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Nothing compares to water – the elixir of life. Whether it’s the soothing sounds, or the feel on the skin, through our experiences with water we can switch off from the noise of the outside world – to find peace for body, mind, and soul. Whether in people’s homes or hotel rooms, it is usually the bathroom that serves as a personal space of retreat. It’s the place for precious me-moments of indulgent bliss where we find hidden strength and new energy. The renaissance of the bathroom and its increasing significance as a zone of regeneration has been accompanied by heightened client expectations with regard to bathroom planning – for private houses as well as hospitality projects.

GROHE Atrio Private Collection bath mixer floor-mounted, Cool Sunrise
GROHE Allure Shower System, brushed Warm Sunset

From products to experiences

Guided by the underlying belief that water is the source of vital energy, GROHE, a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings, has revitalized its GROHE SPA portfolio. The word SPA originates from the first letters of ‘Salus Per Aquam’, Latin for ‘Health Through Water’. This is the founding concept behind GROHE SPA. Transforming the bathroom into a home spa is not just about using individual products, but about creating holistic experiences that embrace the positive effects of water on the body and mind. GROHE SPA curates exclusive products to create unique luxurious wellbeing areas that allow the user to become immersed in soothing water rituals.

GROHE Allure 3-hole basin mixer M-Size, brushed Warm Sunset

The broad GROHE SPA portfolio ranges from elaborate tap collections, customisable ceiling showers and intricate ceramics to complementary accessories. GROHE SPA redefines what is possible in terms of design, technology, and precision. Customers who wish to bring a new, bespoke kind of luxury to their private home spa will feel GROHE’s passion for water in every detail.

GROHE Allure Single-lever bath mixer, Chrome

Exclusivity: Customisable masterpieces for outstanding projects

With GROHE SPA, architects, designers and planners now have the freedom to select from a carefully curated bathroom portfolio which offers customisable options to match customers’ personal needs and their individuality. The brand-new GROHE Atrio and Allure Brilliant Private Collections allow a choice of different colour, material, finish, and handle options to help design one-of-a-kind bathroom pieces. In order to enable end-consumers to enjoy an authentic marble style with a high-quality finish, GROHE is partnering with Caesarstone, the global pioneer of premium countertop surfaces, to craft tap handles in the brand’s timeless and durable quartz designs. Caesarstone has a long-standing reputation for designing and producing high-end engineered surfaces, used in some of the most exclusive residential and commercial buildings around the world. Caesarstone surfaces can be combined with GROHE SPA Private Collections for a truly bespoke design.

GROHE Atrio Private Collection basin mixer, Warm Sunset
GROHE Atrio Private Collection shower system, Hard Graphite

Thanks to the GROHE SPA Aqua Rainshower Ceiling Shower Modules, the shower experience can also be tailored to the user’s personal preferences. In this way, unique spaces are created that stand out and bear the signature of the designer.

“The products sit at the intersection of premium quality, cutting-edge technology, unrivalled precision, and progressive design. We are driven by a spirit of redefining what is possible, leveraging industry-leading production techniques like 3D metal-printing, to create exclusive designs.

GROHE Ceiling Shower

Addressing the rising macro trend for Health & Wellbeing, GROHE SPA is designed to enable architects, designers, and planners to create the ultimate water experience for their bathrooms and spas”, explains Patrick Speck, Leader LIXIL Global Design, EMENA.

In addition to this versatile but coordinated product portfolio, GROHE offers expert consultation to guide architects, designers and specifiers, as well as project developers, through the whole process.

GROHE Atrio Private Collection, Supersteel

Unique GROHE SPA experience at Milan Design Week

Architects and designers can experience GROHE SPA first-hand at Milan Design Week, taking place from 18th – 23rd April 2023. Located in the Brera district, GROHE SPA will be showcased by way of a water surface installation – designed by the in-house design & brand identity team LIXIL Global Design – which will reflect the stunning architecture of one of the world’s most prestigious art museums, the Pinacoteca di Brera, while expressing the overall GROHE SPA Health Through Water concept. The exhibition will be complemented by outstanding bathroom designs occupying four immersive cubes nestled within the space, each expressing one of our four tiers: exclusive 3D metal-printed products, the new bespoke Atrio and Allure Brilliant Private Collections, trend-leading GROHE Colours, and a multi-sensory experience for the brand’s modular shower solutions.

