Embracing Biophilic Design in Passivhaus

Wellbeing that does not compromise comfort or performance

Biophilic design is often presented as a visual or styling layer: more plants, more timber, more daylight. Done poorly, it can become decorative rather than functional and it can conflict with performance goals through overheating risk, glare or poorly controlled glazing.

In high-performance homes, wellbeing outcomes need to be integrated with comfort and energy performance, not traded off against them.

What biophilic design means in a home

Biophilic design is an approach that strengthens connection to nature through:

• Daylight and views
• Natural materials and tactile finishes
• Rhythm and variability in light and air
• Access to outdoor space and landscape

The aim is not aesthetic novelty. It is improved wellbeing through spaces that support circadian rhythm, comfort and calm.

Why Passivhaus is a good base for wellbeing

Passivhaus (Passive House) provides stable indoor conditions. That stability supports wellbeing outcomes because it reduces stressors like:

• drafts
• temperature swings
• stale air
• noisy systems working continuously

In other words, Passivhaus creates a predictable baseline. Biophilic strategies can then be used to improve lived experience without compensating for discomfort.

For the fundamentals behind this, see Building Physics Made Simple.

Daylight and overheating: the key tension

Daylight and glazing are central to biophilic design, but they are also a major driver of overheating risk in Australia.

Biophilic design in a high-performance home should focus on:

• controlled daylight, not maximum glazing
• appropriate shading
• careful window installation and detailing
• limiting unwanted summer heat gains

This is where good intent needs disciplined delivery. A shading strategy only works if junctions, seals and thermal continuity are executed accurately.

For more on the summer risk, see Designing for Overheating in a Warming Climate.

Air quality and comfort as wellbeing fundamentals

Wellbeing claims often focus on finishes and aesthetics, but indoor air quality is usually more important.

Airtightness and controlled ventilation support:

• predictable fresh air delivery
• reduced outdoor pollutant infiltration
• stable humidity levels

These outcomes matter for health and comfort and they are dependent on construction execution.

For a construction-focused explanation of control, see The Airtight Case for Passivhaus. For the occupant experience layer, see Quiet Comfort and Wellbeing in High-Performance Homes.

Materials, tactility and sustainability

Natural materials can support wellbeing, but their sustainability depends on sourcing, durability and detailing.

Where materials are used thoughtfully and protected through construction, they age well and reduce the need for early replacement. This links wellbeing to long-term sustainability outcomes.

For the lifecycle carbon lens, see Embodied Carbon: The Next Frontier in Sustainable Construction (coming soon!).

Biophilic design as integration, not decoration

Biophilic design works best when it is treated as integration:

• comfort and air quality provide the baseline
• daylight and views are controlled, not excessive
• materials are chosen for durability and maintained performance

In high-performance homes, the goal is a calm, healthy interior that remains comfortable across seasons.