Organic design interventions and their relationship to supportive and healing environments for homeless

Plants, natural light, and views of nature in the built environment have been shown to positively impact the health and well-being of people. These organic qualities can enhance mood and morale and increase productivity and health for inhabitants. But these features’ effect on the health and well-being of individuals emerging from homelessness is not well understood. To address this knowledge gap, a study was conducted to investigate the effects of biophilic design on emotional state and well-being among residents of supportive housing and shelters in the Seattle area. This study examines if incorporating biophilic design elements in supportive housing or shelters improves residents’ perceived well-being. The study was designed to be quantitative in nature, utilizing surveys to gather data from participants regarding their opinions on biophilic design interventions. Participants were selected from supportive housing and shelter residents in the Seattle area, and the study consisted of two parts: (1) a 14-question survey assessing respondents' background information and emotional response to biophilic design, and (2) a questionnaire measuring respondents' reactions to five case study models. It was found that a significant portion of the sample population believed biophilic design elements to be effective in promoting well-being and restoration in shelter and supportive housing environments. The study’s results contribute to a growing body of literature on the benefits of biophilic design in built environments, particularly for individuals experiencing homelessness. The findings provide insight into the potential for biophilic design to improve the emotional state and well-being of this vulnerable population and inform the design of future supportive housing and shelters.