GROHE Rainshower Aqua Body Spray, Chrome

The installation will be open to the public on

  • April 18/19/23 from 10am-7pm CET
  • April 20 from 12pm-5pm CET
  • April 21/22 from 10am-10pm CET
GROHE Allure 5-hole bath combination, brushed Cool Sunrise

About GROHE

GROHE is a leading global brand for complete bathroom solutions and kitchen fittings. In order to offer “Pure Freude an Wasser”, every GROHE product is based on the brand values of quality, technology, design and sustainability. Focused on customer needs, GROHE thus creates intelligent, life-enhancing and sustainable product solutions that offer relevant added value – and bear the “Made in Germany” seal of quality: R&D and design are firmly anchored as an integrated process in Germany. GROHE takes its corporate responsibility very seriously and focuses on a resource-saving value chain. Since April 2020, the sanitary brand has been producing CO2-neutral* worldwide. GROHE has also set itself the goal of using plastic-free product packaging by 2021.

If you’d like to feature your product news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

A gym’s layout has a big impact on the aesthetics of the overall space and, as such, careful planning should go into the positioning of each piece of equipment. “As with every room in a house, a home gym should be worthy of an amazing photoshoot and avoid falling into the all-too-common trap of looking like a cluttered jungle of metal and plastic,” advises Edward Thomas, Managing Partner of Gym Marine Yachts & Interiors.

Firstly, it helps arrange equipment in a way that is aesthetically optimised when anyone walks into the gym so that the space feels expansive and orderly. This can be done by placing equipment in ascending height order and avoiding any bulky machines directly in front of the entrance.

It is also recommended that gym layouts feature zoned areas in terms of the equipment, creating distinctive cardio, strength and stretching or yoga areas. Each of these areas come with individual considerations that will impact the overall layout of the gym.

For the first incarnation of any home gym, it’s also advisable to only fill the space up to 75 per cent. “Fitness is an ever-evolving pursuit and if the user takes up a new discipline in the future, this extra space will allow for new additions, such as specialist machines,” adds Edward.

Cardio Area

Access to equipment

Leaving enough space to get on and off equipment might sound obvious, but it is often overlooked during the planning of a gym layout. This is a particularly important consideration for cardio equipment, with treadmills accessed from the back, and bikes and cross trainers accessed from the side.

Minimum safety clearance

Manufacturers will require that treadmills are positioned with a minimum safety clearance of at least one metre behind for safety purposes. In smaller spaces, this can be challenging and will often dictate the layout of the room.

Ceiling height

Cardio equipment requires ample ceiling height, which may also dictate the layout of a gym, particularly in spaces with pitched roofs.

Power supply

Cardio equipment generally needs to be powered and, therefore, positioned near power sockets. While more flexibility can be added to the gym layout with self-powered equipment, these versions don’t feature touchscreen displays. Installing floor boxes with power sockets is another solution that allows for flexibility in the layout of powered cardio equipment without visible wiring.

Television

It’s advisable that all cardio equipment faces a television as these are the machines that people spend the longest duration on and may like to watch TV or an online class while doing so. It’s important, therefore, to consider the distances between the machines and the TV.

Strength Area

Flooring

As strength areas usually incorporate free weights, such as dumbbells or Olympic barbells, a different type of flooring will be needed in this area to provide protection.

Multi-functional equipment

Traditional strength equipment takes up a lot of space, but modern-day solutions allow gym designers to optimise the number of strength exercises per square metre. Choosing multi-functional equipment can allow more layout flexibility by incorporating many different exercises into a single footprint.

Working area

A lot of strength equipment, such as dual-adjustable pulleys or power racks, requires a certain amount of working area around it. These working areas are not included in the item’s CAD block, which many interior designers and architects rely on to plan a gym layout. As such, it is important to check the recommended working area for each piece of equipment and draw that onto any plans to ensure that users will have space to move around it and exercise to the full potential of the machine. 

About Gym Marine Yachts & Interiors

Gym Marine Yachts & Interiors is a specialist wellness design for the superyacht and prime property sectors. Their experienced team have an unrivalled understanding of the complexities of gym and space design, both on land and at sea. This together with our vast experience in the health and wellness industry helps create an unbeatable service.

If you’d like to feature your news and stories on SBID.org, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

In this week’s interview with 2022 SBID Awards winners of the Contract Fit Out Project of the Year category, Portview, Paul Scullion discusses the sustainable elements of the project and how to ensure a customer journey is considered within design, as well as challenges of designing a basement space.

