Biophilic Design Strategies and Indoor Environmental Quality: A Case Study

Sustainability in the built environment seeks to balance ecological responsibility with human health and well-being. Biophilic design, a key strategy within sustainable architecture that emphasizes connections with nature, has emerged as a promising approach to enhancing Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) and promoting occupant well-being. However, while biophilic design has been widely studied in various settings, its application in workplace environments within public buildings, particularly museums, remains underexplored. This research addresses this gap by investigating biophilic design strategies integrated in the Bell Museum in St. Paul, Minnesota, and their impact on IEQ, occupant satisfaction, work performance, and health. Utilizing the Sustainable Post-Occupancy Evaluation Survey (SPOES) based on the B3 Minnesota Sustainable Building Guidelines, this study assesses employee perceptions of their health and well-being in the built environment. The findings reveal high satisfaction (M = 6.29) with the physical environment, a positive impact on work performance (M = 5.89), and improved overall health (M = 5.35). The authors examine how the Bell Museum’s adaptation of Terrapin’s 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design, identifying effective strategies such as natural light, material connections with nature, and spatial configuration. While these elements contribute to an enhanced indoor environment, the study also identifies areas for improvement, including the absence of certain biophilic patterns, such as biomorphic forms and multisensory elements, and complexity and order, which could further enrich occupant experience. The study underscores the role of biophilic principles in shaping indoor environments and suggests that future research explore additional strategies to enhance well-being.