Biophilic Architecture The Next Big Thing in the GCC Design Scene

 INSIGHTS

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region has a soaring pace of urban infrastructure development. This includes the installation of amenities like water supply, transport, sanitation, energy, and waste management alongside building structures like schools, hospitals, and recreational spaces to provide a better quality of life to people. But, in doing so, the idea of living in harmony with nature has gone for a toss. In fact, it’s become an unconventional luxury in cities where access to the natural environment is scarce and diluted by rampant deforestation and pollution. 

By Pragya Sharma

13 June 2025

Views of the lush green in cities like Dubai and Sharjah are only aspirational because the skyline juxtaposes buildings made with glass, steel, and concrete on one end and a barren expanse of sand and rock on the other side. But this is where biophilic architecture comes into the picture, helping bring nature back to cities. It is a design approach that weaves nature and nature-inspired elements into built spaces. 

Taking a leaf from the renowned Finnish architect Alvar Aalto’s practice, he once said, “Form must have a content, and that content must be linked with nature.” In saying so, he proposed that a building's design needs to have a purpose and should be inspired by nature since it offers the greatest repository of ideas and resources. 

What are the Benefits of Biophilic Architecture? 

The interdependence between humans and nature is a universal truth. If you were to take a moment of pause and think about a happy space, you would probably describe a semi-outdoor or outdoor space where you can see the sky and the surrounding greenery. This is because our minds and bodies are wired to become calmer, happier, and more productive in the presence of natural landscapes. Holding from this belief, biophilic architecture seeks to bridge the gap between people and their environment by inviting nature indoors through form and function. 

For instance, exposure to sunlight enhances mood and productivity, a view of plants and trees helps reduce stress and rejuvenate, while the availability of fresh air avoids falling prey to sick building syndrome. Additionally, it diminishes the reliance on mechanical systems for heating and cooling interior spaces to achieve thermal comfort. In the larger picture, this brings down energy bills and promotes a cleaner, more sustainable building design.

Zooming in on the GCC region, where the scorching sun and heat waves make extreme mechanical air conditioning the norm, biophilic design presents a lucrative opportunity to design buildings with a smarter and region-responsive approach. It brings a unique architecture strategy to the table that is more humane and environmentally conscious.

Why is Biophilic Architecture the Need of the Hour?

Quoting from a report by Consultancy-me, about 90% of the GCC population is expected to reside in cities by 2050. This implies that concretisation will rise in the region, eventually leading to an environmental crisis in the form of global warming. Hence, the need for a biophilic approach to design is now more than ever. The world is taking note of GCC cities like Dubai, Riyadh, and Doha, which are reinventing the future of architecture with their bold, out-of-the-box thinking. For such urban sprawls, it is vital to lead by example and promote biophilic ideas as a way forward in the buildings of tomorrow. 

In the US-based author Timothy Beatley’s book, “Biophilic Cities: Integrating Nature into Urban Design and Planning”, he advocates the creation of biophilic cities that introduce nature into the day-to-day lives of their residents. He suggests bringing the greenery into buildings, walkways, and even infrastructure, so that residents experience nature in both subtle and immersive ways. This approach is specifically relevant to the GCC, where the blending of technological advancement with nature-conscious planning could define the next era of livable, future-ready cities.

What are the Features of Biophilic Architecture?

Biophilia is a strategy that is used to improve the wellness, performance, and spatial experience of people. Since it’s inspired by nature, biophilia invites more context and logic to design through passive means. Here are the key features of this architectural style:

1. Courtyards 

Comparing the picture of a traditional Emirati, Saudi, and Omani architecture, a common design element would be the courtyard. It is usually a centrally located space in the building that serves as a catalyst for cross ventilation. The modern-day biophilic design in GCC can retrieve this feature in their designs by creating shaded atriums, terraces, semi-open courtyards, and cooling towers. Vegetation and naturally textured surfaces can be incorporated in such spaces to further bring down the indoor temperature and fight the urban heat island effect.

2. Native Landscaping 

The GCC region is characterised by a hot and arid climate with an annual average temperature of about 42 degrees Celsius. Therefore, importing high-foliage evergreen plant species in this geography does not sum up as a wise decision. Biophilic principles make this decision easier by hinting at the use of desert-adaptation plants like ghaf trees, date and palm trees, neem, bougainvillea, and various other succulents. These plants need minimal irrigation and can thrive in saline, dry soils. 

3. Water Features

An expansive array of deserts makes water a symbol of luxury, peace, and haven in the GCC region. Borrowing from history, the Islamic gardens and Persian qanats are a prime example of that. But, in the case of biophilic design, water can be introduced not only as a visually appealing element but also for passive cooling. Waterbodies like ponds, pools, and fountains can help in achieving localised evaporative cooling and thermal comfort. In cities like Abu Dhabi and Doha, where the government is taking initiatives to enhance walkability with air-conditioned promenades and green parks, biophilic architecture can prove as a key enabler in realising such ambitious projects. It can reduce the perceived heat stress, encourage outdoor activity, and significantly reduce energy demands.

4. Daylight Optimization

Natural light is a non-negotiable for thriving indoor environments. It helps beat dullness, exhaustion, and boredom while ensuring the human body keeps up with the circadian rhythm. Speaking of the GCC region, daylighting is, however, a tricky element because it often translates to heat gain. Here, biophilic architecture can be used as a tool to resolve this issue through smart shading devices like deep overhangs, recessed windows, brise-soleils (jalis), louvres, and traditional mashrabiya screens. These features help in filtering light while aiding cross ventilation, thereby posing a win-win situation for the region’s arid climate.

5. Use of Natural Materials

Since biophilic architecture is seeded in the principles of vernacular design, the local materials GCC becomes a prime source of inspiration. Glass and concrete have long dominated the region, but sustainable materials like datecrete, desert board, and dateform offer a promising alternative to conventional high-carbon-emitting materials. Furthermore, materials like terracotta and rammed earth have historically proven their capability to withstand the harsh climate of the Gulf countries. They can be used to bring thermal comfort and a humane element to spaces.

In Conclusion

On a global level, biophilic architecture showcases immense potential to address the looming concerns of climate change. It is also a potent strategy to deal with the challenges of dense construction activities and increasing indoor lifestyles. Given such rewarding results, biophilic design can be used as a pivotal component of regional policies and sustainable frameworks like Estidama in Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. These interventions encourage greener and more people-centric architecture, which can inevitably improve the quality of life of people on Earth.