Biophilic Design: Its Use in Architectural Structures and Different Areas — A Bibliometric Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15320/ICONARP.2025.346Keywords:
Architecture, Biophilic design, Bibliometric analysis, Natural environmentAbstract
Biophilic design aims to enhance the connection between individuals and the natural environment by emphasizing natural elements in their living and working spaces. The fundamental principles of biophilic design include the integration of natural light and views, the use of plants and green spaces and a preference for organic forms and natural materials. The application of biophilic design in various domains promotes a balanced and harmonious lifestyle in line with the natural world, offering a range of benefits to both the environment and society. The aim of the study is to reveal the importance of using biophilic features in architectural designs using bibliometric analysis and to draw researchers' attention to biophilic design. In this study, bibliometric analysis was employed to measure and analyze the distribution and interaction of academic research related to biophilic design. The widely used Web of Science database was utilized for bibliometric analysis of scientific studies. Specifically, the bibliometric analysis focused on the most frequently used keywords in the titles of published articles on biophilic design. A total of 346 articles published in 184 journals between 2006 and 2023 were scanned for the subject of biophilic design. The most common keywords in the titles of scientific articles, following the term biophilic, include design, urban, workspace, green, natural, biophilia, architecture, health, environment, and other terms. Bibliometric analysis encompassed the examination of the most frequently used keywords, word cloud, trend keywords across years, keyword networks, and thematic evolution analysis. The analysis revealed that a diverse range of keywords (1165) were employed in the titles, and the frequency of keyword usage increased over time. Additionally, the usage of keywords evolved and changed over the years. These findings demonstrate that biophilic design is a popular and captivating topic that has garnered significant attention from researchers in various scientific fields.
References
Agboola, O. P., Olayemi, A. A., & Ajiboye, A. (2024). Assessing the effectiveness of biophilic design approach towards sustainable architecture. Nature Design and Innovation, Special Issue, 45–58. https://jomardpublishing.com/UploadFiles/Files/journals/NDI/SI2024/Agboola_et_al.pdf
Akyıldız, N. A., & Olğun, T. N. (2021). Darende/Balaban Geleneksel Yerleşim Dokusunda Biyofilik Tasarım İzlerinin İrdelenmesi. Kent Akademisi, 14(3), 560–577. https://doi.org/10.35674/kent.983117
Al Sayyed, R. (2025). The impact of biophilic elements in full-scale virtual interiors on stress reduction. Journal of Digital Architecture and Design, 9(1), 55–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdades.2025.01.006
Alipour, L., & Khoramian, M. (2023). Investigating the impact of biophilic design on employee performance and well-being by designing a research instrument. Kybernetes, ahead-of-print,4431-4447 https://doi.org/10.1108/K-08-2022-1134
Arif, M., Kulonda, D. J., & Jones, J. (2021). The impact of biophilic design interventions on workplace satisfaction and productivity. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 76, 101640. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2021.101640
Arslan Selçuk, S., & Öztürk Akbıyık, S. (2023). A Bibliometric Analysis on Climate Change and Built Environments. Planarch - Design and Planning Research, 7(1), 96–107. https://doi.org/10.5152/Planarch.2023.221736
Baldwin, R. F., Powell, R. B., & Kellert, S. R. (2011). Habitat as Architecture: Integrating Conservation Planning and Human Health. Ambio, 40(3), 322–327. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-010-0103-7
Beatley, T. (2016). Handbook of Biophilic City Planning & Design. Island Press. https://books.google.com.tr/books
Berto, R., & Barbiero, G. (2017). The Biophilic Quality Index. A Tool to Improve a Building from “Green” to Restorative. | Visions for Sustainability. Visions for Sustainability, 8, 38-45. https://ojs.unito.it/index.php/visions/article/view/2333
Beukeboom, C. J., Langeveld, D., & Tanja-Dijkstra, K. (2012). Stress-Reducing Effects of Real and Artificial Nature in a Hospital Waiting Room. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, 18(4), 329–333. https://doi.org/10.1089/ACM.2011.0488
Bowler, D., Knight, L., & Pullin A. (2010). The Importance of Nature for Health: Is There A Specific Benefit Of Contact With Green Space? In collaboration for Environmental Evidence Library. www.environmentalevidence.org/SR40.html.
