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This week’s Feature Story zeros in on a topic that has taken the hospitality sector by storm as of late. We’re talking about biophilic design. Our team spoke with hoteliers, architects, and designers to gain insight into how this nature-led design ethos is transforming hospitality spaces and enhancing guest well-being.

And one final thing, we’re joining forces with Baotree for a live webinar that will arm your team with practical strategies to lead from the ground up. Don’t miss this high-energy session co-led by our Co-Founder, Rhea Vitto Tabora. You’ll find the registration link below.

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Designing Desire: The Business and Wellness Case for Biophilic Hospitality

Hospitality has long been measured by its ability to provide comfort and luxury, but things are changing. With the rise of biophilic design, guests now want more than just a place to stay.

They are looking for spaces that bring them closer to nature and inspire them. It's now about blending the natural world into architecture and creating experiences that go beyond the built environment.

This article explores the core principles and growing importance of biophilic design, highlighting its benefits and successes.

It offers hospitality professionals a practical guide to creating spaces that deeply resonate with guests while promoting sustainability.

What is Biophilic Design and Why Does it Matter?

Matthew Potter, Board Director of WilkinsonEyre, explains that biophilic design is "centered on reconnecting people with nature in the built environment (with well-documented impacts on human health, productivity, and well-being) but we like to consider it as part of a wider, holistic approach to sustainable design: the optimization of natural light and ventilation in low-energy buildings, the use of low-carbon materials, the integration of meaningful landscape that is rich in biodiversity, the making of spaces and places that are both restorative for their users and regenerative for the environment."

Fundamental Principles of Biophilic Design

• Natural Materials with Sensory Depth

• Live Greenery — Adapted and Localized

• Passive Design for Light, Air, and Water

• Cultural and Contextual Authenticity

→ Go deeper into these principles.

Case Studies 

A Vertical Urban Sanctuary Rooted in Heritage

Artyzen Singapore exemplifies biophilic innovation in one of Asia's most vibrant retail and business districts. 

"Biophilic design isn't just a feature — it's part of who we are and how we approach hospitality," says Marcel NA Holman, General Manager.

As a newly built hotel (completed in 2023), it was designed with intention, paying tribute to the heritage of the former Villa Marie and Singapore’s identity as a garden city.

The hotel aims to create a vertical oasis on Orchard Road, offering guests a connection to nature and a sense of nourishment from their surroundings.  

→ Read more about Artyzen Singapore.

Low-Impact Immersion: Jungle Luxury through Respectful Design

Capella Ubud, Bali is a case study in unobtrusive, immersive biophilic design. Conceptualized by renowned architect Bill Bensley, the resort was never designed to dominate the landscape; rather, it was intended to blend seamlessly into the surroundings.

Not a single tree was cut during the camp's construction. Elevated tented accommodations are thoughtfully nestled within the natural canopy, resonating with the Balinese respect for land and life. 

Capella Ubud, Bali is a living example of how biophilic design can create harmony between built environments and the natural world.

→ Read more about Capella Ubud, Bali.

A High-Rise Oasis: Connected, Productive, Green

CapitaSpring, a 51-storey integrated development in Singapore, which houses the 299-unit serviced residence Citadines Raffles Place Singapore, proves that biophilic design can flourish even amidst skyscrapers. 

The four-story, 35-meter-high "Green Oasis" is a rare sanctuary in the CBD of Singapore, sheltering over 38,000 plants (more than 63% of which are native).

→ Read more about Citadines Raffles Place Singapore.

Living Heritage: Melding Culture, Ecology, and Community

Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Ubud, Bali, offers a living lesson in designing biophilic spaces that go beyond mere aesthetics to become cultural landmarks. Inspired by local village forms, the resort integrates rice paddies, rainforest, and the sacred Ayung River into its setting. 

Mandapa preserves approximately 13 acres of rainforest in agreement with local villages — an active approach to both ecological and cultural conservation.

→ Read more about Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve.

Island Regeneration: Bamboo Innovation and Off-Grid Living

No property demonstrates low-impact luxury quite like Cempedak and Nikoi Private Islands. 

"When we started our journey back in 2004, no one was even talking about biophilic design. Our approach was rooted in a simple philosophy: a desire to be close to nature. During the early development days, we camped on the islands, which gave us a true understanding of what living in nature is like, including the challenges of operating through adverse weather," shares Andrew Dixon, Co-Founder of Cempedak and Nikoi Private Islands.

→ Read more about Cempedak and Nikoi Private Islands. 

Restorative Retreat amid Wildlife and Forest

Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree in Singapore offers an urban escape deeply embedded in nature. Part of Mandai Wildlife Reserve, the resort embraces biophilic design "to create a restorative guest experience that coexists in harmony with nature."

"We are the first resort in a world-leading nature and wildlife destination in a capital city, where travellers can immerse themselves in the wonders of biodiversity on their doorstep," says Hotel Manager Shereen Chow. 

→ Read more about Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree. 

Wellness-Driven Urban Hospitality: Nature-Infused Tranquility

The Westin Yokohama reimagines wellness in an urban setting. The design intent is clear: to create a "forest bathing" experience with living green walls as the highlight of the reception and open-roof meeting spaces. 

Guestrooms feature automatic blinds that let in the light as guests enter, and the entryway of each room has a dappled lighting effect, as if sunlight is shining through leaves. “This is our 'shinrinyoku' (forest bathing),” notes Gabrielle Doman, The Westin Yokohama's Hotel & Restaurant Marketing Manager. 

→ Read more about The Westin Yokohama. 

Restoring Island Biodiversity

Six Senses Yao Noi is known for its regenerative landscaping and biodiversity. 

Graham Grant, General Manager, says, "From the moment guests arrive, Six Senses Yao Noi surrounds them with nature's rhythm. Lush greenery, cooling breezes, and hand-built villas crafted from local, renewable materials. Our design is rooted in biophilic principles, incorporating features such as passive cooling and natural ventilation, as well as regenerative landscaping that attracts hornbills and nurtures biodiversity."

→ Read more about Six Senses Yao Noi. 

Expert Recommendations – The Practical Road to Biophilic Adoption 

The potential of biophilic design is vast, but successful implementation requires more than inspiration—it takes strategic alignment with operational goals and local ecosystems. Here's how hospitality professionals can get it right, backed by expert advice. 

1. Start with foundational simplicity. 

2. Collaborate with local experts.  

3. Align design with maintenance needs.  

4. Educate and inspire internal stakeholders.  

→ Go deeper into these recommendations.

The Future of Biophilic Design 

When asked about the future of biophilic design in the hospitality industry, Clint Nagata, Founder and Creative Partner of BLINK Design Group, believes that "we're moving toward a kind of 'immersive naturalism' — where biophilic design becomes more sophisticated and integrated into the fundamental architecture of spaces rather than being an add-on feature. 

"I strongly believe the next big movement in design will be biophilic design, and this will be driven by increasing awareness of wellness and sustainability.

Only 6 Days Left!

Don’t miss this insights-packed webinar that could shift how your team drives sustainability!

Time’s running out to reserve your spot for the Sustainability Beyond The Manager: Engaging Your Entire Team webinar.

Dimitri Syrris and Rhea Vitto Tabora will deliver high-energy, practical insights and real-world examples to help your hospitality or tourism team lead real change at every level.

🗓  31 July 2025
⏰ 10:00 AM South Africa | 3:00 PM Jakarta, Thailand, Vietnam | 4:00 PM Bali, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore

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