity. For me, as Adrian was telling us this, I felt this emphasis on creating a healthy environment for life to thrive, is similar to what we are trying to do with Biophilic Design inside our homes, hospitals, workplaces, creating healthy environments that enable all life to flourish.

The impact is remarkable. Even in seemingly inhospitable urban locations, these micro forests attract diverse wildlife. At their South Bank forest, they've recorded an incredible range of species, including blue tits, green finches, and surprisingly, even tawny owls and peregrine falcons.

Research is increasingly demonstrating the mental health benefits of these urban forests. A study with Oxford University is exploring how the volatile organic compounds released by trees can reduce anxiety and improve overall well-being. As Adrian puts it, "We're learning how to quantify the benefits that we know exist."

Contrary to expectations, these forests require minimal maintenance. After initial care in the first three to four years, the forests become self-sustaining ecosystems. "Beyond that point, the forest looks after itself," Adrian explains. Adrian himself looks after over 30 forests on his own, which just proves that the method of planting is self-sustaining, affordable and there is no economic downside to scaling these across cities too. Just benefits.

SUGi's approach addresses urban inequity by bringing green spaces to areas traditionally lacking natural environments. Their forests provide access to nature in communities that have been concrete bound, offering mental health benefits, educational opportunities, and a sense of community ownership. Everything which the Biophilia hypothesis encourages, and Biophilic Designers are aiming to create.

"I would love to see a city that's part of nature, a city that's in nature," Adrian says at the end. This means integrating green spaces seamlessly into urban landscapes – from moss-covered walls to green roofs that provide habitat and food-growing opportunities.

SUGi is always seeking collaborators. "Finding land is our biggest challenge," Adrian notes. Architects, city planners, and community leaders are invited to explore how micro forests can transform urban spaces.

In just six years, SUGi has planted over 200 forests worldwide, proving that small spaces can create significant environmental and social change. If you have land which is calling out for a mini forest, please reach out directly to SUGi to collaborate. These pocket forests are more than just trees they are essential in our healing and connection in our urban landscapes.

https://www.instagram.com/sugiproject/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/sugiproject/posts/?feedView=all

https://www.sugiproject.com/

https://cdn.sanity.io/files/oyzyxja8/v2/913f3ee130ed408e418cd2b76a3e7bddf562c550.pdf

He will be speaking at the  biophilic design conference on: . A passion developed from his time travelling and observing how society benefits most when nature and humanity can coexist. He will be speaking about:

Biodiversity & Belonging: why wild urban spaces matter.

Every citizen deserves access to thriving, biodiverse nature. SUGi is a model of urban renewal rooted in ownership, pride, and shared responsibility. We transform urban spaces through hyper-local pocket forests. From climate resilience to improving mental health, we’ll explore how wild urban spaces and nature connectedness can restore our sense of belonging — and how this, in turn, supports biodiversity and human well-being.

To book your ticket visit www.biophilicdesignconference.com

This is the factory in the forest Adrian mentioned: https://medium.com/@dinushi.urbanforests/factory-in-the-forest-adcdd18f7f9c

Have you got a copy of the Journal? You can now subscribe as a member of the Journal of Biophilic Design or purchase a gorgeous coffee table reference copy or PDF download of the Journal journalofbiophilicdesign.comor Amazon and Kindle. 

Book tickets and join us in PERSON and LIVE STREAMED Biophilic Design Conferencewww.biophilicdesignconference.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all of our podcasts. 

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US Modernist architecture and Biophilic Design share a philosophical alignment, both fundamentally committed to creating human-centric spaces that celebrate our intrinsic connection to nature. By prioritising natural light, material authenticity, and design that responds to human behavioural patterns, these approaches transform buildings from mere shelters into living, breathing environments. 

Architects like Frank Lloyd Wright and Richard Neutra were pioneering biophilia decades before the term existed as a design principle, strategically integrating large windows, natural materials, and designs that blur indoor-outdoor boundaries. Their work demonstrates that truly great architecture isn't about imposing human structures on the landscape, but about creating harmonious spaces that enhance human well-being by maintaining a deep, sensory dialogue with the natural world. This shared vision sees buildings not as static objects, but as dynamic systems that support physical, psychological, and emotional health through thoughtful, nature-inspired design.

What if your home could be more than just a container for living? What if it could enhance your wellbeing, sync with natural rhythms, and make you feel truly alive?

Imagine a house that breathes with the landscape, where windows frame nature like living paintings and every design choice connects you to the world outside We speak with George Smart, founder of US Modernist the award-winning archive and podcast dedicated to preserving and celebrating Modernist design. 

We chat about Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Fallingwater house perched over a waterfall and how architect Richard Neutra would spend entire weekends with families, observing their daily routines to design homes that perfectly supported their lifestyle. We also explore how technological innovations like air conditioning and steel construction opened up radical new possibilities for design.

Technology played a crucial role in the US Modernist movement. The advent of air conditioning, steel construction, and large glass panels allowed architects to create open, light-filled spaces that blurred indoor and outdoor boundaries. California, with its stunning landscapes and consistent climate, became a laboratory for these experimental designs.