Browning, W. D., & Ryan, C. O. (2020). Nature Inside: A biophilic design guide - William D. Browning, Catherine O. Ryan. Routledge 1. https://books.google.com.tr
Browning, W. D., Ryan, C. O., & Clancy, J. O. (2014). 14 Patterns of Biophilic Design. Terrapin Bright Green. https://www.terrapinbrightgreen.com/reports/14-patterns
Bulut, C., & Yıldız, F. (2024). Bibliometric analysis of laser powder bed additive manufacturing of high-entropy alloys: where are we and how far have we come? Progress in Additive Manufacturing, 1-20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40964-024-00840-5
Büyükkıdık, S. (2022). A Bibliometric Analysis: A Tutorial for the Bibliometrix Package in R Using IRT Literature. Eğitimde ve Psikolojide Ölçme ve Değerlendirme Dergisi, 13(3), 164–193. https://doi.org/10.21031/epod.1069307
Çavdar, E. (2021). Yeşil Lojistik: WoS Verilerine Dayalı Bibliyometrik Bir Analiz (2000-2021). Econder International Academic Journal, 5(2), 359–373. https://doi.org/10.35342/econder.1006218
Chang, C. C., Cheng, G. J. Y., Nghiem, T. P. Le, Song, X. P., Oh, R. R. Y., Richards, D. R., & Carrasco, L. R. (2020). Social media, nature, and life satisfaction: global evidence of the biophilia hypothesis. In Scientific Reports 2020 10:1 (Vol. 10, Issue 1). Nature Publishing Group. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-60902-w
Celik E, Durmus A, Adizel O, Nergiz Uyar H (2021) A bibliometric analysis: what do we know about metals(loids) accumulation in wild birds? Environ Sci Pollut Res 28:10302–10334. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-12344-8
Çelik E, Sarıboğa L (2023) Assessment of the role of birds in seed distribution: a bibliometric analysis of studies on this subject. In: Murat oduncuoğlu, Kurt APDHİ (eds) Recent advances in natural and engineering Sciences. Livre de lyon, Lyon, pp 29–53. http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14547581
Chen, Y., Xiong, K., Ren, X., & Cheng, C. (2022). An overview of ecological vulnerability: a bibliometric analysis based on the Web of Science database. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(9), 12984–12996. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-17995-1
DeLauer, V., McGill-O’Rourke, A., Hayes, T., Haluch, A., Gordon, C., Crane, J., Kossakowski, D., Dillon, C., Thibeault, N., & Schofield, D. (2022). The impact of natural environments and biophilic design as supportive and nurturing spaces on a residential college campus. Cogent Social Sciences, 8(1), 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311886.2021.2000570
Derviş, H. (2020). Bibliometric Analysis using Bibliometrix an R Package. Journal of Scientometric Research, 8(3), 156–160. https://doi.org/10.5530/jscires.8.3.32
Di Giuseppe, M. (2024). Biophilic design in immersive virtual environments: Evaluating spatial and emotional experiences through VR technology. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 13(2), 210–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2024.02.005
Dijkstra, K., Pieterse, M. E., & Pruyn, A. (2008). Stress-reducing effects of indoor plants in the built healthcare environment: The mediating role of perceived attractiveness. Preventive Medicine, 47(3), 279–283. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ypmed.2008.01.013
Ellegaard, O., & Wallin, J. A. (2015). The bibliometric analysis of scholarly production: How great is the impact? Scientometrics, 105(3), 1809–1831. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11192-015-1645-z
