The Hidden Power of Beautiful Spaces: How Design Shapes Your Health and Happiness
As a Science in Design Certified (SIDC) interior designer, I’m wildly passionate about the scientific benefits of art and design. Whenever I mention terms such as “neuroaesthetics” and “biophilic,” I often see a slight cock of the head, followed by a muttering of “bio-what??” It’s hard not to notice their eyes slightly glaze over as their brains begin to power down. But before you tune out, what if I told you that I’ve discovered the true fountain of youth? Okay, now you might think I’m a scam artist, but hear me out...
The human brain is considered the most powerful machine on Earth, and keeping it healthy and active is vital. Our brain powers our thoughts, emotions, breathing, senses, movements, and every process that regulates our body. When our brain is properly fueled and stimulated, we experience benefits such as decreased feelings of anxiety and depression1, improved focus and concentration, and protection from degenerative diseases such as dementia.2
For centuries, scientists, psychologists, and fine artists have explored and theorized the impacts of visual stimuli. When it comes to design, the sciences of neuroaesthetics and biophilia work in harmony. Let’s break down these predominant terms of science-backed design …
What is Neuroaesthetics?
The prefix “neuro-” pertains to nerves or the nervous system
Aesthetics is the science of what is sensed
Thus, neuroaesthetics is the neural consequence of the things we sense. More simply put, neuroaesthetics is the science of how our brain responds to our sensory experiences. It examines how our brain responds to art, design, and our built environments—in which we, as a modern society, spend nearly 90% of our time.
What is Biophilia?
The prefix “bio-” means life
The suffix “-philia” means love
Thus, biophilia is a love of life. Nature is the essence of life. As humans, we are innately wired to have emotional affiliations with other living organisms. When we experience pleasurable emotions, such as love, our parasympathetic nervous system is activated, releasing endorphins and promoting relaxation and feelings of safety.
More than Just Plants: Harnessing the Full Array of Nature’s Patterns
Relating these terms to interior design, biophilic design is a design approach that leverages and makes omnipresent our innate love of and need for connection with nature. Neuroaesthetics aims to understand, measure, and communicate the broad impacts of biophilic design on our systemic health and well-being. Neuroscience views beauty as the physical response to patterns that the brain perceives as pleasurable. During pleasure events, four primary hormones are released: dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin. These hormones have numerous positive effects, including but not limited to lower heart rate and blood pressure, improved immunity and cardiovascular performance, stress reduction, and prolonged life.3 These benefits are where the fountain of youth comes into play.
As a science-based interior designer, I create spaces that go beyond mere functionality and aesthetics; my team and I collaborate to create environments that can profoundly impact human well-being. The integration of neuroaesthetics and biophilic design principles offers a holistic approach to design that not only enhances beauty but also promotes health, happiness, and productivity.
Anjan Chatterjee, a prominent figure in the field of neuroaesthetics, notes that the way we experience a space can affect our emotions, cognitive functions, and even social interactions. For instance, environments that are perceived as beautiful can stimulate positive emotions and enhance cognitive performance.4
Creating neuroaesthetically-sound spaces far transcends just adding live plants to indoor environments. Spaces honed for positive neuroaesthetic responses are those that activate our brain’s propensity for pattern recognition. Cognitively, there are three patterns that most universally trigger a beauty response, otherwise known as pleasure events.
They are:
Biophilic patterns, such as naturally repetitive fractals
Biomorphic patterns, which approximate curvatures of the human body
Bilateral symmetrical patterns, known as the 3x3 visual matrix or “Rule of Thirds,” such as the facial recognition pattern
Each of these patterns exemplifies organized complexity, which is vital for eliciting sustained interest, curiosity, and fascination required to hold and stimulate our attention.
Examples from left to right: Biophilic fractals in nature, biomorphic curves in furnishings, and bilateral symmetry in art
Balancing Beauty and Stress: Creating Harmonious Spaces
Interestingly, creating neuroaesthetically-sound spaces isn’t just about patterns that are universally perceived as beautiful. Newton’s first law of motion is relevant to space and pattern composition in so far as it relates to maintaining homeostasis (balance) with the application of an opposing force. In the case of design, in order for an experience to be deemed pleasurable, there must be an unbalanced stimuli of stress simultaneously present. When creating a properly neurologically balanced space, principles of coherence (organization) should make up about 80% of the composition, while principles of fascination (complexity) should make up the remaining 20%.5 Similarly, the creation of a balanced space should include a proportional relationship between patterns that induce stress and patterns that promote calm.