Portview were appointed to deliver a mixed-use residential development venture between Canary Wharf Group & Qatari Diar, London’s South Bank – a serene city oasis where residents can escape to relax, unwind, and reinvigorate.

SBID Awards Category: Contract Fit Out Project of the Year

Practice: Portview

Entry: Southbank Place Spa & Fitness Suite

Firstly, tell us a bit about the design of your project. What were the key ideas, concepts and processes behind it?

Southbank Place Spa forms part of a unique mixed-use development in Waterloo, London. The ultra-sleek design of the lavish amenities was conceptualized by Goddard Littlefair, with an experiential focus to create a serene city oasis where residents can escape to relax, unwind and reinvigorate.

Portview’s material prowess sees the use of unique and innovative fittings throughout the spa. A light and calming palette of sensitively selected natural materials paired with ambient lighting to create a cocoon-like space within an uber-contemporary spa setting. Residents can enjoy a luxury hotel-standard spa experience within their dynamic city-living environment.

Sustainability was crucial on this 2,000 sqm spa and wherever possible, greener fabrics and finishes were implemented. Sustainable timber that is certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council was used throughout the facility, including the reception and spa entry areas. The timber was used for the flooring, timber panels, doors and various other joinery. The saunas’ hemlock and spruce bear the ‘Blue Angel’ quality certificate label, for particularly low-emission products made of wood and wood materials. The knotless, robust wood of the Canadian hemlock fir and Aspen are not only beautiful, but are also durable and resin free.

What was your biggest takeaway or highlight from completing this project?

The bespoke and exclusive nature of the details of the spa design is evident in many areas. Despite the challenges and rigours of working in a hot and humid environment, tactile luxury has not been ignored. Panels of marine-grade faux leather have been embroidered and stitched by artisans, with Portview ensuring the detailing of the high-specification design and custom joinery throughout the entire area was converted to reality.

Providing users with a sense of privacy and exclusivity through cleverly zoning spaces was critical in this design, and was rewarding to deliver. One example of this is the use of beautiful custom-made burnished rock crystal screens in the reception area.

The key focus of the design layout was the guest journey. Could you explain how the design process looked while following this concept?

The guest journey was hugely important in the design of this project, with the recognition that while some users will want to be energised through a hard-hitting workout, others want to relax. These two elements can therefore be accessed separately without overlap to heighten the experience.

The spacious reception area acts as a hub and a social area for residents to meet one another, therapists or trainers. Two fully equipped gyms are available along with separate studios, which can be heated for a hot yoga workout or cooled for a dynamic spin class. The alternative wet and relax route takes residents through plush changing rooms, the gentlemen having a dedicated sauna area, while ladies can enjoy their own vitality pool, sauna and steam room.

On the pool deck itself, the heat experiences continue with a stunning 25m heated swimming pool, accompanied by a further vitality pool, sauna and steam room along with social relaxation spaces for residents to enjoy. In addition, calm yet luxurious treatment rooms are available where selected therapies including beauty treatments are available.

This Spa & Fitness Suite looks rather different from the average fitness centre – it is light, serene, and minimalist. Did you stumble upon any challenges that were particular to your chosen design style?

A challenge of the project was its basement location, which meant there was no natural light. Portview introduced a system of sensory experiences throughout the spa to create warm and radiant ambient light. The design creates an immersive feeling of light and space through carefully concealed architectural lighting that casts warm glows across rich surfaces, while decorative lighting provided beautiful accents through the space. The glowing feature lighting in the pool area was created with each glass drop specifically crafted to allude to the flow of water, contributing to the serene atmosphere.

What has winning an SBID Award meant for you and your business?

To achieve the extraordinary, industry leaders need to work in collaboration, which is exactly what Goddard Littlefair and Portview did to deliver Southbank Spa. The award from SBID highlights to the industry that Portview should be the trusted partner of any client or designer who wants to turn their vision into a reality. The team at Portview are genuine, ambitious and hard-working, which I could have told you before winning this award, but it’s extra special to have this recognised by SBID too.

Questions answered by Paul Scullion, Contracts Director, Portview.

