Designing Multisensory Biophilic Futures: Exploring the Potential of Interaction Design to Deepen Human Connections With Nature in Indoor Environments

Advances in interaction design, architecture, and artificial intelligence offer new possibilities for built environments. Yet, systems focus on improving physical parameters such as indoor air quality. While these enhance physical comfort, they often overlook an innate aspect of human experience-our connection with nature-fundamental to physical and mental health. In contrast, architecture offers a rich legacy of biophilic design that creates sensory-rich spaces evoking a connection to nature. What insights can biophilic architecture offer to guide interactive experiences in future buildings? Drawing on 13 expert interviews, we expose the gap between current biophilic practices in smart buildings and the multidimensional potential of nature-inspired design. We present eight themes reflecting expert imaginaries of biophilic futures and five design opportunities, illustrating how emerging technologies can position biophilic interaction as multi-sensory, interpretive, reciprocal, and aligned with more-than-human, justice-oriented futures.