In the Pacific Northwest, where evergreen forests and tranquil waters surround our cities, homes are increasingly designed to embrace nature rather than shut it out. High-end residential architecture is seeing a calm yet profound revolution: biophilic home design. Far more than adding a few plants or picture windows, this approach seamlessly integrates natural elements into the very architecture and interiors of a home. The result is a living environment attuned to its setting, one that offers refuge, inspiration, and a deep sense of connection to the outdoors even while you’re indoors.

As a Seattle Architect with a holistic design philosophy, Garret Cord Werner has long championed this fusion of nature and design. Our team treats architecture, interior design, and landscape as one integrated whole from the very start of a project. In practice, this means a home’s structure, gardens, materials, and even furnishings are envisioned together – each element influencing the others. The architecture might frame a stunning view of a cedar grove or mountain lake; the interiors might echo the palette and textures of the surrounding terrain; the landscaping might flow directly from the lines of the building. Every decision is made in concert, crafting a home that feels organically part of its environment. This calm, assured approach results in homes that are quietly powerful, deeply livable, and enriched by the sensory gifts of nature.

What is Biophilic Home Design?

Biophilic design is the art and science of reconnecting humans with the natural world within our built environments. The term “biophilia” literally means “love of life,” reflecting our innate affinity for nature. In the context of home design, biophilia translates into spaces that blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors. Rather than viewing nature as an afterthought or mere backdrop, this design philosophy places nature at the center of the home experience. Large expanses of glass, organic materials, interior courtyards, and abundant greenery are employed not just as decorations, but as essential design components.

A biophilic home is planned with a nature-first mindset. This might mean orienting the floor plan to capture daylight and vistas, using materials like wood and stone that carry the warmth of natural textures, or incorporating actual living ecosystems into the home. The goal is to create a residence that feels in tune with its surroundings – a house that breathes with natural ventilation, changes with the daylight, and provides continual visual and tactile connections to the outdoors. Such homes don’t simply occupy a plot of land; they harmonize with the land. The experience of living in them is meant to restore balance, calm, and vitality, tapping into that deep well of comfort we find in nature.

Key Elements of Biophilic Design in Homes

1. Abundant Natural Light and Views
Sunlight and scenery are fundamental to biophilic home design. Expansive windows, skylights, and glass walls welcome in daylight at every opportunity, reducing the need for artificial lighting and forging a direct connection with the outside world. Views of lush greenery, water, or mountains aren’t treated as distant art pieces to be glimpsed through a small window – they become an ever-present backdrop to daily life. In practice, this could mean floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking a garden or lake, or a strategically placed window at the end of a hallway that draws the eye to a stand of fir trees. By maximizing natural light and sightlines, the home’s interior feels bright, open, and intrinsically tied to the landscape. Each room is designed to have a “prospect,” a pleasing view that can be enjoyed whether you’re cooking, working, or bathing, so that nature is always in your peripheral vision.

2. Organic Materials and Forms
Biophilic interiors rely on authentic, natural materials to bring the outdoors inside. Instead of cold, impersonal surfaces, you’ll find rich woods, warm stone, natural fibers, and patinaed metals that echo the hues and textures of the surrounding environment. A Pacific Northwest home, for example, might feature locally sourced cedar ceilings, oak or walnut floors, and stone quarried from the region – materials that have an inherent connection to the land. These elements are often left in a raw or minimally finished state to celebrate their natural beauty: wood grain, stone texture, and even imperfections become part of the visual interest. Beyond materials, biophilic design embraces organic forms and patterns. Curved lines, undulating surfaces, and asymmetry can mimic the shapes we find in nature, from the gentle bend of a branch to the ripple of water. This approach softens the hard edges of modern architecture, creating spaces that feel crafted by hand and inspired by living forms. Every material and form is chosen not only for aesthetics but for the subtle sensory experience it provides – the tactile pleasure of a honed stone countertop, or the way a timber beam overhead can subconsciously evoke the shelter of a forest canopy.