When it comes to delivering exceptional interior fit-outs, you need high quality that’s built to last. At Portview, our dedicated team listens to your vision and uses their extensive knowledge to find a way to bring it to life.
With over 40 years of experience, our hands-on, straight-talking approach ensures projects are delivered on time and on budget, which is why we are chosen by some of the world’s top brands, including Arsenal FC, All England Lawn Tennis Club, Tottenham Hotspur, Tiffany & Co and Fortnum & Mason.
We are creating the extraordinary.

If you missed last week’s Interview with the Healthcare & Wellness Design category winner Mane Design, click here to read it.

Award winning and WELL certified Interior Designer, Emma Webb, is passionate about designing for the wellness of her clients and focuses on delivering restorative spaces. Her creative vision and expertise in implementing the principles of Biophilic design and Nudge design result in interiors that are beautiful, restorative and supportive of positive lifestyle choices. Over a 25+ year career, Emma has built an extensive portfolio of distinctive projects in Ireland and Internationally. Emma’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, WELL Building Standard professional accreditation as well as certificates in Biophilic design, Healthier Materials and Sustainable building.

Why did you want to work in the Interior Design profession?

I was always arty and had planned on being an artist when I left school. But my parents told me to get a “proper” degree before I could go to Art College, so I did a degree in Psychology at University College Dublin. It was here that I learnt how much people were impacted by the natural and built environment and so I went on to study Interior Design and open my design practice in my early twenties.

Which elements of your profession do you enjoy the most?

Whilst working on every project is invigorating, I really enjoy the energy and camaraderie encountered on our building sites. I work with many skilled tradesmen and artisans, and I love to see what they produce and to learn from them.

What has been your most memorable career highlight from the past year?

Achieving Business All-Star Accreditation and being named South Dublin Interior Design Company of The Year 2023 by the All-Ireland Business Foundation.

What are your favourite types of projects to work on and why?

I love a tricky building that needs to be completely remodelled for today’s busy lifestyles. I can lose myself for hours as I imagine myself in a client’s shoes working out how to best use the available space.

What are the most challenging aspects of working in interior design?

Lead times for materials can be very challenging especially here in Ireland, where we are at the mercy of weather impacted sea crossings. So our building programmes often require careful monitoring and good communication with clients, keeping them up to date.

What do you wish you knew before working in the field?

I wish I had appreciated the power of marketing! When I was setting up my business we didn’t have social media to publicise on. We relied on referrals for new projects as well as sometimes investing in advertising or editorials in glossy interiors magazines, which was very expensive. This meant that we really overlooked the power of advertising in the early days.

If you could give one tip to aspiring designers, what would it be?

Don’t build toxic interiors! Understand what your materials are made from and how they are produced. Research their impact on the environment and on people’s health.

How do you see the interior Design Industry evolving in the year ahead?

Wellness interior design and Biophilic Design are still very much on trend – although I think that this is more of a movement than a trend and here to stay. So, I think we will see more responsible sourcing of materials and a focus on health and sustainability developing over the coming years.

What does being an SBID Accredited Interior Designer mean to you?

I’m really proud to be accredited by SBID. When you are self-employed it’s easy to forget to celebrate any success and so thank you for reminding me that after 28 years in practice, weathering a global recession followed by a pandemic and then a war, that I still love what I do!

Questions answered by Emma Webb, Founder, Emma Webb Design.

About Emma Webb Design

Award winning and WELL certified Interior Designer, Emma Webb, is passionate about designing for the wellness of her clients and focuses on delivering restorative spaces. Her creative vision and expertise in implementing the principles of Biophilic design and Nudge design result in interiors that are beautiful, restorative and supportive of positive lifestyle choices. Over a 25+ year career, Emma has built an extensive portfolio of distinctive projects in Ireland and Internationally. Emma’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, WELL Building Standard professional accreditation as well as certificates in Biophilic design, Healthier Materials and Sustainable building.

If you’d like to feature your project news here, get in touch to find out more. 

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here for more information.

In this week’s interview with 2022 SBID Awards winners of the Healthcare & Wellness Design category, Mane Design, Mane Mehrabyan explores the concept of the project and shares how they achieved set goals, including respecting personal space in a public setting.

The fitness club’s concept focuses on individual training and visitors’ personal comfort. The premium level is finely emphasized by the club-style design.

SBID Awards Category: Healthcare & Wellness Design

Practice: Mane Design

Entry: Sandler Smart Fitness

Firstly, tell us a bit about the design of your project. What were the key ideas, concepts and processes behind it?

