Thanks to the Journal of Biophilic Design for inviting us to contribute to their Biophilic Sound issue. You can read the full article and other inspiring thoughts in the journal.
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Sound is architecture we can’t see. It defines spaces and influences behavior as much as light, material, or layout – shaping how we feel, think, and function.
Sound may also be the most elusive element in biophilic design, especially in urban environments. Opening a window might let in some birdsong, but it brings with it traffic, construction, and other pollutive noise. Closed windows trap us with the hiss of ventilation or the drone of machinery, devoid of any nature.
The challenge here isn’t just to add nature’s soundtrack into buildings, but to do so in a way that supports health, connection and cognition. That’s where design and technology opens up some exciting possibilities.
We know about the benefits of natural sound, but soundscaping is how those benefits are practically applied in indoor spaces. Simply put, this means introducing these sounds into buildings at an ambient level, using sensors to ensure they adapt based on how people are using the space moment to moment.
These soundscapes add an essential sensory dimension; they complement visual biophilic design, support attention, reduce stress, enrich spatial experience, and contribute to a cohesive biophilic experiences.
Soundscaping is a powerful example of something quite rare: how we can use technology to help buildings feel more healthy and organic. It’s a field that’s rapidly evolving, and it’s already changing how we design for wellbeing indoors.
In nature, we move. We may choose a sunny rock to rest on and then step back under the trees when it gets too hot. This mobility is a core part of why outdoor environments feel safe and productive: we can choose our surroundings to match our needs, rather than being fixed in place.
In soundscaping, this translates into designing zones, transitions, and user journeys. For example, a workplace might include a focus zone with soft water for masking, a collaborative area with a more energetic soundscape, and corridors that gently transition between the two or provide sounds that work best with shorter-term exposure.
Using technology, you can even communicate these sensory zones through digital signage, wayfinding cues, or interactive apps to gives people greater clarity and choice.
Natural environments engage all our senses simultaneously. Forests are not experienced through vision alone – they’re a complex combination of scent, texture, breeze, sound, light, and perhaps even taste… This level of sensory experience is rarely matched indoors.
In real-world projects, we’ve begun to combine sensory inputs thoughtfully: aligning soundscapes with lighting changes throughout the day, complementing olfactory design with corresponding soundscape qualities, or using sound to emphasize natural views. These combinations can reduce cognitive fatigue, create a sense of immersion, and help indoor spaces feel more cohesive.
Place matters. Our sense of wellbeing isn’t just shaped by comfort – belonging and emotional connection are important too. Kellert noted that people’s attachments to place can be grounded in ecological and cultural familiarity because of our territorial predispositions. Design that connects to these roots can create more meaningful indoor environments.
Sound is a powerful expression of place. In a workplace in India for a global tech company, we created soundscapes inspired by the nearby Himalayan ecology, including insect and bird sounds found only in that region. Employees spoke of their vivid, emotional connections to these locally-relevant sounds. In another project in Australia, we worked with Aboriginal elders to co-create soundscapes with cultural meaning, which integrated with visual artworks and corresponding interior design elements.
Most indoor sound is monotonous – like air conditioning or humming machinery. It’s constant, repetitive, and often subtly draining. In contrast, natural sound is dynamic. The forest doesn’t loop. It changes from moment to moment, hour to hour, and season to season.
It’s now possible to create indoor soundscapes that are generative rather than repetitive. That means they don’t just play back recordings – they evolve over time, like the natural environments they’re inspired by. This has particular benefits for neurodivergent people, who might be more sensitive to predictable loops.
Generative soundscapes also support attention restoration. Much like the visual experience of dappled sunlight through moving leaves, a gently shifting sonic environment holds our interest without demanding it.
Some systems are responsive too, adapting and optimizing in real time to data like occupancy, time of day, or lighting conditions – creating soundscapes that are not just organic, but intelligent too.
Biophilic sound isn’t just an aesthetic overlay. It’s become a foundational tool in the design of healthy indoor environments. To work at its best, soundscaping can integrate with light, materials, scent, layout, and technology.
We’re already seeing soundscaping shape workplaces, healthcare spaces, learning environments, and more, to create buildings that support restoration, identity, mobility, and engagement. Today’s technology makes it possible to realize these biophilic designs in ways that weren’t achievable before.
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Jeff Larson
Chief Product Officer, Moodsonic
