Biophilia
Bringing the Outdoor into Indoor Spaces
Biophilia. Literally meaning love of life—it’s a fancy word to explain people’s innate affection for the natural world.[1] This might be why we love natural light, raw materials, and turn to earthy colors for calming environments. We are desperately trying to bring the outdoors into our indoor spaces and it is evident in our design choices.
Wood uniquely provides a natural element while adding warmth. This sinker cypress slab countertop balances the tension between smooth and rough surfaces from one edge of the board to the other. The density of heart cypress wood is a result of its dense growth-rings, giving a smooth and almost soft appearance to the hard heart wood. And the rough edge brings out the rawness of the material, establishing its authenticity.
The heart pine beams relive their past in the Cirrus Logic building in Austin, Texas. Sourced from 19th century industrial buildings, Goodwin’s Legacy beams bring warmth and livability to this modern space—complete with plenty of natural light and earthy tones.
Goodwin’s River-Recovered® heart cypress gives the central accent wall an inviting and soothing aesthetic. This natural element is still at home among modern materials like metal and glass. The combination of the wood accent wall and indoor plants draw outdoors in, bringing together two worlds as the biophilia in all of us longs to do.
For more innovative ideas of how to use wood in modern spaces check out this post by Apartment Therapy.
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Guest Post by Lauren Corley
Lauren Corley is a guest author for Goodwin and is a senior in the Innovation Academy at the University of Florida studying Sustainability in the Built Environment with a minor in Innovation. She began her involvement with Goodwin at the 2015 Greenbuild conference in Washington D.C. She is from the Panhandle of Florida and gained an interest for sustainability and its use in space as a high school student. Since moving to Gainesville she has interned for the Repurpose Project as well as the Alachua County Public Schools under the Energy Conservation Specialist.