The main point of the realization of an exceptional health club’s design was the creation of a comfortable, elaborated, multifunctional sports territory for humans with personal space values. It is a fitness club that upgrades health via sport. The training hall is intended for individual pieces of training accompanied by a personal trainer and not more than five people at a time. Visitors’ personal space and comfort were the priority that is successfully brought to life by our design studio.

Modern style combined with sumptuous materials is an ideal match for the design of this close-type club.

What was your biggest takeaway or highlight from completing this project?

When I see the magnificent result of our work after the completion of each project brought into life from the scheme, I always feel great moral satisfaction and joy.

What has winning an SBID Award meant for you and your business?

We are so very happy and appreciative to the competition for such a high valuation of our work. It is very precious for our studio to have such a high-level international award.

What tools/techniques did you use to ensure the visitors’ personal space and comfort are respected in such an open and public environment?

The Club concept provides only five-person training at a time, and there are well-thought comfortable men’s and women’s locker zones.

Each shower box consists of the cabin itself and a prebox dressing personal area if the clients prefer not to be in the common area.

What is the key to designing a beautiful sports centre, where the equipment is prone to creating a feeling of cluttered space?

The key to a beautiful sports centre is comfortability and correct logistics. Each zone must be in its correct place for a cozy stay in the club. What concerns the design, it must provide the feeling of an atmosphere of non-cluttered space.

Can you tell us about the choice of lighting for the project?

All lightning was created and realized by our studio specially for this club. We are proud with coping with such a complicated task.

Questions answered by Mane Mehrabyan, Founder and Head, Mane Design.

Mane Mehrabyan, founder and head of “Mane Design” designing studio based in Kyiv, Ukraine. Has two University degrees – in International Business and Interior designing.

If you missed last week’s Interview with the Hotel Bedroom & Suites Design category winner Brime Robbins, click here to read it.

This week’s instalment of Project of the Week series features an elegant and modern spa design by 2021 SBID Awards Finalist, Ina Rinderknecht.

Situated in the Croatian town of Dubrovnik, sits the 5-star Rixos Premium, recently renovated by our design studio. Inspired by the surrounding culture, architecture and history, we were entrusted with the renovation of the hotel’s lobby, its two restaurants, the sports bar, the outdoor and indoor pools and the large spa area.

The spa area is over 2000 sqm featuring state-of-the-art treatments and offering various experiences. One enters the spa through the newly designed tea lounge featuring one of the best tea selections worldwide and a concept store that sells unique local pieces.

Passing through the spa, arched niches in white marble, rippled walls and the use of trees help to create a pleasant environment. A dry sauna, wet steam bath, cold room, a Himalayan salt room, a hammam and treatment rooms, together with small pools are all included in this spa as well as an indoor and outdoor pool.

SBID Awards Category: Healthcare & Wellness Design

Practice: Ina Rinderknecht

Project: Rixos Hotel Premium, Dubrovnik

Location: Dubrovnik-Neretva, Croatia (Hrvatska)

What was the client’s brief? 

Taking into account the client’s brief to modernize the hotel we were inspired by the surrounding culture, architecture and history. We were given creative freedom to reinterpret the Rixos lifestyle brand in a fresh and unexpected way. The idea was to create a boutique style hotel in the scale of a large commercial project.

What inspired the design of the project?

Inspired by the surrounding culture, architecture and history, our design approach seeks to create a holistic environment where shapes, materials and light combine and balance each other naturally. The story is told across different areas always with a breeze of freshness and elegance. Playing with the symbolic meaning of ‘Libertas,’ the Latin word for freedom and liberty but also happiness and light, we created a place where people can express themselves whilst enjoying a sense of belonging. As with all of our projects, we have taken a holistic approach to interior design, to achieve architectural integrity and structural purity within the original building structure, simultaneously combining playful design elements and comfortable furniture.

What was the toughest hurdle your team overcame during the project?

Not only was the intensity of the time constraint from the beginning of conception to the end of construction was 8 months for a project of this scale, but the project was interrupted by the coronavirus and extreme collaboration and coordination between the international teams was very much needed during this time.

What was your team’s highlight of the project?

The 2000 sqm spa area was the heart of the project. The client’s wish was to transform the vast spa level into a unique oasis of recreation and well-being. The choice of treatment areas with sauna, steam bath, salt- and ice-rooms, massage rooms etc. were all fully renewed. The main focus was on creating a one of a mind tea lounge which would offer one of the largest tea selections worldwide.

