The architectural space should not be thought of as a mere container, but rather become a living and stimulating environment, which always remains in continuous and mutual contact with the external environment. This is one of the key principles that we find in many of the creations of the famous American architect and father of organic architecture, Frank Lloyd Wright, who interpreted living as an organic activity that responds to the laws of Nature.
Examples of this trend are certainly the project of the House on the Waterfall (also known by the names 'Fallingwater' or 'Kaufmann House') built in the American state of Pennsylvania, or the numerous Prairie Houses in which the architect tried to harmonize the buildings with the external environments in which they arise.
Biophilic design was initially inspired and took several cues from some of Wright's ideas. It is an applied science that goes beyond the concepts developed by the organic architect, aiming to translate and integrate the structures and laws of the natural world into the internal spaces of daily life, to accommodate the innate biophilia of each individual.
Stephen Kellert, a Yale ecologist and one of the pioneers of Biophilic Design, also wrote about the inseparable relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces: “Attractive interior spaces in built environments are often connected to outdoor environments. These areas also mark the transition between nature and culture. Important forms of design in built environments that evoke this quality include colonnades, porticoes, foyers, atriums and internal gardens.” The text refers to one of the 72 elements of his biophilic design model called INDOOR AND OUTDOOR SPACES, which Kellert published in 2008 in the book 'Biophilic Design'.
The ecologist also mentioned the so-called TRANSITION SPACES: “[…] within and between built and natural environments often promote comfort by providing access from one area to another. Important passages in the built environment include thresholds, portals, doors, […] fenestrations.”
Architecture history enthusiasts like us perhaps remember the concept “INSIDE-OUT” (eng. reversed), also known by the term “Bowellism” (= positioning of services for the building, such as pipes, sewer pipes and elevators , on the outside to maximize the space inside), linked to the English architect Richard Rogers and applied in a "visceral" way in the project of the Center Pompidou in Paris or in the case of the Lloyd's building in London (also known as 'Inside- Out Building').
In our context the expression "INSIDE OUT" is understood as the opening of the building envelopes to allow the internal spaces to open towards the external areas.
The "OUTSIDE IN" concept, however, is the other side of the same coin and concerns the important integration of the external world into the internal spaces of built environments for the creation of fluid connections between the artificial and natural worlds.
The designer has various possibilities available to mutually integrate the two concepts in architecture, also in response to people's ever-increasing need to create a more open living experience with greater integration of indoor and outdoor spaces.
Large windows and sliding doors are certainly among the most immediate solutions. They may include large panoramic windows or sliding doors that allow unobstructed views and easy access to the garden or outdoor area, where ideally there is rich vegetation. They also allow outside air to enter.
The use of natural materials, such as wood and natural stones, both in the internal and external spaces, also helps to create visual and tactile continuity between the environments.
A smooth transition between the various spaces can be achieved by choosing to install the same type of flooring or similar material inside and outside.
Patios, terraces, balconies, green roofs and other spaces enriched with vegetation can be made easily accessible from the living room or other internal living areas of a home, or even from office environments.
A trend that has grown significantly in recent years concerns the offer by many furniture companies to integrate versatile furnishings into their offer. These are solutions that can be used in both internal and external spaces. Further sophistication concerns the trend of making outdoor furniture and accessories increasingly similar to indoor ones, thanks to new materials and processes.
Another aspect of fundamental importance for letting Nature enter the spaces of daily living concerns natural lighting. Making the most of natural light through windows, skylights or other openings thus allows for a better visual connection with the outside, the seasons, the passing of the hours and the continuous change in weather conditions.
Indoor gardens and groupings of plants are an excellent way to bring Nature into living spaces, as well as into other types of buildings.
Choosing colors and decorations that reflect the surrounding natural palette helps to unite the spaces, as does the introduction of fountains, pools or other water features that can be seen or heard from both environments.
Therefore, the design objective should be to create a smooth transition between internal and external spaces, so as to allow users to fully enjoy the BEAUTY OF NATURE, as we at Verde Profilo do every day.