Ertin, T. D. G. , & Karakaya, A. B. (2022). Biyomorfik Form Ve Örüntülerden Esinlenen Tasarimlar Üzerine Bir Stüdyo Deneyimi. SED-Sanat Eğitimi Dergisi, 10(1), 33–45. https://doi.org/10.7816/sed-10-01-03
Farruk h, M., Meng, F., Raza, A., & Tahir, M. S. (2020). Twenty-seven years of Sustainable Development Journal: A bibliometric analysis. Sustainable Development, 28(6), 1725–1737. https://doi.org/10.1002/SD.2120
Girginkaya Akdağ, S. (2021). Biyofilik Tasarım ve Teknoloji Arakesitinde: Yeni Alışveriş Mekan ve Deneyimleri. Kent Akademisi, 14(4), 1043–1058. https://doi.org/10.35674/kent.982905
Gray, T., & Birrell, C. (2014). Are Biophilic-Designed Site Office Buildings Linked to Health Benefits and High Performing Occupants? International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11(12), 12204–12222. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph111212204
Guleria, D., & Kaur, G. (2021). Bibliometric analysis of ecopreneurship using VOSviewer and RStudio Bibliometrix, 1989–2019. Library Hi Tech, 39(4), 1001–1024. https://doi.org/10.1108/LHT-09-2020-0218
Gür, M., & Kaprol, T. (2022). The Participation of Biophilic Design in the Design of the Post-Pandemic Living Space. IGI Global, 75–106. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-7998-6725-8.CH004
Hady, S. I. M. A. (2021). Activating biophilic design patterns as a sustainable landscape approach. Journal of Engineering and Applied Science, 68(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1186/S44147-021-00031-X
Hähn, N., Essah, E., & Blanusa, T. (2021). Biophilic design and office planting: a case study of effects on perceived health, well-being and performance metrics in the workplace. Intelligent Building International, 13(4), 241–260. https://doi.org/10.1080/17508975.2020.1732859
Hung, S. H., & Chang, C. Y. (2021). Health benefits of evidence-based biophilic-designed environments: A review. Journal of People, Plants, and Environment, 24(1), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.11628/KSPPE.2021.24.1.1
Hussein, H., Elkady, S., & Abd El-Razek, A. (2022). Enhancing learning environments through biophilic design strategies in educational buildings. Sustainability, 14(21), 13974. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142113974
Jabbarioun Moghaddami, H. (2019). Re-thinking Biophilic Design Patterns In Preschool Environments For Children [Master’s thesis, Middle East Technical University]. Open METU. https://open.metu.edu.tr/handle/11511/45239
Karataş, T. (2020). Çevresel Sanat Uygulamalarının Sürdürülebilirliğe Katkısı ve Biyomimikri. Iğdır Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi(24), 721-744. Retrieved from https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/igdirsosbilder/issue/66831/1045320
Kellert, S. R. (2012). Building for life: Designing and understanding the human-nature connection. https://books.google.com/books
Kokol, P., Blažun Vošner, H., & Završnik, J. (2021). Application of bibliometrics in medicine: a historical bibliometrics analysis. Health Information and Libraries Journal, 38(2), 125–138. https://doi.org/10.1111/HIR.12295
Köseoğlu, E., Katuk, D., Taşdemir, E., & Genç, H. (2023). A Bibliometric Analysis of Emotion at the Intersection of the Concepts of Biophilic and Design. SAR Journal - Science and Research, 6(2), 61–72.
