lifestyle

Biophilia in the home: why you should take a warm shower, even if you are clean

Image of the head of a person taking a shower
Photo by Photo By: Kaboompics.com on Pexels.com

In my last post, I wrote about the benefits of incorporating non-rhythmic stimuli into the built environment as a biophilic design intervention. In both the home and the workplace, we can use such stimuli to add an extra dimension to our sensory experiences, which ought to improve our wellbeing and comfort.

In the home, one of the most potent things you can do to create a biophilic experience is to take a nice, warm shower.

A warm shower can be more than a utilitarian act of hygiene – it is a deeply pleasurable, biophilic experience. It engages so many of our senses: sound, touch, smell (if your shower gel is nice) and warmth in ways that can be both soothing and invigorating. This offers a good blend of physical and psychological benefits. One reason for this pleasure lies in the non-rhythmic sensory experience it provides, which is an important element of biophilia and our innate need to connect with nature.

Unlike the predictable, repetitive stimuli we often encounter in daily life, such as the hum of a computer or the ticking of a clock, the sensation of water cascading over the skin is irregular and varied. This non-rhythmic stimulation captures our attention without overwhelming is. The gentle, unpredictable patterns of water droplets hitting the skin can almost induce a meditative state, allowing the mind to unwind and release stress and provide a mental escape.

The skin, as our largest sense organ, plays a central role in this experience. When warm water flows over the body, it stimulates countless nerve endings embedded in the skin, sending signals to the brain that trigger the release of feel-good neurotransmitters like endorphins and serotonin. The warmth of the water also promotes vasodilation, improving blood circulation and creating a comforting, enveloping sensation. This tactile stimulation is deeply grounding and fosters a sense of physical and emotional well-being. Furthermore, the contrast between the warmth of the water and the cooler air outside the shower can heighten sensory awareness, making the experience even more vivid and enjoyable. These elements could be thought of as a multisensory ritual that not only cleanses the body but also rejuvenates the mind. A warm shower a profoundly pleasurable, restorative and essentially biophilic act – cleansing both mind and body.

The biophilic beauty of flames

Image of two candles with flickering flames
Flames for biophilic heating

One of the most popular videos on Netflix at the moment is an open fire. Logs alight with bright flames dancing and the sound of the wood crackling and popping as the wood burns. Similar videos can be found on You Tube and many other platforms, and they gain millions of views.

For many people, especially those living in urban settings, live fires aren’t possible. Smoke control regulations for good air quality makes lighting a fire unlawful in many circumstances (and can exacerbate poor air quality, especially in the winter). More modern homes, as well as flats and other high-density housing won’t have fire places, so a even if a real fire was desirable, it isn’t going to be possible.

Modern heating systems are much better at distributing warmth around the home, and are probably a lot cheaper than buying in a load of seasoned logs, so flames seem rather redundant.

Yet, we humans seem to have a primeval urge to be drawn to flames. It could be videos, or even the flame effects that you can find on electric fires, or our desire to light candles (or even switch on LED flames in fake candles) to create an atmosphere when a light bulb is far more efficient.

A picture of lighted candles
Photo by Matej Novosad on Pexels.com

Objectively, flames in the home are a terrible idea. They are polluting, inefficient, labour-intensive and can be expensive. If left unattended, they can also be dangerous. A radiator and a light bulb are much easier to live with. So why do we like flames?

Biophilic design is used to make us feel comfortable in the artificial environments of our modern, unnatural homes and workplaces. Reconnecting ourselves with the sensory stimuli that enabled our species to survive in our wild, natural environment means that we can reduce stress and live happier, healthier and more productive lives. One of the elements of biophilic design that is often left out of our buildings is non-rhythmic sensory stimulation.

Non-rhythmic sensory stimulation can manifest itself in many ways – some of which will be expanded upon in future posts – but examples can include the sound of water in streams or rainfall, birdsong, the dynamic use of shadows that move across a space over the period of a day, the feeling of a refreshing breeze on the skin or the pleasure of a warm shower to relax under, rather than just for the utility of hygiene. It can also be found in the movements of flames, the curling of smoke and the irregular popping and crackling of wood.

In buildings, these elements can be incorporated into design. Soundscaping and lighting design can be used creatively. Objects, such as plants and furnishings can be positioned to cast shadows and simulated fire can create feelings of cosy security.