3. Indoor-Outdoor Flow and Spaces
A hallmark of biophilic home design is the seamless flow between indoor and outdoor spaces. This goes beyond merely having a back deck or patio; it’s about dissolving the barriers so the home and its landscape read as one continuous environment. Architects achieve this through design features like wide sliding glass doors or folding walls that can virtually disappear, opening up living rooms or kitchens entirely to the outside. Covered outdoor extensions – think of a terrace with a lounge and dining area – allow homeowners to live in the fresh air through much of the year, while still enjoying the comforts of home. Even in the rainy Pacific Northwest, designs incorporate generous roof overhangs and sheltered courtyards so that outdoor living can be a year-round pleasure. Circulation through the home often deliberately leads you toward outdoor moments: a hallway might end in a glass door to a courtyard garden, or a stair landing might overlook an atrium filled with plants. By creating these physical and visual connections at key points, the house invites its occupants to move fluidly between inside and outside. Daily routines – morning coffee, an afternoon work break, evening entertaining – naturally extend into garden spaces. Over time, this indoor-outdoor lifestyle fosters an intuitive connection to weather, seasons, and the rhythms of nature.

4. Bringing Nature Indoors with Plants and Greenery
While a biophilic home design goes far beyond simply decorating with houseplants, the presence of living greenery inside the home is nonetheless a vital element. Plants help bridge the gap between built space and wild environment. In luxury homes, this often takes the form of indoor gardens, planted atriums, or even dramatic living walls. Imagine a double-height foyer where a full-grown olive tree or Japanese maple is planted under a skylight, making a bold sculptural connection to the outdoors. Or consider a green wall of ferns and tropical plants in a bathroom, turning a routine shower into a rainforest-like retreat. By weaving plant life into the architecture – nestled into niches, trailing from planters on upper levels, or aligned with windows so they visually merge with outside foliage – the design ensures you’re never far from living nature. These plants do more than decorate; they actively improve air quality, add calming fragrance, and create gentle sound with their rustling leaves. The key is thoughtful integration: the greenery should feel like it truly belongs, as much a part of the home’s design as the furniture or artwork. When you step into a home rich with indoor plants, there’s an immediate sense of freshness and vitality, as if the house itself is alive and breathing along with you.

5. Water Features and Sensory Elements
Biophilic design engages all the senses, not just sight. One powerful way to do this is through water. The sound of flowing water – from a courtyard fountain, a reflecting pool, or an indoor waterfall wall – introduces a natural auditory rhythm that soothes and calms. Many high-end homes incorporate water features both outdoors and within interior courtyards or atriums, so that the gentle babble of water permeates the living spaces. Visually, water adds dynamism with its reflections and movement, creating dancing light patterns on ceilings or a mirror-like stillness that doubles the view of surrounding plants. Beyond water, other sensory elements are carefully considered. Natural light shifting through the day creates changing moods and highlights within the home. Operable windows invite natural breezes and the scent of rain-soaked pines or saltwater air, reinforcing the connection to place. Tactile details are also key – perhaps a textured stone wall that invites you to run your hand along it, or a smooth wooden handrail that warms to the touch. Even thermal comfort can be part of the sensory design: a sun-soaked nook by a window provides gentle warmth on a winter morning, much like a sunlit clearing in a forest. By orchestrating light, sound, touch, and even smell, a biophilic home offers a rich sensory tapestry. It’s not just about what looks beautiful – it’s about what feels nurturing and invigorating to live in.