Kulak, M., & Gulmez-Samsa, C. (2023). Nanoparticles and medicinal plants: A visualized analysis of the core and theme content of the reports in the period of 2018–2022. In V. Fotopoulos & G. Gohari (Eds.), Engineered nanoparticles in agriculture: From laboratory to field (pp. 59–92). De Gruyter. https://doi.org/10.1515/9781501523229-002
Liu, Z., Yang, Z., Osmani, M., Van Den Berg, P., Dane, G., & Birenboim, A. (2021). The relationship between sustainable built environment, art therapy and therapeutic design in promoting health and well-being. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(20), 10906.https://doi.org/10.3390/IJERPH182010906
McGee, B., Park, N. K., Portillo, M., Bosch, S., & Swisher, M. (2019). Diy Biophilia: Development of the Biophilic Interior Design Matrix as a Design Tool. Journal of Interior Design, 44(4), 201–221. https://doi.org/10.1111/JOID.12159
Morawski, C., & Dunnington, C. L. (2021). Biophilia and visual art education: Two teachers narrate their own connections. International Journal of Education and the Arts, 22(9), 1–26. https://doi.org/10.26209/IJEA22N9
Özğan, A. O., & Aluçlu, İ. (2023). Doğayla Uyumlu Mekânlar: Biyofilik Tasarımın Bibliyometrik Değerlendirmesi. İdealkent, 15(41), 483–505. https://doi.org/10.31198/idealkent.1350785
Özğan, A.O. ve Aluçlu, İ. (2023). Biyofilik Tasarimin Akademik Değerlendirmesi. Türkiye Orman Bilimleri Dergisi, 7(2), 267-283. https://doi.org/10.32328/turkjforsci.1347473
Özğan, A. O. (2025). Integrating biophilic and patient-centered design: A healing architectural model for Turkish city hospitals [Doctoral dissertation, Dicle University, Institute of Science]. YÖK National Thesis Center. https://tez.yok.gov.tr/UlusalTezMerkezi
Pallasmaa, J. (2021). The embodied image: Imagination and imagery in architecture. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Panagopoulos, T., Sbarcea, M., & Herman, K. (2020). A biophilic mind-set for a restorative built environment. Landscape Architecture and Art, 17, 68–77. https://doi.org/10.22616/j.landarchart.2020.17.08
Patra, S. K., Bhattacharya, P., & Verma, N. (2006). Bibliometric Study of Literature on Bibliometrics. Desidoc Bulletin of Information Technology, 26(1), 27–32. https://doi.org/10.14429/dbit.26.1.3672
Peters, T., & D’Penna, K. (2020). Biophilic Design for Restorative University Learning Environments: A Critical Review of Literature and Design Recommendations. Sustainability 2020, Vol. 12, Page 7064, 12(17), 7064. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU12177064
Peters, T., & Verderber, S. (2021). Biophilic Design Strategies in Long-Term Residential Care Environments for Persons with Dementia. 36(3), 227–255. https://doi.org/10.1080/26892618.2021.1918815
Rodríguez-Soler, R., Uribe-Toril, J., & Valenciano, J. D. P. (2020). Worldwide trends in the scientific production on rural depopulation, a bibliometric analysis using bibliometrix R-tool. Land use policy, 97, 104787. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104787
Relf, P. D. (2009). The therapeutic values of plants. Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, 8(3), 235–237. https://doi.org/10.1080/13638490400011140
Rons, N. (2018). Bibliometric approximation of a scientific specialty by combining key sources, title words, authors and references. Journal of Informetrics, 12(1), 113–132. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2017.12.003
Russo, A., & Andreucci, M. B. (2023). Raising Healthy Children: Promoting the Multiple Benefits of Green Open Spaces through Biophilic Design. Sustainability 2023, Vol. 15, Page 1982, 15(3), 1982. https://doi.org/10.3390/SU15031982
Sachs, N. A. (2022). E. O. Wilson: A Legacy of “Biophilia.” Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 15(4), 283–286. https://doi.org/10.1177/19375867221120409
Sanchez, J. A., Ikaga, T., & Sanchez, S. V. (2018). Quantitative improvement in workplace performance through biophilic design: A pilot experiment case study. Energy and Buildings, 177, 316–328. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2018.07.065
Şenozan, M. I. (Muazzez I. Ş. (2018). İnsan-mekan-doğa etkileşiminin sürdürülebilir bir öğretisi olarak biyofilik tasarım (Master's thesis). Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University. Retrieved from http://acikerisim.msgsu.edu.tr/xmlui/handle/20.500.14124/1296
Sinemillioglu, M. O., Akin, C. T., & Karacay, N. (2010). Relationship Between Green Areas and Urban Conservation in Historical Areas and Its Reflections: Case of Diyarbakir City, Turkey. European Planning Studies, 18(5), 775–789. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654311003612620
Soderlund, J., & Newman, P. (2016). Biophilic architecture: a review of the rationale and outcomes. AIMS Environmental Science, 2(4), 950–969. https://doi.org/10.3934/environsci.2015.4.950