Why did you enter this project into the SBID Awards?

We believe we have the high standards that represents SBID. We are a team of creative international designers who always seeks to create innovative yet timeless spaces, that are unexpected and fresh yet utterly comfortable.

Questions answered by Ina Rinderknecht, Owner & Creative Director, Ina Rinderknecht.

We hope you feel inspired by this week’s design!

If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a stunning and unique steakhouse design by Bishop Design by Paul Bishop, click here to read it.

In a particularly turbulent world (enduring an ongoing pandemic) where there is so much uncertainty, striving for wellbeing in our daily lives is all the more important. Our homes now act as a substitute for offices, gyms, entertainment centres and sanctuaries to name but a few of their additional uses. As we’re spending significantly greater time in them overall, it is clear they need to work harder than ever to meet our demands, suit our needs and ease our minds. The question is – can biophilic design really help? Peter Oudejans, director of leading biophilic design studio, Oudejans Interiors shares key insights on the benefits of integrating concepts of biophilia into our interior environments.

Project Credit: Oudejans Interiors Ltd. Photos by Glenn MacKay ©

Biophilia Explained

Biophilia, simply stated, is the human connection to nature that assists us in attaining wellness in our lives. Have you ever noticed how calm and uplifted you can feel when walking in the woods, strolling along the beach or simply sitting in a park? That’s the ‘Biophilia’ effect. In rural settings, this connection can be more obvious, but as more of us live in densely populated, urban environments, this connection is slowly being lost. That does not mean however, that we are unable to embrace nature’s beauty at home. There are numerous ways to live more meaningful, holistic lives and in practice this is about re-establishing links with nature to create healthy environments for life and work.

“It is the simple core truth that humans need a connection to nature to be content”, according to Sally Coulthard, author of the book Biophilia. It is the notion that humans need to feel connected to their natural environment not only to survive, but also to thrive.

Benefits of Biophilia

Research undertaken over the past few decades has shown that biophilic design can improve cognitive function, physical health, and psychological well-being with benefits that include:

  • Improve memory and concentration
  • Reduce anxiety and depression
  • Lessen stress levels
  • Lower heart rate and blood pressure
  • Enhance sleep patterns
  • Calm the mind and boost contentment

According to architect Claudia Bonollo of Monamour Natural Design, “our mood and our capacity for communication are influenced by a combination of physical, mental and sensory factors. Therefore, an environment that involves all the senses makes us happier and more receptive,” she says.

Oliver Heath Design, has found that the inclusion of Biophilia to the design process can increase productivity by 8% and rates of wellbeing by up to 13% in an office environment. In healthcare settings, pain medication was shown to be reduced by 22% and in the education setting, rates of learning can be increased by 20-25% where biophilic designs have been incorporated.

And finally, Florence Nightingale, the founder of modern nursing weighs in with “I shall never forget the rapture of fever patients over a bunch of bright-coloured flowers… People say the effect is only on the mind. It is no such thing. The effect is on the body too.”

Project Credit: Oudejans Interiors Ltd. Photos by Glenn MacKay ©

Biophilia in Interior Design

With regard to interior design, Biophilia is considered more of a lifestyle than a design trend. It can be applied across the entire spectrum of interior styles from contemporary to classic and has a place in all areas of interior design, be it in a residential or commercial setting. Eco design and green architecture are very closely related concepts with a focus on environmentally-friendly design practices that are good for people and planet, just as Biophilia is focused on the wellbeing of humans through their connection to the natural world.

Biophilic design has three key threads that together make a space biophilic:

1. Being in a space that has a direct, physical contact with nature;
2. Being in a space that reminds you of nature through the use of natural items;
3. Being in a space that connects to natural rhythms and outside spaces.

Project Credit: Oudejans Interiors Ltd. Photos by Glenn MacKay ©

Key Elements of Biophilic Design

There are numerous key elements of biophilic design which include incorporating a few or all of the following:

  • Flora and fauna – enhancing spaces with carefully selected vegetation to create a natural aesthetic and aid air purification;
  • Natural effects – embracing natural patterns, textures, colours and materials, evoking nature to bring the outdoors in;
  • Light – integrating natural light to deliver more vibrant and luminous interiors in tune with day and night cycles;
  • Air – improving ventilation for a healthier home with well-designed airflow;
  • Space – creating spaces that offer both a sense of perspective of outside and a cocooning refuge inside.