Health Benefits of Biophilic Design

The appeal of biophilic home design isn’t just aesthetic – it’s also deeply rooted in wellness. A growing body of research shows that environments connected to nature have measurable benefits for our mental and physical health. For instance, studies have found that ample natural light boosts productivity and elevates mood, while views of greenery can reduce stress and even contribute to faster healing. Simply put, when your home lets you frequently see sky, trees, and water, your nervous system responds with lower levels of anxiety. The presence of indoor plants has been linked to improved air quality and a sense of calm – some studies suggest that just being around plant life can slow your heart rate and help alleviate tension. Spaces designed with a variety of natural patterns and materials can also prevent sensory dullness and fatigue, keeping the mind engaged and refreshed. Many people report sleeping better in a bedroom that has a view of nature or gets soft morning light, because it helps regulate circadian rhythms.

Beyond these general benefits, a biophilic home can encourage healthier routines. You might find yourself drawn to step outside more often, to take in a sunset from your terrace or tend a herb garden on your kitchen wall, leading to more physical activity and relaxation in your day. Rooms bathed in daylight naturally cut down on the need for harsh artificial lighting, which can ease eye strain and headaches. In essence, a well-designed biophilic home becomes a personal sanctuary that supports your well-being effortlessly. It offers places of both prospect and refuge – broad views that inspire and cozy nooks that comfort. This balance can reduce the chronic stresses of modern life, allowing you to recharge at home. Little wonder that biophilic design principles are increasingly being embraced in wellness architecture: they make our living spaces not only more beautiful, but genuinely healthier and more attuned to human needs.

Biophilic Design in the Pacific Northwest

The Pacific Northwest provides an ideal backdrop for biophilic design, and likewise, biophilic design provides thoughtful solutions for the region’s climate and terrain. Here we are blessed with dramatic natural beauty – dense forests, rugged coastlines, mountains and lakes – but we also face long wet winters and delicate ecosystems. A Pacific Northwest biophilic home is designed to celebrate the scenery while respecting the environment and climate. For example, in our region daylight can be precious in the gray months, so homes are often sited and glazed to capture every available ray of sun. High ceilings and clerestory windows help funnel light deep into the interior even on overcast days. At the same time, deep roof overhangs and generous eaves are common, providing shelter from rain and summer sun; this ensures that outdoor terraces and decks remain usable through drizzles and that large windows don’t cause overheating when the sun does shine.

Native materials play a starring role in Pacific Northwest biophilic homes. Cedar, fir, and hemlock woods – naturally resistant to moisture and rot – are used for siding, soffits, and interior paneling, lending warmth and a subtle fragrance reminiscent of the region’s forests. Stone like basalt or locally quarried granite brings in the geology of the site, grounding the design in the local terrain. These materials age gracefully in our moist climate, developing patinas that further connect the house to its surroundings. Landscape design is equally crucial: rather than clearing sites bald, Design Build Process planning preserves mature trees and works around natural features like boulders or streams. Rain gardens, green roofs, and permeable patios manage the abundant rainfall sustainably, turning potential challenges into assets. Many Pacific Northwest homes also incorporate covered outdoor rooms with fireplaces or heaters, acknowledging that with a bit of warmth, people will happily enjoy fresh air even on crisp rainy days. The result is architecture that doesn’t shy away from our Northwest weather but embraces it – framing the misty mornings, capturing the low-angled winter sun, and opening up to the clear summer twilights. It’s an approach rooted in stewardship and site-specific design: the home belongs to its place, benefiting both its inhabitants and the environment.

Biophilic Design in Action: Pacific Northwest Projects

Garret Cord Werner’s portfolio offers numerous examples of biophilic design principles brought to life. Our Architect and Interior Design Projects in Seattle, Vancouver, and beyond demonstrate how integrating architecture, interiors, and landscape yields homes that are one with nature. Here are a few project highlights that showcase different facets of biophilic home design:

1. Medina Zen Garden – Lakeside Sanctuary
Perched on a slope overlooking Lake Washington, the Medina Zen Garden residence embodies indoor-outdoor living in a Pacific Northwest context. The design maximizes panoramic lake and city skyline views with expansive glass walls and open-air patio spaces, all while nestling the house gently into its wooded site. The home’s contemporary lines are softened by water and earth: a series of architectural reflecting ponds cascade toward the lake, visually drawing the water up to the house. At the heart of the home is a tranquil courtyard garden planted with ornamental pines, which creates a private oasis visible from all the main rooms. One signature feature is a sunken Japanese soaking tub in the master bath that opens directly onto this zen garden – an intimate retreat where one can bathe surrounded by ferns, trickling water, and dappled natural light. Throughout the Medina home, materials like cedar and native stone blend with the landscape palette. The transition from interior to exterior is almost seamless: continuous floor materials run outside, and large sliding doors disappear to join the living room with the terrace. Even on a rainy Seattle day, the residents feel connected to the misty scenery, while on bright days the entire house opens up to breeze and birdsong. This project illustrates how a thoughtful design can turn a steep lakeside lot into a peaceful sanctuary, where architecture and nature reflect one another.

2. Pacific Spirit Art Estate & Garden – Forest Retreat
Located in the heart of the Pacific Northwest’s coastal rainforest, the Pacific Spirit Art Estate & Garden is a 12,000-square-foot property that merges modern luxury with the timeless calm of nature. The home is crafted to embrace its lush surroundings of towering evergreens and rolling hills at every turn. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrap the main living areas, offering unobstructed views of the forest and flooding the interiors with soft natural light. Glass doors open onto terraces that overlook a series of koi ponds and cascading waterfalls integrated into the landscape. The design literally invites the forest inside: in the great room, the glass wall frames a living tableau of mossy trunks and fluttering leaves, making the interior feel like an extension of the woods. Natural stone and wood abound, from the slate floors to the hemlock-clad ceilings, giving the estate a grounded, organic feel despite its grand scale. Every room has a strong connection to the outdoors – whether it’s the kitchen opening to an edible garden or a bedroom with a private balcony gazing into the trees.

One of the most striking features is the way art, architecture, and landscape are intertwined. The owners’ extensive art collection is displayed in harmony with natural elements; sculptures are placed in the garden to be discovered along winding paths, and interior gallery walls are positioned so that paintings are illuminated by filtered daylight and complemented by glimpses of greenery. A gentle stream runs alongside the home, and the sound of water provides a constant, calming soundtrack. On a practical level, the Pacific Spirit Estate employs sustainable design strategies appropriate to the region: deep overhangs and high-performance glass manage solar gain, and the construction uses energy-efficient systems to maintain comfort amid the damp coastal climate. Winner of multiple awards for architecture and interior design, this estate demonstrates how biophilic principles can be executed at a grand scale. Despite its size and sophistication, the home feels profoundly peaceful – a retreat where one can experience the silence of the forest, the movement of water, and the change of seasons from within a space of refined comfort.

3. Garden Wall Residence – Living Architecture
The Garden Wall Residence is an example of bringing nature right into the fabric of a contemporary home. Sited on a gentle slope in Seattle, this 4,600-square-foot home is named for the way its architecture works with garden elements as functional parts of the design. The exterior blends into the verdant neighborhood with a palette of concrete and cedar – sleek surfaces paired with warm, tactile wood that echo the mix of city and greenery around it. Inside, the house is organized around light and landscape. An open-plan main level connects front and back gardens in one line of sight; you can stand in the kitchen and look through the house to see leaves swaying outside on both sides. A dramatic stairwell is bathed in daylight from a skylight above, creating a vertical connection to the sky. Perhaps the most unique feature is the kitchen atrium: upper cabinetry was kept minimal and clerestory “infinity” windows were installed, allowing the entire ceiling area to become a light well. In this atrium space, a living green wall climbs toward the skylight, so while you cook or dine you’re surrounded by a vertical garden filtering the air.

