BIOPHILIA | Large Scale Nature Murals
What is biophilia? Biophilia, as coined by Dr. Edward from Harvard, means a desire or tendency to commune with nature.
Biophilic design
Biophilic design utilizes natural materials, natural light, and natural patterns, to construct a built environment that maintains a connection to the natural world.
More than just design principles, biophilic design in commercial buildings has been found to have restorative qualities, boosting employee well-being and psychological health.
In a building, it can look like installing plants, windows for access to sunshine, or increased ventilation. It can also mean adding photos of nature in areas that aren’t adjacent to natural light.
I learned the word biophilia during a commission project for Vancity Credit Union Head Office.
The planning department approached me to purchase existing nature images and commission new ones that they could enlarge for their stairwells and walls in the head office building. They found me because I had worked there for three years, and quit because my photography business was taking off so much that I couldn’t continue at my job there. I really loved the people and missed the team, so when they approached me for this project, I was delighted to reconnect, and be hired for my dream job. Hiking to take nature photos?? Yes please.
“A hypothetical human tendency to interact or be closely associated with all forms of life in nature”
In the case of Vancity, they were applying to convert their existing building to be LEED certified. This included a variety of changes, one of which was adding nature, or greenery. Research suggests that biophilia, or biophilic design, can have a positive impact on well-being by affecting three of our mind-body systems: physiological through reducing anxiety, psychological by reducing anger and fear and cognitive functions by improving creativity and boosting mood.
I submitted a gallery of existing images that could be enlarged, and then set about capturing a variety of additional images, mostly within the Vancity service area, as per their request. I hiked several trails and explored farms, forests and waterfalls over a period of a month.
By working together, and seeing the spaces where the images would go, I was able to assess the amount of light and space each photo would be exposed to. I tried to add brighter more airy images to darker or more confined spaces. I put darker forests like the one below, in an open area with more light. I love this pathway because it looks like you could just walk out of the room and into the forest.
The end result is that 50 of my images are now coating the floors and walls of Vancity. Each stairwell has a different pathway, and each floor different floor to ceiling inspiring local nature images.
This gallery shows some examples of the before and afters.
If you are looking for your own version of this, here is the sales pitch for large format photography (to order)
Custom photo installations. I have contacts to refer you to, but I can also just sell you the digital file at the necessary size and resolution.
Photo installations
Large scale wall art
Large format prints
Large Format Photographs
MY FAVORITE: LARGE FORMAT PHOTOGRAPHY
made to order- high resolution large scale wall art for your home or office building.
Looking for a low cost, non permanent options for your office building?
Looking to have a quality piece of art fill your custom wall size?
Positive Psychology...
Bringing the forest to the office with you.
Dont need waterfront when you have this view!
Transforming Spaces, Bringing the outside in, provide upscale photography services to your business and brand.
You're re-inventing yourself, now its time to share it.
*architectural photography.
Biophilia at Azulik SFIR in Tulum, Mexico. They literally built the building AROUND the forest.
It is my pleasure to provide high resolution images to offices or homes for the purpose of enhancing workplace wellness and boosting creativity and productivity!