Take the example of firelight and candle light, which have slowly decreased in domestic settings as the use of heating (central and otherwise) and of course, electric light, now almost completely dominate in the modern home. Yet the ‘red’ light that emanates from firelight and candlelight plays an important trigger in the body’s preparation for rest and relaxation, making us feel calm and cosy.

In a study by the anthropologist Christopher Lynn, he measured people’s blood pressure and how sociable they felt after watching a log fire on a screen. One group watched with sound, the others no sound. The results found that those that watched with no sound showed little benefit, but those that experienced the audio and visual effects of the fire, had significantly reduced blood pressure, felt more mindful and focused on the present and were increasingly communicative and sociable. [1]

Including such a simple yet multi-sensory element such as a fireplace within the home can make a significant difference to the wellbeing of the individual. Just imagine the other benefits and sensations a real fire provides, such as the soothing radiant heat and comforting wood scent. And this is just one simple addition in the whole armament that nature and Biophilia can provide.

Project Credit: Oudejans Interiors Ltd. Photos by Glenn MacKay ©

A Biophilic Future?

Biophilia is still deemed to be in its infancy within the interior design profession, despite being based on one of the most fundamental connections humans have with their environment. But with the current focus very much on the recovery, both physically and mentally, from a global pandemic, never has there been a better time or more crucial need to draw upon the healing powers of nature to improve our wellbeing.

Interior designer’s approaches to home design should now be looking to design sustainably with nature at its core for the creation healthy, happy homes that are better for people and the planet. After all, it truly is all about creating nature-inspired spaces to support our health and wellbeing.

References:

[1] Lynn C.D. The Psychophysiology of Fireside Relaxation. American Journal of Human Biology 25 (2013). 265-265

Projects photographed are undertaken by Oudejans Interiors Ltd. All photos are credited to photographer Glenn MacKay.

About

As a leading biophilic design studio, Oudejans Interiors feels it is vital to live more sustainably, in an increasingly connected manner to the natural world. Their motivation for designing spaces is to consciously straddle the line between nature and interior architecture. From creating a living wall to redecorating with natural hues, incorporating biophilia into living spaces is an effective way to restoratively transform them, whilst boosting body and mind.

If you’d like to become SBID Accredited, click here to find out more. 

Vectorworks address the use of augmented reality and virtual reality within the interior design industry with a digital discussion in collaboration with SBID. Exploring the communication of design ideas and managing client expectations, to practical applications and industry perception.

Hosted by Kesoon Chance, Industry Specialist and Interior Architect at Vectorworks, the online panel discussion shares unique professional perspectives on the use and significance of virtual reality in interior design.

Joining Kesoon on the panel was Tommy Cairns, founder & director of Three Percent Design, and Steve Brann, founder of Cadschool; equipping design professionals to use design software and technology to show clients what they can achieve. Steve pioneered panoramic VR photography and now, with the advent of Realtime rendering solutions, he is championing the use of VR goggles for the ultimate VR experience!

Key discussion points include:

  • Is there a significant amount of AR/VR currently being used in the world of interior design?
  • How does it help communicate design ideas to the client?
  • Is it now being expected by clients?
  • What practical applications does AR/VR have?
  • Is it often seen as a novelty?

Episode Seven

SpeakEasy with Shalini Misra: A Masterclass in Wellbeing Design

In this episode of the SpeakEasy podcast, Grant Pierrus is joined by internationally celebrated interior architect, designer and property developer, Shalini Misra as she sheds light on her journey in the interior design industry, shares her unique professional insight on interior wellness and provides a masterclass on the role and integration of wellbeing as a core design principle.

Shalini discusses an integral interplay in the relationship between our inner selves and our surrounding external environments, giving emphasis on how the interior design of these spaces can influence the way we feel and function within them. 

She shares her expert insight on designing homes with wellness in mind, and explains her professional strategies for achieving an effective wellbeing design through lighting considerations, selection of materials, intelligent space planning and craftmanship.

Finally, Shalini talks about how interior design approaches to sustainability is intrinsically interlinked with these principles of wellbeing as an important component of personal and interior wellness; including the creation of nature connections through biophilic design.

Tune in to the whole conversation to discover more.