For anyone curious about design, architecture, or how our surroundings impact our wellbeing, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in, get inspired, and discover how great design can transform our connection to the world around us.

Want to dive deeper? Visit US Modernist's website or check out their podcast for more architectural adventures.

https://www.usmodernist.org

 Have you got a copy of the Journal? You can now subscribe as a member of the Journal of Biophilic Design or purchase a gorgeous coffee table reference copy or PDF download of the Journal journalofbiophilicdesign.comor Amazon and Kindle. 

Biophilic Design Conference www.biophilicdesignconference.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all of our podcasts. 

Listen to our podcast on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube and all the RSS feeds.

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Did you know 10 million people watched the first episode of Planet Earth III – the same number who visit the Peak District annually? We're hungry for nature, even if we can't always access it directly.

Imagine escaping the concrete jungle without leaving your desk. What if your smartphone could transport you to a misty bluebell woodland or the thundering heart of an Icelandic volcano? Welcome to the future of nature connection – where technology becomes your gateway to mental restoration. We speak with environmental psychologist Dr Alex Smalley about his research on virtual nature and Tim Daniels co-founder of Portal, both are names to watch in this beautiful revolution in how we experience the natural world.

"We've always tried to bring nature indoors," explains Dr. Alex Smalley. From ancient cave paintings, ancient Roman wall paintings right through to modern digital experiences, humans have always craved a connection to the natural world.

But this isn't about replacing real nature. It's about expanding our understanding of how we can experience it.

For the stressed-out healthcare worker pulling a double shift, the burned-out student cramming for exams, or the city dweller trapped in a windowless office, digital nature offers a lifeline. Scientific research shows these experiences aren't just pretty pictures – they're powerful mental health tools.

Alex’s research is proving that digital nature can actually change how our brains process pain and stress. In clinical studies, people experiencing virtual natural environments reported reduced pain perception and lower stress levels. It's like a mini-vacation for your brain, available at the touch of a button.

Tim, Portal's co-founder, sees something even bigger. "We're not just creating an app," he says. "We're addressing major global crises – from mental health to climate change – by reconnecting people with nature."

For younger generations, digital natives who've grown up with screens, these experiences are revolutionary. Instead of mindless scrolling, imagine using your phone to transport yourself to a dawn chorus, to feel the gentle awakening of a forest, to experience moments of pure wonder.

"These digital experiences can stimulate small bumps of awe," Smalley explains. "They force you to reevaluate your mental frameworks, put your problems in perspective, and feel connected to something bigger."

It's not about replacing real-world experiences. It's about creating bridges, about offering nature as an accessible resource for everyone.

Imagine the possibilities:

- Hospitals using nature sounds to support patient recovery

- Schools using digital landscapes to calm and focus students

- Workplaces offering nature breaks to reduce stress

- Individuals finding moments of peace in their most challenging times

Portal captures nature with breathtaking precision – 8K visuals, spatial audio that makes you feel like you're truly there. A thunderstorm isn't just a sound; it's an experience that can unlock feelings of wonder, reduce stress, and reconnect you with the natural world.

"It's never too late to build a connection to nature," Alex emphasizes. And now, that connection is quite literally in your pocket.

For Tim, it's deeply personal. The platform was inspired by his brother's transformative experience camping in New Zealand – discovering how nature could heal burnout, restore mental health, and provide a sense of wonder.

What if technology could be a force for healing? What if our devices could remind us that we're part of something larger than our daily stress?

It does seem that our world is becoming more urban, more digital, more disconnected, but technology doesn't have to isolate us – it can reconnect us.

A dead hotel TV screen becomes a window to volcanic landscapes. A smartphone transforms into a portal to misty forests. Stress dissolves with the sound of a dawn chorus.

Something that I really liked when I asked Alex how he would paint the world with a magic brush of Biophilia (the question I ask everyone who comes onto the podcast) he said: "I'd paint the world wild and unkempt, with oak saplings emerging from tangles of brambles.” For me, this seemed a perfect metaphor for how digital and natural worlds can coexist and enrich each other.

Your next mental health solution might just be a click away. Are you ready to reconnect?

https://portal.app/

https://experts.exeter.ac.uk/20047-dr-alex-smalley

virtual-nature.com

https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/Healing-Power-of-Nature-Podcast/B0CLVVLF7T

Have you got a copy of the Journal? You can now subscribe as a member of the Journal of Biophilic Design or purchase a gorgeous coffee table reference copy or PDF download of the Journal journalofbiophilicdesign.comor Amazon and Kindle. 

Biophilic Design Conferencewww.biophilicdesignconference.com

Credits: with thanks to George Harvey Audio Production for the calming biophilic soundscape that backs all of our podcasts. 

Listen to our podcast on Audible, Amazon Music, Spotify, iTunes, YouTube and all the RSS feeds.

https://www.facebook.com/journalofbiophilicdesign/

https://twitter.com/JofBiophilicDsn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/journalofbiophilicdesign/

https://www.instagram.com/journalofbiophilicdesign

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