A review of biophilic architectural design strategies and their effects on human wellbeing in contemporary built environments

Biophilic architecture is increasingly recognised as a design approach for addressing the growing separation between people and natural systems in contemporary urban environments. This study presents an integrative review of biophilic architecture research published between 2005 and 2024, synthesising evidence on theoretical foundations, design strategies, human wellbeing outcomes, and environmental performance. The review draws on 203 peer-reviewed sources, comprising empirical studies, theoretical papers, case studies, and meta-analyses, and integrates perspectives from evolutionary psychology, environmental psychology, neuroarchitecture, and building science. The findings indicate that biophilic design is consistently associated with positive human and environmental outcomes across diverse contexts. Reported human-centred effects include reductions in physiological stress indicators, improvements in attention and cognitive performance, modest gains in post-operative recovery rates, and enhanced workplace productivity. Environmental outcomes reported in the literature include lower operational energy demand, improved indoor air quality, and contributions to urban ecological functioning through vegetation-based systems. Emerging neurophysiological studies using quantitative electroencephalography further suggest that biophilic environments may influence neural stress responses, providing insight into potential underlying mechanisms. The review critically evaluates biophilic strategies encompassing direct nature integration, biomorphic and fractal forms, material authenticity, spatial configuration, and climatic responsiveness. Particular attention is given to African and Global South vernacular architectures, which demonstrate long-standing nature-integrated design principles with low embodied energy and strong cultural grounding. While implementation challenges remain, including higher initial costs and regulatory limitations, evidence across the reviewed studies suggests that long-term operational, health-related, and socio-economic benefits can offset these constraints. It offers synthesis.