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Global Health Econ Sustain

PERSPECTIVE ARTICLE
Neuroinclusive workplaces and biophilic design:

Strategies for promoting occupational health
and sustainability in smart cities

James Hutson* and Piper Hutson

Art History and Visual Culture, Lindenwood University, Saint Charles, Missouri, USA

Abstract

This study aims to investigate the impact of biophilic design on occupational
health and productivity, with a particular focus on addressing the needs of diverse
populations, including the neurodiverse, during the post-pandemic return to work.
With an estimated 15 – 20% of the global population considered neurodiverse, it
is crucial to understand and accommodate their specific needs, such as those with
attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum condition, and learning
disabilities. These individuals face increased occupational stress, necessitating the
development of targeted strategies. The renewed interest in sustainability and
employee well-being has led to a resurgence of biophilic design in the workplace.
Grounded in the concept that humans possess an inherent inclination to affiliate
with nature, the biophilic design integrates natural elements and art into the built
Academic editor: environment. This integration has been found to reduce activity in the amygdala,
Mihajlo Jakovljevic M.D. Ph.D. MAE promoting stress recovery, prolonged attention, and increased productivity
*Corresponding author: among employees. To effectively acclimate neurodiverse individuals in the work
James Hutson environment, biophilic design should be complemented using extended reality (XR)
(jhutson@lindenwood.edu) technology supported by artificial intelligence. Virtual reality, in particular, has been
Citation: Hutson, J., & Hutson, P., shown to facilitate individuals’ comfort in new workspaces, aid in self-assessments
(2023). Neuroinclusive workplaces through biofeedback, and enable the adjustment of surroundings for self-regulation.
and biophilic design: Strategies for Furthermore, biophilic design has the potential to promote sustainability in smart
promoting occupational health and
sustainability in smart cities. Glob cities by integrating natural elements into the built environment. This integration
Health Econ Sustain. helps reduce the carbon footprint of buildings and enhances energy efficiency. By
https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.0549 creating workplaces that prioritize biophilic design principles, organizations can
Received: April 18, 2023 contribute to a more inclusive, sustainable, and productive work environment.
Accepted: June 20, 2023
Published Online: July 6, 2023 Keywords: Autism spectrum condition; Biophilia; Biophilic design; Neuroaffirming;
Neurodiversity
Copyright: © 2023 Author(s).
This is an Open Access article
distributed under the terms of the
Creative Commons Attribution
License, permitting distribution, 1. Introduction
and reproduction in any medium,
provided the original work is
properly cited. The concept of biophilia was initially introduced by social psychologist Erich Fromm in
1964 and subsequently gained prominence through the work of biologist Wilson in the
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with 1980s (Hartig et al., 2011; Wilson, 1986). Wilson posited that increasing urbanization
regard to jurisdictional claims in contributes to a growing disconnect from the natural world (Kellert & Wilson, 1995).
published maps and institutional
affiliations. The interdisciplinary applications of biophilia have since expanded, encompassing

Volume 1 Issue 1 (2023) 1 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.0549