Prospect-refuge theory explained - the rediscovered design approach that can change your life for the better

What if we were to tell you that prospect-refuge theory, a concept that has been around for 50 years, could make you feel more calm?  That, with just a few tweaks to your home design you could enjoy a wellness boost, take more pleasure from your surroundings and just live a happier, more productive life? Yes, prospect-refuge theory really is that good. 

But why now, after half a century being talked about only in esoteric lecture halls, is modern interior design beginning to understand this theory's value? Partly, this is a logical next step from the ubiquitous trend for houseplants, from how we've all experienced the joy in caring for foliage at home. As biophilic design principles take root in plant pots all around the world, so it's only to be expected they'd grow into an appreciation for the wonders of  prospect-refuge. 

While these principles may have only had a name put to  them back in the 1970s, it’s something that has existed as long as humans have. ‘For hundreds of thousands of years, humans have existed in very close connection to nature as a means to survive, thrive, and flourish,’ explains biophilic expert Oliver Heath. Essentially, we're hardwired to look at greenery and see a means to food and therefore life, so feel comforted and happy. ‘A lot of our reactions to spaces are based on this sort of evolutionary backdrop,’ Oliver says. ‘ It's a genetic inheritance that is still relevant to us today, even though we now find ourselves in much more complex, built-up urban geometric spaces.’ 

In essence, these involuntary, inherited responses may be affecting how weenjoy our homes as environments, and making a few small changes based on this theory can enhance everything about how you live. With the help of Oliver, we drill down into how one such evolutionary theory, prospect-refuge, can be used to design our homes and view them in a different light. 

(Image credit: Unique Homestays)

What is prospect-refuge theory? 

Biophilic design - the approach that sees us mimicking the colors and feel of nature in our homes in order to make us happy in the same way that, say, the sight of green fields does - consists of 14 patterns. Both prospect and refuge feature individually as patterns, but they’re often combined for their complimentary values. 

Prospect looks at the idea that when you’re in a space, you want to be able to see it clearly, understand it and be aware of any threats, as well as opportunities. Refuge, meanwhile, focuses on the feeling of being safe, surrounded, and protected. 

‘Imagine back to cave people,’ says Oliver, ‘where the ideal position would be to sit in a cave, overlooking a landscape. We could feel safe knowing that nothing was behind us, while looking outwards over a landscape where we could see potential predators or prey. There’s a sense of safety and security by being surrounded on three sides, with a single point of focus looking out - and these things remain with us.’ 

The biophilic design idea of prospect-refuge theory manifests itself in how we use all kinds of spaces, not just in our homes, but out in public too. From town squares and gardens to even shopping malls and train stations, people prefer to position themselves at the edges, looking into the center. ‘We feel that sense of safety and security when we're looking down onto a space from appointed safety where nobody can see us, and we’ve got something behind us, so we don't feel anyone's going to creep up on us.’ 

‘It’s calming and restorative, and finding a place to relax and recuperate is probably more important than ever right now because we're constantly bombarded with requests for sensory stimulation,’ Oliver explains. 

(Image credit: Koto )

How can this be practically applied to your home design?

Thankfully, it's super-easy to apply prospect-refuge theory to your home, and a little care with your living room ideas can be all that is needed. ‘It can be as simple as having a little sofa next to a window, and actually one of my favorite kind of prospect refuge devices is the window seat,’ says Oliver. Prospect itself, can come in a few forms, so finding an area that has either long, open, uninterrupted views; elevated views that you can look down over spaces; or big expansive views where you get that overarching sense of a landscape can all work for your relaxation space. 

‘It's good to have something to look at,’ ventures Oliver, ‘such as the gentle movement of nature. This could be water, trees, plants or grasses out in your garden.' 

These garden ideas are based on a biophilic design principle called ‘soft fascination, that sense of movement found in nature that just demands an effortless attention and allows you to drift off for a moment. 'Daydreaming isn’t a bad thing – you shouldn’t expect the human mind to be engaged for 12-16 hours a day, it was never designed to be as active as contemporary society demands.’ 

Your spot of refuge, on the other hand, benefits from being separated from a wider living space to give you privacy. This might be a separate room, an area demarcated in a broken-plan scheme, or even just using a simple device like a high-backed armchair to create that sense of being enclosed. Lower ceilings in relaxation areas can help too. 

(Image credit: Atelier West Architects)

‘Open plan living spaces are a bit of a bugbear of mine,’ says Oliver. ‘I think a living room should just be a refuge space that nobody walks through, somewhere you can just recoup without the risk of somebody barging through to get to the kitchen. Using refuge principles, a relaxing space shouldn’t be used for your home’s circulation.’

Because of the nature of prospect-refuge theory, finding a place to relax might come innately to you, and you'll be drawn to areas of your home which benefit from these biophilic design principles. But, identifying them from the outset means that you can design in these pockets of space across your home, ensuring everyone has a place to retreat to, where they can relax, feeling safe and with prospect over your home and garden.