This is a legacy version of the WELL Building Standard. Please check the latest version here.
  1. Mind
  2. Biophilia II - quantitative

Biophilia II - quantitative

Features>Mind>100. Biophilia II - quantitative

100. Biophilia II - quantitative

Biophilia recognizes our psychological need to be around life and life-like processes. The direct experience of nature or nature-derived patterns can improve experience, mood and happiness.

This feature calls for provision of indoor design elements reminiscent of the natural environment, including water features and plantings, as well as access to outdoor gardens and landscaped areas.

Part 1: Outdoor Biophilia

At least 25% of the project site size meets the following requirements:

a) Features either landscaped grounds or rooftop gardens accessible to building occupants.
b) Consists of, at minimum, 70% plantings including tree canopies (within the 25%).
Part 2: Indoor Biophilia

Wall and potted plants are incorporated into the design of interior space according to the following:

a) Potted plants or planted beds cover at least 1% of floor area per floor.
b) A plant wall per floor, covering a wall area equal or greater than 2% of the floor area, or covering the largest of the available walls, whichever is greater.
Part 3: Water Feature

The following requirement is met:

a) At least one water feature for every 9,290 m² [100,000 ft²] that is 1.7 to 1.8 m [5.8 to 6 ft] in height and exposes occupants to the sight and sounds of still and moving water.
Nervous

Applicability Matrix

Core & Shell New Construction WELL Interiors
Part 1: Outdoor Biophilia O O O
Part 2: Indoor Biophilia - O O
Part 3: Water Feature O O O
Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Retail
Part 1: Outdoor Biophilia - O O -
Part 2: Indoor Biophilia - O O -
Part 3: Water Feature - O O -

Verification Methods Matrix

Letters of Assurance Annotated Documents On-Site Checks
PART 1 (Design)
Outdoor Biophilia 		Architect Spot Check
PART 2 (Design)
Indoor Biophilia 		Architect Spot Check
PART 3 (Design)
Water Feature 		Architect Spot Check

95

Marcus, C. C. & Sachs, N. A. Therapeutic Landscapes: An Evidence-based Approach to Designing Healing. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons; 2013.
100.1.b

Marcus and Sachs' Therapeutic Landscapes: An Evidence-based Approach to Designing Healing identifies a preference for gardens that have an approximate ratio of 70% greenery to 30% hardscape.
100.2.b

Marcus and Sachs' Therapeutic Landscapes: An Evidence-based Approach to Designing Healing identifies indoor plantings as a method to simulate an outdoor “greenâ€ù experience and provide positive distraction.
100.2.a

Marcus and Sachs' Therapeutic Landscapes: An Evidence-based Approach to Designing Healing identifies indoor plantings as a method to simulate an outdoor “greenâ€ù experience and provide positive distraction.
100.3.a

Marcus and Sachs' Therapeutic Landscapes: An Evidence-based Approach to Designing Healing identifies that water features can provide a soothing sensory experience and positive distraction.
Features>Mind>100. Biophilia II - quantitative