It is assumed that since the beginning of time, humans have had an innate desire for unity with nature, but as civilization has evolved, it has become increasingly difficult to fulfill this desire, especially in densely populated urban areas where there is a focus on buildings and infrastructure rather than on maintaining human connection with nature. The concept of biophilic design has emerged as a major trend in contemporary architectural design and is being considered as an alternative to sustainable architecture. Unfortunately, despite its popularity, no effort has been made to comprehensively outline the etymological roots and historical evolution of the concept, as well as its integration into modern architecture. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive synthesis of the existing literature on biophilia, from its etymological roots to its integration into modern architecture. The approach taken in this review is a critical one, aimed at identifying and summarizing the existing relevant literature.

Keywords: biophilia, biophilic design, biophilic architecture, nature, architecture, environmental psychology, fromm, sustainability