This residence blurs indoor and outdoor boundaries with finesse. Continuous cedar ceiling planks extend from the interior living room straight out to the exterior eaves, guiding the eye outward and making the rooms feel larger. Large sliding glass doors align with interior wood flooring to create a smooth threshold onto decks and patios. Even the home’s systems were designed to be discreet so nothing detracts from the natural vibe – for instance, HVAC vents are hidden and a lot of storage is built-in, keeping clutter out of sight. The result is an uncluttered, tranquil atmosphere where the views of the garden become the art on the walls. Every space was carefully positioned to capture either a snippet of the Seattle skyline or a glimpse of greenery, ensuring that no corner of the home feels disconnected from nature. In the Garden Wall Residence, modern design and nature literally build upon each other: the architecture holds up the garden, and the garden in turn softens and completes the architecture.

4. Tranquil Garden Residence – Courtyard Haven
Nestled into its lakeside hillside site, the Tranquil Garden Residence was designed for multi-generational living with nature as the common ground. Approaching this home, you follow a gently descending path through lush native plantings and across stepping stones that traverse a shallow flowing water feature. This journey prepares you for the experience to come – by the time you reach the front door, you’re already immersed in a garden setting, having left the street and its worries far behind. The house itself is arranged as two wings (or pavilions) connected by a central open-air courtyard. In this courtyard grows a mix of Japanese maples and mossy groundcover surrounding a reflecting pond. The courtyard not only ties the two living volumes together but also acts as the spiritual heart of the home, an open sky garden that provides light, fresh air, and a sense of serenity to both levels of the house. Main living areas and bedrooms all open toward this space, granting each room a view of greenery or water. Even on a rainy day, you can walk under covered breezeways around the courtyard, essentially taking a stroll in the garden while remaining under shelter.

For the interior finishes, natural materials reign supreme – from hand-finished oak flooring to stone surfaces that mirror the colors of the lakeshore pebble beach nearby. The gentle sound of water flowing through the entry sequence continues subtly in the background when windows are open, thanks to a small waterfall that cascades into the courtyard pond. It creates a constant soothing ambiance. Large overhangs protect the windows of the home from heavy rains and summer sun, allowing the glass doors to stay open for ventilation whenever weather permits. In winter, an outdoor fire feature in the courtyard provides warmth and draws family members out for evening conversations under the stars. The Tranquil Garden Residence illustrates how biophilic design can facilitate family connection as well – the indoor-outdoor layout encourages grandparents, parents, and children to come together in the shared courtyard, gardening, relaxing, or simply enjoying nature’s presence as a backdrop to family life. It’s a home that feels like a private retreat, where the line between house and garden disappears into an atmosphere of calm.

Crafting Timeless Nature-Rich Homes

Biophilic home design is more than a trend in the Pacific Northwest – it’s a natural evolution of how we want to live, especially in a region where the environment has always been a defining influence. By thoughtfully connecting homeowners to nature through architecture, we create residences that feel inevitable to their sites, as if they truly belong in the landscape. At Garret Cord Werner, this philosophy of integration guides every project. We believe a home should engage the senses, offer comfort and inspiration, and above all, feel in harmony with its surroundings. When architecture, interiors, and landscape are conceived together, the home becomes quietly alive – daylight and shadow play across crafted surfaces, breezes and birdsong drift through open windows, and daily life naturally aligns with the outdoors.

In our experience, these nature-infused homes age gracefully and remain meaningful across generations. They are built with materials of integrity and with an eye toward sustainability, ensuring longevity and reducing environmental impact. Most importantly, they continue to nourish those who live in them. A well-designed biophilic home can instill a sense of peace each time you walk through the door, and it can invigorate you with the simple joys of a sunbeam or a garden view at every turn. This is the essence of our work – creating spaces that are not only visually stunning but also soulfully enriching and deeply practical for day-to-day living. If you’re interested in bringing the calming, rejuvenating effects of nature into your own home design, we invite you to Contact Us. Our integrated team of architects, interior designers, and landscape designers is ready to craft a timeless, nature-rich home that reflects your vision and the singular beauty of the Pacific Northwest.