Let’s explore a few primary biophilic design patterns that contribute to the creation of balanced, neuroaesthetically-sound spaces.6
Complexity & Order: A rich array of sensory information that mimics the spatial hierarchy found in nature. Designs can achieve this pattern by incorporating fractal patterns in elements such as artwork and tile layout, lighting orientation, and repetitive architectural details. This experience leads to benefits such as improved learning outcomes, mood, and stress responses.
Prospect & Refuge: A far-reaching, unimpeded view framed by protection in all remaining views—think looking through large sliding glass doors onto a view of a snow-capped mountainous terrain from the protection of your living room couch, fireplace ablaze. This experience leads to benefits such as a reduction in boredom, irritation, fatigue, and stress, as well as improved concentration, attention, and perceptions of safety.
Risk & Peril: A clear threat coupled with a path to safety. Imagine needing to use stepping stones to cross a shallow stream or a carpet-free, glass-flanked modern staircase. Both events present a juxtaposition between perceived risk and statistical safety. This tension creates a stress response during which dopamine is released, mirroring the chemical response of a pleasure event.
Designing for Longevity: How Thoughtful Spaces Can Be Your Fountain of Youth
So, just how do all these design principles and corresponding releases of hormones contribute to reversing the effects of aging and prolonging existing youthfulness? Let’s break down the importance of the hormones we’ve referenced above: dopamine, serotonin, endorphins, and oxytocin. Excreted at elevated levels during balanced pleasure events, these natural, internal chemicals contribute to reduced stress levels, increased brain activity, increased feelings of connectedness, reduction in levels of depression and anxiety, and improved relaxation.7 By living in a home that is thoughtfully designed to integrate neuroaesthetic and biophilic principles, you are not just surrounding yourself with beauty—you are fostering an environment that enhances your mental and physical well-being. In today’s fast-paced world, where stress is ubiquitous and our connection with nature is often severed, creating spaces that nurture our brains and bodies is not just a luxury; it’s a necessity. Embracing neuroaesthetics in design is embracing a future where our environments are not just seen, but deeply felt, offering a sanctuary that promotes longevity, happiness, and a profound sense of well-being. As we continue to explore the interplay between our brains and our surroundings, the potential for design to positively influence our lives becomes ever more compelling. So, next time you step into a beautifully designed space, remember—it’s more than just aesthetics; it’s a science that could very well be your fountain of youth.
1Nutt, David J. “Relationship of neurotransmitters to the symptoms of major depressive disorder.” The Journal of clinical psychiatry vol. 69 Suppl E1 (2008): 4-7.
2“44-Year Study Ties Midlife Fitness to Lower Dementia Risk" | ALZFORUM. alzforum.org/news/research-news/44-year-study-ties-midlife-fitness-lower-dementia-risk.
3Watson, Stephanie. “Feel-Good Hormones: How They Affect Your Mind, Mood, and Body.” Harvard Health, 18 Apr. 2024, health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/feel-good-hormones-how-they-affect-your-mind-mood-and-body#:~:text=Dopamine%2C%20serotonin%2C%20endorphins%2C%20and,your%20mood%20in%20the%20process.
4Coburn, A., Vartanian, O., & Chatterjee, A. (2020). Psychological dimensions measured in neuroaesthetic research. Cortex.
5Ruggles, Donald H. Beauty, Neuroscience, & Architecture: Timeless Patterns and Their Impact on Our Well-Being. Fibonacci, 2018.
6 “14 Patterns of Biophilic Design.” Terrapin Home - Terrapin Bright Green, 12 Sept. 2014, terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns/.
7Watson, Stephanie. “Feel-Good Hormones: How They Affect Your Mind, Mood, and Body.” Harvard Health, 18 Apr. 2024, health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/feel-good-hormones-how-they-affect-your-mind-mood-and-body#:~:text=Dopamine%2C%20serotonin%2C%20endorphins%2C%20and,your%20mood%20in%20the%20process.