Biophilic Design Principles in Library Interiors: A Proposal for a Conceptual Design Guide

Abstract

As urbanization, digitalization, and prolonged indoor occupancy increasingly weaken human contact with nature, biophilic design has emerged as a significant approach for improving the environmental quality of learning spaces. Although a growing body of research has examined the cognitive, psychological, and experiential benefits of biophilic environments, studies focusing specifically on library interiors remain limited. Addressing this gap, this study investigates how biophilic design principles become spatially visible in contemporary library interiors and how these principles can be systematized into a conceptual design guide. The research adopts a qualitative multiple case study method and examines four contemporary libraries selected from different geographical and cultural contexts: Library in the Earth (Japan), Calgary Central Library (Canada), Seashore Library (China), and Austin Central Library (USA). The cases were analysed through thematic visual and spatial interpretation based on established biophilic design frameworks. The findings reveal that natural light, visual connection with nature, materiality, prospect–refuge balance, and spatial transition strategies are the most consistent biophilic components across the cases, although their expression varies according to context. Based on these findings, the study proposes a conceptual design guide for library interiors. The article contributes to the biophilic design literature by offering a library-specific, design-oriented framework for future practice.