For years, luxury was associated with the shine of marble, the high gloss of furniture and a perfect layout under a ruler. But something has changed. More and more investors began to miss something about it all. Tranquility. Air. Contact with life. Thus was born a new vision of luxury: not a closed golden box, but a home open to nature. A biophilic home. Biophilic design is not just a style, it is a lifestyle choice. An increasingly conscious, attentive and healthy one.
The residence in Konstancin is distinguished by monumental glazing, reaching up to 11 meters in length
photo by Yassen Hristov
Why is biophilia the ultimate in luxury today?
In the age of digital overload and concrete everyday life, the greatest luxury becomes what we have taken for granted for decades: sun, air, greenery and silence. A biophilic interior does not compete with nature - it complements it. Architects such as Monika Bronikowska of Hola Design studio not only understand this trend - they co-create it.
In the residences designed by Hola Design, the boundary between the interior and the outside world ceases to exist. In Konstancin, monumental glazing of 11 meters in length blurs the distinction between the living room and the garden, and in the villa in Młociński Forest, nature literally "comes inside", through panoramic windows, bursting into the interior with vivid greenery and light. But biophilia is more than glass and plants. It's a well-thought-out living system in which the residents' daily rhythm is determined by daylight, comfort is built by natural materials, and smart technologies don't distract, but support the body's biological comfort.
The villa by Hola Design studio in the Młociński Forest features terraces that encourage people to get out into the fresh air
photo by Yassen Hristov
What exactly is biophilic design?
It's not a fad, although it's often portrayed that way. It's a research-based approach that shows how contact with nature - even indoors - affects:
- stress reduction,
- better sleep,
- greater concentration and creativity,
- enhanced immunity.
A biophilic interior has a therapeutic effect, because it gives back to our body something it knows and needs: nature.
In Chotomow, near Warsaw, where a pine forest literally envelops the house, interiors permeated with peace and natural light have been created
Photo by Yassen Hristov
What does an interior that is truly alive look like?
Light as a diurnal rhythm
Biophilic interiors are subordinated to the natural cycle of the day. In the morning, the sun's rays wake up the household members, in the evening warm light - adapted to the biological clock - helps to calm down. Smart light management systems (e.g., Hue, DALI, KNX) are no longer a gadget, but a health-conscious element.
Materials that breathe with you
Stone, wood, linen, brick, wool- it's not just the fashion for rustic finishes. These are materials that do not emit toxins, regulate humidity and even affect the acoustics of the interior. Wood has an anti-static effect and soothes nerves. Wool neutralizes odors. Stone cools in summer, stores heat in winter.
Greenery as a household name
It's not about random flowers on the windowsill. Plants are an integral part of the arrangement - they appear on the walls, under the ceiling, in the built-ins, and even in the form of entire indoor gardens (atriums). Their function is three-dimensional: they purify the air, introduce a rhythm of life and give the space a pulse.
A subtle color palette harmonizes with the surrounding landscape, emphasizing the organic character of the space
Photo by Yassen Hristov
How to create a biophilic interior - concrete, not necessarily for millions
Do away with concrete in the head and living room
Replace cold, technical surfaces with warm textures of wood, natural stone, hand-formed brick. The interior should be pleasant to the touch, not just visually "pretty."
Let light in from all sides
If you can't add glazing - replace dark blinds with light curtains, install mirrors that reflect light. Think about changing the color of lighting in the house - let it shine like the sun in the morning, like a candle fire in the evening.
Invest in plants - like furniture
Instead of one palm tree in a corner, design an entire green wall. Create a "green window" in the kitchen or a miniature winter garden. Preferably one that you can observe from your bed or bath.
True luxury is not about glamour, but the ability to harmoniously coexist with nature
Photo by Yassen Hristov
Space is meant to breathe
Minimalism doesn't have to be cool. A biophilic interior has order, but not emptiness. Furniture and accessories make sense - their presence is supposed to come from need, not from a catalog.
Integrate the interior with the garden (if you have one)
Terrace as an extension of the living room and rain gardens instead of lawn - these are viable solutions. And increasingly - the condition of investors when designing villas.
A house in Konstancin makes the boundary between the interior and the garden almost disappear
Photo by Yassen Hristov
New luxury: less design, more life
Biophilic interiors are becoming the manifesto of those who no longer need to "show that they have." They need to regain balance. The home ceases to be a product - it becomes a living organism that supports, regenerates and harmonizes. As Monika Bronikowska of Hola Design says, it's not just a matter of aesthetics, but a deeply considered philosophy of life. Designing homes that do not compete with the environment, but blend in, is becoming not a luxury, but a necessity.
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