Shalini Misra

Founder and Creative Director, Shalini Misra is an internationally celebrated interior architect, designer and property developer. Shalini has been creating spaces since she founded her multifaceted practice over 20 years ago. A qualified architect from the Delhi School of Architecture and Planning (SPA) in India, Shalini specialised in Urban Planning at the University of Columbia in New York before studying Virtual Reality in Architecture at the Bartlett School of Architecture in London.

It’s more important than ever to focus on our health and wellbeing during this challenging time. With this in mind, this month we’re serving up some interior inspiration from last year’s SBID Awards Finalists with their award-worthy designs across the healthcare and wellness sector; from gyms and spas, to care homes and health clinics.

Healthcare & Wellness Design

Suna Interior Design – Beechwood Grove

Healthcare and wellness design by Suna Interior Design
Healthcare and wellness design by Suna Interior Design

This ‘Extra Care, Over 55’ development was to be something people aspired to rather than settled for. There were numerous communal spaces to design but also numerous special sector considerations to factor in. Suna was determined to avoid the stereotypical institutional look this sector often falls into. Colour and contrast have been used carefully throughout the spaces to ensure they look beautifully designed but help support people with visual impairments and dementia. Flooring has been carefully chosen to work with the overall design, while being practical and assisting natural flow between spaces without distractions. Suna worked alongside a specialist sector supplier and designed and manufactured items to support comfort, mobility and safety while still feeling ‘designed’. The client proclaimed the scheme a “gamechanger for the sector”.

Elkus Manfredi Architects – Equinox Seaport

Healthcare and wellness design for Equinox gym by Elkus Manfredi
Healthcare and wellness design by Elkus Manfredi Architects

Embracing Equinox’s luxury lifestyle brand, designers at Elkus Manfredi Architects reinterpreted select standards to introduce light and inspirational views at their newest location in the Boston area, Equinox Seaport. Designers resolved a significant challenge of the leased space – unifying two non-contiguous floors– by creating a monumental staircase leading from the ground floor retail and reception area directly to the members-only workout and gathering spaces on level three. Members climb to an upscale lounge and co-working area immediately adjacent to exercise areas beyond, reinforcing the brand’s holistic live/work/play lifestyle experience. Natural light streams deep into the interior through the floor-to-ceiling windows, an effect that designers amplified by painting ceilings and exposed ductwork white – a first for the high-performance wellness brand. Abundant daylight and harborfront views distinguish Equinox’s 35,000-square-foot fitness club in the heart of Boston’s booming Seaport District, while offering an on-brand fitness-as-lifestyle experience.

Healthcare and wellness design by Rien Kuan Interior Design
Healthcare and wellness design by Rien Kuan Interior Design

The site was in a 15 years old modern designed building, the original thoughtwas to rejoining the natural atmosphere within the construction.The project is to design the main lobby of the Welldosha spa. The main design concept of the space is to create a multi-functional space which many events can take place in the space. Therefore, we created a space that can be fully opened up suites for different purpose.

Rockwell Group – Tia Clinic

Healthcare and wellness design by Tia Clinic
Healthcare and wellness design by Tia Clinic

The Tia Clinic pairs science, technology, and community with real-world healthcare services to create a radically inclusive, highly personalised, and compassionate experience. The clinic’s lobby and entrance convey convenience and clarity, signaling that Tia is frictionless, clear, and accessible and puts patients at ease. When patients arrive, they are greeted by a curved white, ribbed wood reception desk with a terrazzo surface. A graphic environmental mural covers the walls with speckled, amoebic shapes in pastels and grays. Rather than a typical waiting room, Rockwell Group created the Living Room as a space that encourages members to choose their own adventure. Wellness and educational talks will take place here, and the Living Room softly and warmly assumes holds space for those events, while also creating a safe feminine universe.

Catalyst Interiors – Emerson Grange

Healthcare and wellness design by Catalyst Interiors for care home
Healthcare and wellness design by Catalyst Interiors for care home

Emerson Grange is a luxury Cinnamon Care residential home situated in Kent. Cinnamon asked Catalyst to create a home with ‘understated elegance’ throughout, with a focus on the entrance and reception areas. Emerson Grange has been designed with the social needs of the resident in mind. Providing a luxurious space in the foyer and reception designed as a hub for the local community. A piano bar, gym and salon offer a destination for residents whilst providing the sense of being in a public space, without sacrificing the safety of the home. As you travel through the building towards the communal areas the design takes a noticeable change. The focus takes a shift towards a more personal and connected environment that creates the true feeling of a home.

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