Biophilic Design and Restorative Effects: A Neuropsychological Study of Healthy Indoor Workspaces in Urban Contexts

The rapid increases in urbanization and time spent in built indoor environments have sparked significant concerns about their impact on human health and well-being. People who spend long hours in enclosed and highly artificial settings, such as hospital workers, are especially vulnerable to environmental stressors. This study examined whether applying biophilic (i.e., human tendency to connect with nature and other lifeforms) spatial design within hospital spaces could provide restorative benefits for nurses working in high-stress environments. Twenty-one nurses participated in this study, staying under two different conditions for 10 min: a control room with plain white walls and a biophilic space where the walls were entirely covered with vegetation. During the sessions, functional near-infrared spectroscopy was used to measure hemodynamic responses in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Additionally, standardized self-report questionnaires were used to analyze the level of perceived restorativeness, affective states, mood, and anxiety. Results showed that exposure to the biophilic space significantly reduced oxyhemoglobin (oxy-Hb) concentrations in the DLPFC, reflecting relief from cognitive-emotional overload and enhanced neural stabilization. Psychological measures further indicated decreases in fatigue, depression, and anxiety, alongside increases in vigor, attentiveness, and perceived restorativeness in biophilic space. These findings demonstrate that even brief exposure to a biophilically designed indoor environment can produce neuropsychologically restorative effects, suggesting biophilic interventions as sustainable, effective strategies for healthier workplaces and urban environments.