Nature's Blueprint
4 Biophilic Design Paths for Healthcare Renewal
More than functional, today’s healthcare and wellness facilities are crafted to refresh the body and re-center the mind, supporting everything from brief visits to long-term care. Designers are turning to biophilic design—a practice rooted in nature’s restorative power—to create environments that feel as good as they perform. Echoing WGSN’s Geo-Logic trend of nature-led, sensorial, and ancient artisanal design, these strategies signal a shift toward spaces that support both human and planetary well-being.
Here are four ways Momentum is helping shape healthcare spaces through renewed takes on biophilic design:
1. Fractals & Neuroaesthetics
Biophilic trend forecasts highlight fractal-inspired surfaces as essential to immersive, multisensorial spaces—where natural rhythm, texture, and light support both psychological and physical well-being. Research shows that fractals—self-repeating patterns found in coastlines, rivers, tree branches, and even leaves—can reduce stress by up to 60% in less than a minute of exposure, even when seen peripherally.
Similar to the restorative effects of forest bathing, these naturally occurring geometries help calm the nervous system, lower blood pressure, and promote mental clarity. They also advance neuroinclusive design by balancing stimulation in ways that soothe those prone to overstimulation while gently engaging those who seek more input.
Momentum brings this science into practice through its collaboration with 13&9 Design and Dr. Richard Taylor of Fractals Research, transforming the mathematics of nature into serene wallcoverings. These designs create a subtle sense of rhythm and awe, bringing evidence-based calm into environments where wellness is a priority.
From waiting areas to meditation rooms, fractal-inspired surfaces offer more than aesthetic appeal—they provide measurable benefits that align with the growing demand for spaces that nurture both patients and staff.
Bask in Patterns of Restoration
2. Bio-Based Materials for a Better Tomorrow
Biophilia isn’t only about pattern—it’s also about the palettes and materials we surround ourselves with. Biophilic trend forecasts emphasize Crafted Naturals and Unearthed aesthetics, where renewable resources, artisanal processes, and even undyed fibers are celebrated for their honesty and resilience.
In wellness spaces from senior living to medical centers, these choices matter deeply: material decisions impact not just durability and maintenance, but also air quality, comfort, and the broader environmental footprint. By shifting toward bio-based resources, designers are crafting spaces that restore both people and the planet.
Momentum brings this philosophy into practice through its Better by Nature portfolio, a collection of performance-driven textiles and wallcoverings that balance sustainability with strength. From bio-sourced coated textiles that replace fossil fuels with renewable corn content to Hyphyn™ biodegradable vinyls that break down within two years, these materials combine resilience with responsibility. They echo ancestral wisdom—favoring natural cycles and honest craft—while meeting the rigorous demands of modern wellness facilities.
Commercial spaces built on this foundation do more than endure—they embody renewal, creating restorative places that are safer, longer-lasting, and more attuned to planetary well-being.
Cross Into Sustainable Horizons
3. Hygiene Meets Humanity
Cleanability has long been a requirement in care settings—but design no longer has to feel clinical. WGSN’s call for multisensorial spaces and “transformative nature” reflects a broader movement toward interiors where safety, softness, and human connection can coexist.
Designers today are blending high-performance materials with light, organic forms, and tactile warmth—an approach WGSN identifies as central to reducing stress, encouraging restoration, and promoting dignity in spaces dedicated to wellness.
A Best of NeoCon award winner for Healthcare Textiles, Momentum’s Light Collection captures the soothing rhythm of light, transforming healthcare interiors with patterns that feel both inviting and refined. Hospitality-inspired patterns and textures soften once-utilitarian spaces with a sense of ease and uplift.
Beyond aesthetics, the collection delivers the durability that wellness spaces demand—featuring bleach-cleanable textiles, Crypton® fabrics, and coated solutions. Certified Red List Free and GREENGUARD, each of these offerings unites resilience with comfort to create interiors that safeguard health while supporting well-being.
Shift Toward Spaces That Soothe
4. Sculptural Soundscapes
As wellness design expands, acoustics are becoming an integral part of restorative environments. Designers are exploring patterns that feel hand-carved and earth-driven, from the permanence of stone to the fluidity of water.
WGSN’s Unearthed product direction reflects this same pull toward raw, sand-like textures and elemental finishes that recall weathered landscapes and geological formations. In wellness and health centers to senior living facilities, these sculptural cues create mindfulness in motion—easing stress while enhancing settings for rest, focus, or recovery.
Momentum’s acoustic solutions embody this nature-inspired etched aesthetic. From Pindrop, Chesil’s pebbled surface recalls stone shaped by time, while Suna’s rhythmic linework reflects the contemplative practice of raking sand in Zen gardens. Geofusion contributes sweeping arcs, and water-inspired motifs such as Currents WC and NuFelt Mystic Pathway mirror the ebb and flow of waves.
From rolled goods to rigid panels and petal-shaped tiles, our acoustics blend art and nature into sculptural surfaces—supporting 360-degree wellness and serenity from intimate rooms to larger gathering spaces. Each design integrates texture, NRC-rated performance, and organic form to create environments that restore.
Tune into Tranquil Surroundings
Takeaways
Biophilic design is no longer a luxury in healthcare or any therapeutic, wellness, or care environment—it’s a necessity for renewal and resilience. Guided by the restorative blueprint of the natural world, Momentum products foster spaces that feel sustainable, inspiring, and connected, inside and out.
For more wellness design inspiration, explore more on our Healthcare Market page, healthcare design trends on Pinterest, and our News/Press page for the latest in design and sustainability.
Sources
WGSN: “Interiors Forecast S/S 27: Geo-Logic." https://www.wgsn.com/interiors/article/682f4a9af354e8b11d2d79af