Söderlund, J., & Newman, P. (2017). Improving Mental Health in Prisons Through Biophilic Design. The Prison Journal, 97(6), 750–772. https://doi.org/10.1177/0032885517734516
Stavrianos, A. (2016). Green inclusion: biophilia as a necessity. British Journal of Special Education, 43(4), 416–429. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8578.12155
Tardast, Z., Meshkini, A., & Rajabi, A. (2021). Explain the Strategic Planning Model of Biophilic Tourism Case Study: Tehran Metropolis. Urban Tourism, 8(2), 65–79. https://doi.org/10.22059/JUT.2021.299414.782
Tekin, M., Demirci, Z., & Aydın, S. (2025). Biophilic design in the built environment: Trends, gaps and future directions. Buildings, 15(14), 2516. https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings15142516
Totaforti, S. (2020). Emerging Biophilic Urbanism: The Value of the Human–Nature Relationship in the Urban Space. Sustainability, 12(13), 5487–5503. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135487
Varshabi, N., Selçuk, S. A., & Avinç, G. M. (2022). Biomimicry for Energy-Efficient Building Design: A Bibliometric Analysis. Biomimetics 2022, Vol. 7, Page 21, 7(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics7010021
Vincent, E., Battisto, D., Grimes, L., & McCubbin, J. (2010). The Effects of Nature Images on Pain in a Simulated Hospital Patient Room. Health Environments Research & Design Journal, 3(3), 42–55. https://doi.org/10.1177/193758671000300306
White, M. P., Alcock, I., Grellier, J., Wheeler, B. W., Hartig, T., Warber, S. L., Bone, A., Depledge, M. H., & Fleming, L. E. (2019). Spending at least 120 minutes a week in nature is associated with good health and wellbeing. Scientific Reports 2019 9:1, 9(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-44097-3
Wijesooriya, S. (2023). Biophilic design frameworks: A review of structure and applications. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 12, 100–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2023.04.002
Xian, N., & Wang, W. (2021). Research on Intelligent Facility Design of Medical Indoor Space Based on Barrier-free Design. 2021 2nd International Conference on Intelligent Design (ICID), 451–457. https://doi.org/10.1109/icid54526.2021.00095
Yang, S., Luo, J., Zou, W., Zhu, Q., Cen, J., & Gao, Q. (2024). Research trends in vascular chips from 2012 to 2022: a bibliometrix and visualized analysis. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, 12, 1409467. https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1409467
Zhong, Y. (2024). Implementing biophilic design in architecture through three-dimensional green façade applications. Building and Environment, 242, 111016. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2024.111016
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 ICONARP International Journal of Architecture and Planning

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
COPYRIGHT POLICY
1. The International Journal of Architecture and Planning (ICONARP) open access articles are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDeriatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). This license lets the author to share (copy and redistribute) his/her article in any medium or format.
2. ICONARP cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms. Under the following terms:
The author must give appropriate credit, provide a link to ICONARP, and indicate if changes were made on the article. The author may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the ICONARP endorses the author or his/her use.
The author may not use the article for commercial purposes.
If the author remix, transform, or build upon the article, s/he may not distribute the modified material.
The author may share print or electronic copies of the Article with colleagues.
The author may use the Article within his/her employer’s institution or company for educational or research purposes, including use in course packs.
3. The author authorizes the International Journal of Architecture and Planning (ICONARP) to exclusively publish online his/her Article, and to post his/her biography at the end of the article, and to use the articles.
4. The author agrees to the International Journal of Architecture and Planning (ICONARP) using any images from the Article on the cover of the Journal, and in any marketing material.
5. As the author, copyright in the Article remains in his/her name.
6. All papers should be submitted electronically. All submitted manuscripts must be original work that is not under submission at another journal or under consideration for publication in another form, such as a monograph or chapter of a book. Authors of submitted papers are obligated not to submit their paper for publication elsewhere until an editorial decision is rendered on their submission. Further, authors of accepted papers are prohibited from publishing the results in other publications that appear before the paper is published in the Journal.