Light in Rhythm with Life
In a world where urban landscapes are expanding and our daily lives are increasingly spent indoors, the way we design and illuminate our spaces has never been more important. Biophilic lighting is at the forefront of this movement, blending nature with architecture to create healthier, more inspiring environments. More than just a design trend, it taps into our innate connection to the natural world, improving well-being, productivity, and overall quality of life.
Architectural lighting has evolved far beyond its basic purpose of illumination. Today, it is an art form that shapes how we experience space, influencing mood, energy, and well-being. At the forefront of this evolution is biophilic lighting, an innovative approach that integrates natural elements and rhythms to create spaces that not only captivate the eye but also nurture the body and mind. By mimicking the patterns and qualities of natural light, biophilic lighting fosters a profound connection between people and their surroundings, reinforcing the intrinsic bond between nature and the built environment.
The foundation of biophilic lighting stems from biophilic design principles which emphasise the natural need of humans to relate to nature. Architects have welcomed natural elements such as organic materials, living plants and expansive outdoor views into interior spaces for many years. The lighting industry has discovered its role as a vital instrument for this movement by bringing elements that replicate sunlight variations and textures to generate energetic spaces. Biophilic lighting differs from standard artificial illumination since it duplicates daylight patterns through its naturally evolving brightness and shade throughout the day. The approach surpasses visual design principles – it uses natural body rhythms to enhance comfort, energy levels and overall wellness.
Biophilic lighting serves as a fundamental element that supports the body’s natural circadian rhythm which controls sleep patterns together with mood and cognitive abilities. The typical cool and fixed light found in office spaces disrupts the body’s natural equilibrium which results in tiredness and discomfort. The dynamic nature of biophilic lighting switches between morning’s cool bright light and evening’s softer warmer light. The body’s natural circadian pattern finds harmony through this sequence which activates daytime alertness and nighttime relaxation. Real-time biodynamic lighting systems installed at The Edge building in Amsterdam adjust their output to create environments that boost employee comfort and productivity.
Sunlight moves constantly as it weaves through tree branches and passes through cloud layers while its brightness changes according to environmental conditions. Biophilic lighting implements diffusers and projections together with layered fixtures to recreate organic lighting effects that produce depth along with soft shifting illumination and natural shadows.
The combination of light with natural materials including wood, stone and textured glass produces a physical atmosphere which feels welcoming and when light softly contacts these surfaces it produces an effect that resembles both a soft candle flame and a fading solar beam. The main strength of biophilic lighting exists in its health advantages above its functional and aesthetic aspects. Especially interior lighting systems which mirror natural circadian patterns help people achieve better sleep quality along with better focus and reduced stress levels. Scientific research demonstrates that nature-inspired lighting systems whether they come from the sun or technology create better moods and reduce tiredness while helping patients with seasonal affective disorders.
Architect Stefano Boeri at Bosco Verticale in Milan uses biophilic lighting to create a seamless connection between the building’s iconic green living walls and its interior spaces. This approach goes beyond aesthetics – it’s a thoughtful integration of light, nature, and design aimed at enhancing human well-being. Inside the building, warm, earth-toned lighting mimics natural daylight cycles, fostering a calming atmosphere that reflects the rhythm of the outdoor environment. The strategic use of light highlights the textures of natural materials like wood and stone, while also drawing attention to the lush greenery both inside and outside the living spaces. By blending artificial and natural light sources, Boeri creates a dynamic interplay between shadow and illumination that evolves throughout the day, echoing the natural world. This harmony between architecture and nature exemplifies the principles of biophilic design, promoting a healthier and more restorative living experience for residents.
The future of architecture and design will be defined by sustainability and wellness through biophilic lighting as a design philosophy beyond its current trend status. The combination of natural elements through light materials and rhythm enables us to develop environments which go beyond mere illumination – they heal, inspire, and connect.
PERSPECTIVES
What is biophilic lighting, and what positive effects does it have on both physical and mental wellbeing?
Adrian Morris
Partner & Design Director at Morris & Co
“Biophilic lighting focuses on incorporating natural light into design. The sun’s changes in intensity and colour temperature throughout the day influencing our energy and mood. The ambition should be to replicate the tonality of natural light indoors, thereby extending the ability to regulate circadian rhythms and support overall health and emotional restoration.”
Basak Cevik Toprak
Design Committee Executive of NKY Architects & Engineers
“Biophilic lighting is an approach that mirrors natural light patterns, creating environments that feel aligned with our body’s natural rhythms. Unlike static artificial lighting, it uses adaptive, layered illumination to enhance physical and mental health.”
Manuela Hamilford
Founder of Hamilford Design
“Biophilic lighting is all about using light in ways that mimic natural light patterns and qualities to improve our well-being. The idea is to bring the benefits of natural daylight into indoor spaces, whether it’s through the design of lighting systems or the natural light that enters a space via windows, skylights.”
Nikki Hunt
Founder & Principal of Design Intervention
“Biophilic lighting mirrors the qualities of natural light, dynamically shifting in intensity and colour temperature throughout the day. This is essential because light is a powerful driver of our biology. For millions of years, our ancestors relied on changing light to signal when to wake, rest, or be active. Even today, artificial light can’t replace the impact of natural light on our physiology.”
