Explanation and Evaluation of Biophilic Design Components of High-Rise Buildings Using the Delphi Method; After the Islamic Revolution

Introduction: In recent decades, the rapid rise of high-rise construction in major Iranian cities, especially Tehran, has reduced human interaction with nature and diminished the environmental and psychological quality of residential spaces. Biophilic design, as a human-centered approach, seeks to restore sensory, visual, and emotional connections between people and nature. Using the Delphi method and expert participation, this study identifies and prioritizes key biophilic components in high-rise building design. Findings indicate that natural light, vegetation, natural materials, air flow, and visual access to landscapes have the greatest impact on residential quality. The main goal is to propose a localized framework for applying biophilic principles in Iranian architecture to enhance the ecological and psychological quality of urban living environments.
Materials and Methods: This research is applied for a purpose and employs a mixed qualitative–quantitative methodology. In the first phase, qualitative data were collected through the Delphi method via semi-structured interviews with experts in architecture and urban planning. The Delphi technique helps organize experts’ opinions, beliefs, and attitudes within a structured process. Initially, the research context and target community were identified, and preliminary interviews were conducted to extract key statements that later served as the basis for the questionnaire design. In the second phase, a questionnaire was developed from the qualitative findings, and quantitative data were collected accordingly. To review the literature and theoretical foundations, a descriptive–analytical method and documentary data collection were used. The study population consisted of 36 architecture and urban planning experts, selected purposefully through the Delphi technique. Qualitative data were analyzed using Delphi content analysis, and quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS.
Results and Discussion: Analysis of data from 36 completed questionnaires revealed that specific components of biophilic design are more important in the context of high-rise buildings. The presence of light and water received the highest importance score, with a mean of 3.57. This includes the use of natural light, windows, and water features in both interior and exterior spaces. The second most significant component was visual and non-visual connection with nature, with a mean score of 3.15, highlighting the value of natural scenery, ambient sounds, plant scents, and other sensory elements. Ranked third was non-rhythmic sensory stimulation (mean = 2.82), which includes experiences such as changing light patterns, air movement, shadows, and random environmental sounds.
Other noteworthy components included the use of natural materials (mean = 2.74), thermal variability and air flow (mean = 2.68), and the feeling of refuge (mean = 2.61). The Friedman test confirmed statistically significant differences in the prioritization of these indicators (p-value = 0.001), demonstrating the reliability of the experts' rankings.
Conclusion: Biophilic design in high-rise buildings significantly enhances environmental quality and residents’ psychological well-being by reconnecting people with nature. Incorporating natural elements such as daylight, This design approach reintroduces nature into urban living, enhancing sensory experiences, fostering social interaction, and increasing overall spatial satisfaction.  In dense urban environments where access to nature is limited, integrating biophilic principles creates a balance between human physical, psychological, and social needs, ultimately improving the quality of life and promoting healthier, more harmonious living conditions within contemporary high-rise developments.