New research bolsters the case for neurobiophilic design
Neuroscientists have long made claims that greenery, daylight and natural materials can make spaces feel better to work in. New studies confirm the approach — and put a price tag on the benefits
Interest in neurobiophilic design has grown steadily since researchers first began documenting how contact with nature shapes the brain at work. A clear set of design essentials has now emerged from that body of work — and the case for pursuing them keeps getting stronger.
A new study from an international research team led by Rad (2026) reviewed the physiological and neural evidence behind indoor environmental quality, finding that greenery and natural visual cues measurably increase relaxation-linked brain activity. Daylight, natural views, and indoor plants were tied to memory performance and productivity, while curved shapes calmed the nervous system and sharper ones raised stress markers.
Further research from Sedghikhanshir and Montelli (2026), reviewing biophilic interventions published between 2000 and 2025, confirmed that green walls, plants, water features, natural materials, and nature-inspired imagery reduce stress and support cognitive performance — with moderate, well-placed, multi-sensory greenery working best, and combined interventions outperforming any single one.
Set of essentials
Together, this research points to a consistent set of design essentials, which are confirmed by evidence from earlier studies. The key must-dos include: glare-free daylight, natural ventilation, moderate visual complexity, and circadian lighting.
Natural fractals belong on walls, floors, and upholstery, alongside potted plants — living ones where possible, convincing replicas where it is not possible. Wood and other natural materials should appear with visible grain and a warm finish, ideally covering no more than half of non-window surfaces. Curved forms should dominate over sharp ones, in both furniture and floor plans. Nature-themed art, seating that offers both prospect and refuge, ambient nature sounds, and visible views of the outdoors round out the picture.
What is the payoff?
The payoff for this effort goes beyond wellbeing. A new study from Merriman and colleagues (2025) found that job postings featuring biophilic workspace imagery increased applicant interest and organisational appeal — and even lowered the pay applicants said they’d accept, suggesting people are willing to trade some salary for a greener workplace. Notably, only modest biophilic elements were needed to produce the effect, making the benefit accessible through relatively simple retrofits.
A new study from Chan-Schoof, reported by Sailer (2025), put a figure on that value: biophilic workplace scenarios were worth 1.3 to 1.6 times more than doing nothing, with organisations gaining £2.7 for every £1 invested. The author cautioned that such returns are highly context-specific and shouldn’t be treated as a universal formula — but the direction of the finding is unambiguous.
Taken together, the research builds a strong, converging case for neurobiophilia: environments that echo the patterns of the natural world — light, greenery, natural materials, curved forms, and sound — don’t just feel better. They measurably support how people think, perform, and choose where to work.
Read more of the latest research insights from Sally Augustin in Research Roundup, her regular column in the Innovation Zone for WORKTECH Academy members and partners here.
Research sources
- Merriman, S. Kostanski, N. Ebrahimi, and T. Montag-Smit. 2025. ‘The Signaling Effect of Biophilic Job Posts: Do Applicants Trade Green for Green?’ Human Resource Management, vol. 64, no. 3, pp. 825–839.
- Rad, F. Behzadi, A. Kalantarifard, N. Nazemi, and Z. Djebbara. 2026. ‘Indoor Environmental Quality and the Brain: A Systematic Review of Physiological and Neural Evidence.’ Building and Environment, vol. 294.
- Sailer. 2025. ‘PhD Thesis on Valuing Biophilia’ (summarizing doctoral research by J. Chan-Schoof). twrnetwork.org.
- Sedghikhanshir and R. Montelli. 2026. ‘Biophilic Design Interventions and Properties: A Scoping Review and Decision-Support Framework for Restorative and Human-Centered Buildings.’ Buildings, vol. 16, no. 3, 2026.
